Turkmen citizens usually get a multiple-entry visa valid for three months. With additional payment they are eligible for a visa with one-year validity, maximum.

No. The visa duration does not determine the length of time you may legally remain in the United States. It is important to understand a one-year visa does not give you the right to spend that length of time in the U.S. You are legally permitted to stay in the United States until the date indicated by the Customs and Border Protection stamp in your passport.

A U.S. nonimmigrant visa grants you permission to travel to a Port of Entry in the United States. When you arrive at your destination Port of Entry, the U.S. Customs and Border Protection officer who processes your entry will determine the length of time that you may remain in the country. You may travel to the Port of Entry during the validity of your nonimmigrant visa up to and including the last day the visa is valid.

Your passport must be valid for at least six months beyond your intended period of stay in the United States.

Yes. Any person who is legally present in any country may apply for a U.S. visa at the U.S. Embassy in that country. However, applicants are generally advised to apply in their country of nationality or residence. It is generally easiest to demonstrate your strong ties abroad in the country where you permanently reside.

Yes. There are only a few exceptions to the interview requirement. Applicants for A1, A2 (official travelers on government business), C2, C3 (government officials in transit on government business) or G1, G2, G3, G4 (government officials traveling in connection with an international organization, or employees of an international organization) generally do not have to appear in person.

Review the website for specific information on documentary requirements for the type of visa you are applying for. For most applicants, the only documents you are required to bring to your interview are a printed copy of your appointment letter, your DS-160 confirmation page, one 5x5cm photograph taken within the last six months and your passport. You may choose to bring whatever other evidence you believe will help to establish your strong ties to Turkmenistan. However, more important than any number of documents is a clear and honest narrative of your planned trip to the United States and your ties abroad.

No. Due to security concerns and space limitations, U.S. consular sections do not permit interested parties such as friends, relatives, attorneys or business contacts to attend the visa interview with the applicant. If an interested party wishes to provide information to a specific consular section concerning a particular visa applicant, they are encouraged to supply this information directly to the applicant. The applicant can then bring this information with them to the visa interview.

Exception: Applicants under the age of 16 may be accompanied by a parent or legal guardian.  All accompanying adults must also sign up for an appointment. This is true even if the accompanying adults are not applying for visas themselves. In order to schedule an appointment, the accompanying adult must send an email to the Consular Section at consularashgab@state.gov and request an appointment for the same date and time as the minor they will be accompanying.

Interpreters are not allowed at the visa interview. Our staff speaks English, Russian, and Turkmen and will be able to communicate with the visa applicants.

Yes. Each nonimmigrant visa application is a separate process. You must apply in the normal manner, even if you had a visa before and even if your current nonimmigrant visa is still valid.

Yes. Many immigrant visa petitions are subject to wait times of several years or more. During that wait, you are still eligible to apply for a nonimmigrant visa to travel to the United States for a short visit. However, be aware that you must still prove that you do not plan to immigrate to the United States at the current time, despite your plans to do so in the future.

Although applicants often have a sponsor who offers to provide plane tickets, accommodations or meals, applicants themselves, not the sponsor, must ultimately qualify for the visa. The interviewing consular officer carefully considers your sponsor’s willingness to finance your trip during the decision-making process. While a sponsor may be willing to guarantee an applicant’s return, he or she does not have the legal authority to force a visitor to return to Turkmenistan. Visa applicants must qualify for the visa according to their own circumstances, not on the basis of a sponsor’s assurances.

Yes, you must complete the DS-160 and bring a printed copy of the DS-160 confirmation page with you when you go for your interview at the U.S. Embassy. You do not have to print out the entire DS-160 form — just the confirmation page including your personalized bar code.

Some visa applications require further administrative processing, which takes additional time after your interview with a consular officer. You are advised of this possibility when you apply. Most administrative processing is resolved within 60 days of the visa interview.

No. You may stay in the United States for the period of time and conditions authorized by the Department of Homeland Security officer when you arrived in the United States, which will be noted on the I-94, even if your visa expires during your stay.

Yes. However, as soon as you receive your biometric passport, please notify us via email and include all the passport details in your email. In addition, you will need to bring the copy of your old passport with your new biometric passport on the day of the interview.

Contact your friend/relative/colleague, who is the visa applicant. Visa records are confidential under U.S. law. Therefore, only visa applicants may inquire about the status of their application.