Non-Immigrant Visas

Visa Renewal by Mail

If you wish to renew a visa you already have, you may be eligible for mail-in processing. This service applies only to certain types of visas issued AFTER 30 AUG 2007, for which you have already provided 10 fingerprints.

Mail-in renewal does not apply to:

B (tourist) visas
A, G or NATO (diplomatic or official visas). For these, please see the following link: http://travel.state.gov/visa/temp/types/types_2637.html for more information.

To renew a recently expired visa or a visa which will soon expire, you must meet ALL of the following criteria:

• The visa must have been issued on or after 30 Aug 2007 from the US Embassy in Bratislava.
• The visa cannot have expired more than 365 days ago.
• You are applying to renew the same type and category of visa, and the university, employer, or petitioner are all still the same. For example, you can only renew your C1/D crew visa if you are still working for the same company. As an example of change of category, a spouse (F-2 visa holder) of an F-1 student can renew as F-2 spouse, but cannot renew by mail as an F-1 (principal) student visa applicant.
• You regularly reside in Slovakia and are physically present in Slovakia at the time of this application.
• You are a Slovak citizen.
• You have never been refused a U.S. visa, nor has your visa been revoked, or stolen.
• You have never violated the terms of a previous U.S. visa,, nor have you been in violation of or non-compliance with U.S. immigration laws or regulations. Examples of violation or non-compliance might be: (i) working on a Visitor Visa (B-1/B-2) in the U.S.; or (ii) overstaying your authorized departure date without approval by USCIS of an extension of stay request you filed. Your required departure date is shown on Form I-94, Arrival Departure Record, which is issued to you by CBP upon arrival in the U.S.
• You have not taken any action/or engaged in any conduct since the issuance of your last visa which makies you ineligible for a visa. Examples of such conduct include but are not limited to: committing a crime, being arrested, or contracting a contagious disease.

Please note: The U.S. Embassy reserves the right to request that any or all mail-in applicants appear for an in-person interview should we feel it necessary. Such applicants will be notified by email, telephone, or mail, and will have their submitted documents returned to them by mail.

Required Documents

If all of the above criteria apply to you, you may apply by mail to have your visa renewed. To do so, please send us the following documents in one envelope, together with a paid, pre-addressed return envelope large enough for all your submitted documents. The return envelope must have 2 Euro in pre-paid postage.

For all visa types that meet the criteria above, you will need to send us:

• Your valid Slovak Passport. It should be in good condition, have available (empty) visa pages, and must have at least six months of validity remaining.
• The passport holding your most recent U.S. visa (if different from the passport above).
• One photograph, front view, size 5cm x 5cm. The photo must have been taken within the past six months and have a plain white background.
• Your receipt of Payment of the Visa Application Fee (“MRV”).
• Your completed Visa Application Forms:
  • EVERYONE needs all three pages of form DS-156, completed and signed.
  • If you are a male between the ages of 16 and 45, you will also need to complete form DS-157
  • If you are applying for a student or exchange visitor visa, you will also need to complete form DS-158
• Your pre-addressed, pre-paid return envelope (see above). Note: passports cannot be sent to addresses outside the Slovak Republic, nor can they be sent by expedited courier.
• Additional documents as required by the visa class (see chart below)

Please review the following chart to see what additional documents must be sent with your application.

Type of Visa	Additional Documents
C1/D “Crew visa”	An original certification letter from the employer (Cruise Line, Shipping Company, etc.) stating job position and duration.
J “Exchange, Au Pair, Trainee visas”	DS-2019 – Program must be exactly the same as the current visa’s program. Completed DS-158. Evidence of SEVIS fee payment. For trainees: Completed DS-7002.
F and M “Student visas”	Current I-20. Must be for the same school and program as the current visa and/or OPT associated with the program. Completed DS-158. Evidence of SEVIS fee payment.
H(including H1B, H2, and H4)	Receipt number of the approved I-129 from the same petitioner and for the same purpose as your current visa.
I	Documentation regarding employment and/or press credentials.
O	Receipt number of the approved I-129 from the same petitioner and for the same purpose as your current visa.
P	Receipt number of the approved I-129 from the same petitioner and for the same purpose as your current visa.
Q	Receipt number of the approved I-129 from the same petitioner and for the same purpose as your current visa.
R	Receipt number of the approved I-129 from the same petitioner and for the same purpose as your current visa.
All other categories	Please email the Embassy at consulbratislava@state.gov indicating your visa type and planned travel to see if any additional documents may be required.