Visas to the U.S.

Instructions for Visa Applicants

What All Visa Applicants Need to Present

• Current passport, which must be valid for at least six months after planned entry into the United States.
• All prior passports.
• Electronic Visa application form (DS-156). Everyone must use the Electronic DS-156. 
• Supplemental form (DS-157) for applicants over 16 years of age.
• Proof of social, family, economic, professional ties to home country.
• Recent photograph, 2 inches square (5x5cm), front facing full face with a light background. Click here for more details.
• Standard Chartered receipt for non-refundable visa application fee of $131.00 or Dalasi equivalent.

Additional Requirements for Students and Exchange Visitors

• Evidence of payment of SEVIS fee.  This fee is a one-time non-refundable fee for each program in which the student participates.  The fee can be paid through the website www.fmjfee.com or through any Western Union office.
• Valid Form I-20 or DS-2019 as applicable. Students should bring the original.
• Evidence that sufficient funds are readily available to cover the first year of studies. Evidence from sponsor noting ability to be a sponsor.
• Supplemental visa application form (DS-157)
• Contact information and work history form (DS-158). Please note under item 6, the word "siblings" means "brothers and sisters."
• Students should bring their original school transcripts and WAEC exam results.

Additional Requirements for Medical Treatment

• A letter from a physician stating the nature of the medical condition and the possibility of treatment in The Gambia.
• An appointment with a licensed American physician who would be performing any medical treatment.
• A statement from the same medical doctor, on official letterhead, describing the medical problem, the treatment required, the estimate of the cost of the entire treatment, the estimated time the treatment would require, and how the doctor believes the treatment will be paid for.
• Proof of ability to afford the complete cost of medical treatment.
• Applicants for medical treatment must meet all requirements applied to other applicants, and should be able to demonstrate strong personal, professional, and/or economic ties to The Gambia.

How To Submit Visa Applications

• Applicants should complete Electronic Visa application form (DS-156) and Supplemental form (DS-157) online, printing out the forms to bring to Standard Chartered Bank.
• Applicants should make an interview appointment at Standard Chartered Bank (Traffic Light, Banjul, or Senegambia branches).  When making the appointment, applicants will be asked to present all required documents and to pay the non-refundable $131 application fee. 
• Applicants will be given a receipt at the time of payment noting the date and time of your interview appointment at the US Embassy.  NOTE: All visa applicants must appear personally for an interview.  Please plan accordingly. 
• Applicants should bring their receipt, their current and all prior passports, and supporting documents with them to the interview.

Picking Up Your Visa

If you qualify for a visa, the Consular Officer will ask you to return the following day to pick up your passport with your new visa.  Passports with visas will be handed back to applicants at the front gate to the Embassy.  If possible, applicants should bring some form of photo identification, such as a national identity card.

Do You Still Have Questions?

Travel information from the Department of State is available at www.travel.state.gov.  Information about Green Cards, Immigration Petitions and Naturalization is available from U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Information Services at www.uscis.gov. 

You may also call Monday to Thursday 2:30 PM – 4:00 PM at 220-439-2856, or e-mail us at ConsularBanjul@state.gov.