• Please visit the Application Processing Center’s (APC) web site to make an appointment.
  
  
• Click here for information about the average appointment wait times for nonimmigrant visas.
  
  
• Click here for average visa processing times. This refers to the number of working days required for an applicant to receive his passport via the courier service once a consular officer approves the visa.
  
  
• All applicants should be aware that the times given above are AVERAGES and that the processing time for any particular case can vary according to individual circumstances and any other special requirements. It is strongly recommended that applicants schedule their appointments far enough in advance of their planned travel dates so as to be reasonable sure of obtaining a visa in time.
  
  
• Due to new biometric requirements for all visa applicants worldwide, applications must undergo additional computer processing in the US. Although this new process does not significantly increase average visa production time, individual applications may be occasionally delayed. AIT is unable to take action to expedite applications during this process. We must wait for the results in our computer system before a visa can be printed. This may delay emergency travelers and those on short timelines. Please plan accordingly.
  
  
• In some cases - for example, applicants with technical and scientific backgrounds, students and scholars in scientific fields, and applicants who are not from Taiwan - additional administrative processing is required. For more information about the time required for administrative processing, please refer to the Visa Wait Time page on the State Department website.
  
  If you have submitted your application to AIT and have been provided an administrative processing case number, you can check the status of your case on the Visa Case Status Inquiry page.  You will need to enter the administrative processing case number and the verification code on the screen. Please check the online status regularly as this will be the only means by which you will be notified about the status of your case.  Once administrative processing is complete, you must return your passport to AIT within 120 days.
  
  Applicants can help make this process go faster by being prepared for their visa interviews. They should bring a copy of their resume or curriculum vitae (CV); a list of their publications (if any); a summary of their past and future research; information on their advisor or sponsor in the United States, including an invitation letter detailing the applicant's planned activities or specific study in the US; sponsor's mailing address and telephone number (for example, a copy of his/her webpage); and a list of references. Applicants who will be attending conferences in the US should also bring information about the conference, including abstracts of any presentation, if applicable.  This information should be in English. Applicants should also be ready to answer specific questions about their research plans in the United States.
  Applicants who do not bring complete information to the interview (e.g., a resume and research summary) may have their applications delayed even further, or may be refused a visa and asked to apply again. The more information and documentation an applicant provides during the visa interview, the better the application can be evaluated. If you are unsure about whether or not to bring a particular document, please bring it with you in case the interviewing officer wishes to review it.
   

The American Institute in Taiwan (Taipei office) is located at
#7, Lane 134, Xin Yi Road, Section 3, Taipei 106

The Nonimmigrant Visa Unit's Information Window is open from 8:00 am to 3:00 pm on each working day.

AIT wants to remind applicants that those arriving at the appointed time will be allowed into the building with minimal delay. Due to safety reasons and the large number of applications processed every day, applicants who arrive before their appointed times will not be allowed in early. To avoid an unnecessary wait outside the building please do not arrive early for your appointment.

For AIT holidays and Consular Section closures, click here.

All nonimmigrant visa applicants, including those who have previously been issued a visa and wish to apply for a new one, must have their application forms pre-processed by our appointment contractor, the Atos Origin Application Processing Center (APC). The APC service fee is NT$275 per applicant. For detailed information on how to submit your application to APC for pre-processing, please visit APC's web site at http://www.visaagent.com.tw/index_en.htm.

Any representative or travel agent may complete the pre-processing with APC and make an appointment on the applicant's behalf. All applicants under the age of 80 must make an appointment through the APC web site and appear in person at the AIT, Taipei Office. Consult the following information to find out how to submit your application to AIT Taipei after your application is processed by the APC.

• Applicants under the age of 80

Applicants who have not reached their 80th birthday must make an appointment through the APC web site and appear in person at AIT Taipei for an interview.  On the scheduled date and time, please bring your appointment confirmation ticket, your application (which has been processed either online or at the APC), your original passport (including old passport),  fee receipts, and other supporting documents to AIT Taipei for interview. 

A parent or legal guardian must accompany a child under the age of 18 to his/her interview and must sign the child’s application form.  If both parents (or legal guardians) have difficulty submitting the application in person, they should write a letter authorizing a representative to accompany the child for an interview.  AIT strongly recommends that the parent(s) or legal guardian(s) of applicants under age 18 and/or their representative(s) submit US visa information on those accompanying applicants to the US.  AIT also strongly recommends that applicants under age 18 traveling with a non-custodial parent, relative or friend submit a letter of permission for such travel from applicant's legal guardian(s).

Biometric enrollment:

Applicants who are older than 14 and younger than 80 are required to have their fingers scanned in an inkless, electronic process at the beginning of the visa interview. Applicants younger than 14 are not required to be fingerprinted.

• Click here for the Announcement.
• For Frequently Asked Questions on Biometrics, Click Here.
• For a video demonstrating the Interview and Biometric Process, please click below:

The Interview and Biometric Process

• Applicants 80 years old and older

Applicants who have reached their 80th birthday may have a representative submit their applications to AIT/Taipei without appointment. Applicants or the representative should bring the application (which has been processed either online or at the APC), applicant's passport (including old passport), and fee receipts to Nonimmigrant Visa Unit's Information Window between 8:00 am and 3:00 pm on any working day.

The American Institute in Taiwan will consider granting expedited visa appointments to applicants with the following emergencies or situations:

• Emergency medical treatment, as well as persons desiring to travel in support.
• Family emergency, such as a death or critical illness of an immediate relative.
• Initial students and exchange visitors (F, J, and M visa applicants) who have difficulty arriving at school before their program starts – Such applicants must be in possession of an I-20 or DS-2019 form.
• Urgent business travelers with an unanticipated business need.
• Holders of the Asia-Pacific Economic Cooperation (APEC) Business Travel Card. 
• *Members of the American Chamber of Commerce (AmCham) in Taipei. If you are a member of the AmCham, please contact the AmCham in Taipei for information about how to request an expedited appointment for your visa application. * You do not need to send us a request e-mail.

If you are traveling for one of the reasons listed above and wish to request an expedited appointment, please send an e-mail request to visaniv-ait@state.gov. The e-mail subject line should read: “Request for Expedited Appointment.”  An officer will consider your request and respond as quickly as possible. Please do not resend your request.  To qualify for consideration, please include in your e-mail the supporting documents as attachments.  These documents may include, but are not limited to, the following:

• Completed Form DS-156
• A letter or other documentation from the U.S.-based physician, hospital, employer, or business partner.
• A letter or other documentation from the local physician, hospital, employer, or business partner.
• Additional supporting documents, such as trade show registration information, work verification statements for the employees to be sent, etc.
• Form I-20 or DS-2019.
• APEC Business Travel Card.

Please note that these requests will be considered on a case-by-case basis and that we cannot guarantee that your request will be approved. We recommend that you arrange an appointment through the regular procedures as soon as possible and check back with the appointment web site frequently as additional appointments sometimes become available due to cancellations made by other applicants.

Visa Application Processing Fee:

The visa processing fee for nonimmigrant visas is US$131 per applicant.  Each visa applicant must pay this fee except for certain applicants for diplomatic or official visa classes and exchange visitor (J) visa applicants participating in a program sponsored by the U.S. Federal Government.  This fee is nonrefundable and should be paid in Taiwan currency at any branch of the Taiwan post office. The current fee rate is NT$4,323.  (Last updated June 15, 2009.)  The exchange rate to calculate this fee will be reviewed and may be changed every month. Applicants should pay the fee before applying at AIT for a visa.  Our postal account number is 19189005. The account name is AIT Visa Processing Fee. The postal receipt is valid for one year.  Please bring the postal receipt with you when you come to AIT for your interview.  In order to assist us with our record keeping, we ask that one receipt be presented for each individual applicant. The receipt will be collected by AIT personnel at the time of your visa application.  If you need to get a certificate for this payment, please come to the Information Window with your courier receipt or approved visa during office hours.  If you have been refused a visa and wish to reapply, you must pay a new processing fee and submit a new application form.  

APC Service Fee:

The APC service fee is NT$275 per applicant. Each visa applicant must pay this fee except for certain applicants for diplomatic or official visa classes and exchange visitor (J) visa applicants participating in a program sponsored by the U.S. Federal Government. Please pay this fee at any branch of the Taiwan post office. The account number is 19832104. The account name is Atos Origin (Taiwan) Ltd. Please bring the postal receipt with you when you come to AIT for your interview.

SEVIS I-901 Fee:

Persons applying for F, J and M (student and exchange visitor) visas with initial I-20 or DS-2019 forms issued on or after September 1, 2004 will require payment of the SEVIS fee before making a visa application. Dependents of F, J or M visa applicants and certain continuing students or exchange visitors do not have to pay the SEVIS fee. For detailed information on how to pay the SEVIS fee, click here.  Please bring the SEVIS receipt with you when you come to AIT for your interview.

Fraud Prevention and Detection Fee

Persons applying for Blanket L-1 (intra-company transferee) visas under Blanket provisions must pay a "fraud prevention and detection fee" of US$500.This fee is non-refundable and can only be paid in US dollars at the American Institute in Taiwan. 

Visa Issuance Fee:

Some non-Taiwan passport holders may be required to pay an additional fee for visa issuance. Visa issuance fees are based on what a country charges U.S. passport holders for the same category of visa. This fee can be paid in US or NT dollars at the American Institute in Taiwan.  To check visa issuance fees for your country, click here.

Courier Service Fee:

If your application is approved, your visa will be delivered to you via courier service together with your passport. The courier service fee is NT$170, pay on delivery.

All visa applications shall be completed in English. NOTE: When printing out visa application forms, please use standard, blank, white paper. AIT will not accept visa application forms printed on any of the following: colored paper, paper with watermarks, "recycled" paper (with printing on the back side), and thermal transfer paper.

• DS-156 (Nonimmigrant visa application):
  Each visa applicant must complete this form via one of the following ways. Take the completed form to your interview.

  • On-line Application Form (Fill in the form and then make an appointment on-line. No need to visit Application Processing Center.)

  • Non-electronic Visa Application Form (PDF file) (Print and complete this form. Take the form to the Application Processing Center and submit it for data processing.)

  • Electronic Visa Application Form (e-Form) (Applicants for diplomatic or official visa classes should complete this form.  Exchange visitor (J) visa applicants participating in a program sponsored by the U.S. Federal Government whose program number begins with “G-1”, “G-2”, “G-3”, or “G-7” should also complete this form.  These applicants may come directly to the Nonimmigrant Visa Unit Information Window from 8:00 to 10:00 am on any working day. No advance appointment is needed.)

• DS-156E: Nonimmigrant Treaty Trader / Investor Application (PDF file)
  (Print and complete this form. Take the form to your interview.)
  E-1, E-2 applicants must also complete this form.
  
  
• DS-157 (Supplemental nonimmigrant visa application) (PDF file) (Print and complete this form. Take the form to your interview.)
  Male applicants between 16-45 years of age must also complete this form.
  
  
• DS-158 (Contact information and work history for nonimmigrant visa application) (PDF file) (Print and complete this form. Take the form to your interview.)
  F, J, M (student and exchange visitor visa) applicants must also complete this form.

You may obtain blank application forms at the AIT service window on Hsin Yi road. You may also use a fax machine to obtain a faxed version of the form. Please call 886-2-2547-4898 from a fax machine for more information.

To view the file in PDF format, you either must have Adobe's Acrobat Reader installed, or you must download Acrobat Reader by going to Adobe's installation page at www.adobe.com/products/acrobat/readstep.html

• Business/Tourist visas (B-1/B-2 visas)
• Student and Exchange Visitor Visas (F, J and M visas)
• Temporary Worker Visas (E, H, I, L, O, P, Q, R and TN visas)
• Transit Visas (C-1 visa)
• Crew Visas (D visa)
• Domestic Employees Visas (B-1)
• Non-Taiwan Passport Holders
• Lost or Stolen Passports
• Passport Validity and Expired Passports
• Visa Validity and Length of Stay Permitted in the U.S.
• Fiance/Fiancee Visas (K Visas)
• Spouse and Children of a Lawful Permanent Resident (V Visas)
• Visa Denial
• Frequently Asked Questions

Visas and/or passports will be returned to visa applicants through our courier service. Applicants should be sure to fill out the courier application forms prior to submitting visa applications. The application forms will be available in the waiting area of the Nonimmigrant Visa Unit. After submitting visa applications to AIT personnel, please go to the courier service window to complete the delivery processing. This service will be provided by Chau Feng Express Company, Ltd. at the rate of NT$170. Pay on delivery. Families may request to place up to four applicants’ passports in one envelope for one price of NT$170. AIT anticipates that passports will be returned to applicants via courier service within three working days once a consular officer issues a visa.  Applicants may track the status of their passport delivery via Chao Feng's web site at: http://www.express.com.tw/ All applicants should be aware that the processing times for specific cases can vary according to individual circumstances and any other special requirements. We recommend that you apply for your visa well before the date you intend to travel.

To encourage travel to the US, we would like to make information about our rules and practices as clear as possible.  The following questions and answers may help travel agents and applicants deal with common concerns as they apply for US nonimmigrant visas.

The Visa Application Form

What should we keep in mind as we fill out the application? 

Be honest and complete.  Include names and information about contacts in the U.S.  Make sure that all questions are answered correctly, including those about marital status, previous travel, and relatives in the US.  Include English names of applicants (check their business cards and household registration records).

When you assist an applicant, you should write your own name, business and phone number on Page Two of the form. 

Is anyone ever denied a visa for incomplete information on the form?

Yes.  Such refusals make everyone lose time and money. 

Does signing the travel agent portion of the form make any difference?

Yes.  This is an application requirement.  In addition, it saves time and reduces misunderstanding at the visa interview.

Appointments

How do I make an appointment?

Please visit the Application Processing Center's web site.

What are the busiest times for visa interviews?

In the busy summer months (May through August), waiting times for interviews are longer.  Holiday periods (December and Chinese New Year) are also busy.  If your clients want to travel at these times, please encourage them to apply well in advance of their travel dates.

Can I make group appointments? 

Not in the new worldwide computerized system.  But when you have a group and want to target a specific time, you may make individual appointments for applicants throughout that time bloc.  The earlier you plan and act, the easier it will be to find time slots open together.

Interviews

How can I expedite matters for my large tour groups?

Contact us in advance with the name of the function (such as a certain business convention), names of the participants, and how the list is determined.   (For example, does the sponsoring company require incentive sales targets to be met?  Do spouses of staff qualify?  Or is your own tour company sending several employees and family members?)  As participants arrive for interviews we will check them off the list.  When AIT knows the applicants’ status in the group, the process is easier for everyone.

What should my applicants bring to the interview?

Any information that can show their life situation.  Examples of evidence include proof of their job, earnings, savings (bank book), tax payments, status, family, certifications, diplomas, grades, etc.

What are some common problems I could help my clients avoid?

There will always be some unqualified applicants, but too many applicants arrive unprepared for their interviews.  Therefore some people are unnecessarily rejected. 

Apply early!  Help your clients understand the rules, fill out the form completely, and arrive prepared to demonstrate their situation.

General Issues

What is the current situation for U.S. tourist visa applicants in Taiwan?

Tourists and students agree that the US is still one of the most attractive destinations in the world.  AIT issues nearly 200,000 visas a year in Taiwan, making it one of our largest issuance offices.  Taiwan also is one of the largest sources of foreign students in the US.  Most applicants spend less than one hour completing the visa application process at AIT.  In the end, most qualify for a 5-year visa.

What groups exist to help travel agents, and where can I learn more?

Try the Travel Industry Association of America (www.tia.org), and the Discover America Partnership (www.poweroftravel.org).  For more information reviewing obtaining visas, consult the State Department web article "Deciphering the Visa Code".

Who can I contact?

We value your questions and comments regarding tourism to the US. To ask questions or make suggestions, please send an e-mail to visaniv-ait@state.gov.

• For recorded information on nonimmigrant visas, please call 886-2-2162-2000.
• For information on appointments and how to submit your application forms to the Application Processing Center, please visit the APC web site at http://www.visaagent.com.tw/index_en.htm or call them at 886-2-2709-5106.
• If your question is not answered by this web site, please call AIT at 886-2-2162-2400 (9:00 - noon and 1:00 - 3:00 pm except for holidays and the first working day of each month) or send your inquiry to us by fax at 886-2-2162-2211 or by e-mail at visaniv-ait@state.gov.