Visa Services

How to Apply

The Consular Section of the United States Embassy in Port Louis welcomes you and is pleased to inform you that completed electronic visa application forms will only be accepted for processing on Monday and Thursday mornings by appointment only. The Consular Section is closed on weekends and on U.S. and Mauritian holidays.
 
The electronic visa application form, DS-156, is available at http://evisaforms.state.gov/. After completing the electronic visa application form, please click on the <continue> button, wait for the document to load and then print the 3 pages. The last page contains the barcode.  Please bring all 3 pages when you submit your application together with your supporting documents. Without all 3 pages, we will not be able to accept your application.

After completing the electronic form, please make an appointment by clicking here.

Without an appointment, we will not be able to accept your application.

Applicants are strongly encouraged to submit applications for visas at least one (1) month prior to their planned departure date for the U.S.

Visa regulations require applicants in the Port Louis Consular District, which includes Reunion and Seychelles, to apply in person at the U.S. Embassy in Port Louis.

Visas are generally delivered the next day.  Successful applicants will be instructed to visit the TNT desk located on the ground floor of the same building that houses the Embassy to set up delivery.  Applicants should be prepared to provide a delivery address, telephone number, and pay a delivery fee of MUR115 inclusive of VAT.  Applicants from Reunion, Seychelles and other islands should plan for extra days in Mauritius.

Generally, the Embassy is unable to accept emergency appointments.  However, if a life or death situation exists the Embassy will make every effort to assist provided the problem is documentarily supported.

THE FOLLOWING DOCUMENTS ARE REQUIRED WITH EACH VISA APPLICATION

a) A completed and signed electronic visa application form DS-156 for each applicant regardless of age or the fact that a child will be traveling on a parents passport.

b) Male applicants between the ages of 16 and 45 must also complete form DS-157.

c) Effective January 1, 2008, a non-refundable processing fee in rupees of the equivalent of USD131.00 (based on that day's exchange rate) must be paid only at the Mauritius Commercial Bank Ltd. of Edith Cavell Street, Port Louis, prior to submitting the visa application. The bank may require you to present a valid passport at time of payment. Please bring both the blue and white copies of the bank receipt to the Embassy when you apply. Some nationalities may be required to pay an issuance fee once their visa is issued.  For more information, see the FAQs about Visa Application Fees.

d) One recent full face photo of applicant, regardless of age, taken within the past six (6) months, measuring 2x2 inches (5 cm), with the head measuring between 1 inch to 1 3/8 inches centered in the frame. Both ears must be fully exposed in each photo, so care should be taken with head coverings. The photo may be in either color or black and white and must be taken against a white or off-white background without borders. Photos taken in front of busy, patterned, or dark backgrounds cannot be accepted. Similarly, tinted photos or those of applicants wearing sunglasses are not acceptable.

e) Passport valid for at least six (6) months beyond intended period of stay in the U.S.

During the interview, the Consular Officer may request additional documentation in support of your application.  These may include, but are not limited to, documents supporting claims of employment, student status, place of residence, financial status, intended itinerary, purpose of travel, etc.  It is suggested that applicants bring documentary evidence to the interview to support claims made on the application.  If an applicant does not have documentation requested by the Consular Officer, he/she may be asked to return at another date with the requested information.
 

ADDITIONAL REQUIREMENTS FOR CERTAIN APPLICANTS

Students (seeking F or M visas) are required to present a form I-20A-B or I-20M-N completed by the educational institution, while Exchange Visitors (seeking J visas) must present a form DS-2019 completed by the sponsor. Both Students and Exchange Visitors must also complete form DS-158 along with the documents listed in (a) to (e) above, and banking evidence that sufficient funds are available from the applicant, parents or scholarship/stipend sources to defray all expenses during the entire period of anticipated study/exchange.

If funds will come from another source, the providing sponsor will need to submit documentary evidence of the existence of those funds and may want to complete an affidavit of support (I-134) for the applicant to present with the application. Electronic certification of Student Exchange Visa (SEVIS) status transmitted directly to the embassy is also required at time of application and the applicant, through communication with the sponsoring institution, should verify its transmission and its receipt by the embassy. For information on the SEVIS fee, please visit the website http://www.fmjfee.com. 

Temporary Workers (seeking H visas) and Intracompany Transferees (seeking I visas) are required to present evidence of a petition approved by the Bureau of Citizenship and Immigration Services (ex Immigration and Naturalization Service).