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If your inquiry is not answered below, you may address your question to a specific address. See
the link to unanswered questions below.

General Questions
 What are your hours?
 What is administrative processing? How long does it take?
 May I submit supporting documentation directly to the embassy? (Letters and affidavits
of support, invitations, recommendations, financial records or employment and school
confirmation letters)
 I was told to bring additional documentation or information to the embassy. When may
I bring it?
 I need an expedited interview appointment. What should I do?
 I would like to re-schedule my interview. What should I do?
 I was given the option of DNA testing to confirm my relationship to my petitioner or
beneficiary. What do I do now?
 What is the status of my visa application?
 May I obtain information about another person’s visa application status?
 What fees must be paid for a visa application?
 My question isn’t answered here. What information do you need from me?
 I want to report visa fraud to you. How do I do that?
 I am trying to apply for a visa but am having technical issues with the website or
payment issues. What should I do?

American Citizen Services

 I am an American Citizen and need assistance. What are your hours? How may I
contact you?
 How do I register with the embassy while I am in Ethiopia?
 What are your hours for notary services, passport renewal or adding pages to my
passport?
 I am an American Citizen and my child was born abroad. How do I obtain a Consular
Report of Birth Abroad (CRBA)?
 I am considering adopting a child from Ethiopia. What should I know?
 I need additional visa pages in my passport.
 I am an adult and need to renew my US Passport.
 I need to renew my child’s passport.
 My passport has been lost or stolen. What should I do?

Immigrant Visa Questions

 General Immigrant Visa Questions
 My or my fiancé’s I-129 petition was denied. What does that mean?
  I am ineligible for a visa. May I apply for a waiver? How do I apply?
 My case was recommended for revocation. What does that mean?
 What is a priority date?
 Is my priority date current?
 I want to withdraw my petition. What should I do?
 How do I apply for refugee/asylee status?
 The officer requested proof of my identity. What should I provide?
 I want to transfer my visa application to Addis Abba. What do I do?
 I understand that effective Feb 1, 2013 there is USCIS Immigrant Visa fee that must be
paid. Tell me more.

Diversity Visa Questions

 How do I apply for a Diversity Visa?
 What are the requirements for Diversity Visa Applicants?
 I received an e-mail instructing me to pay fees on-line, or by wire transfer or e-mail.
What should I do?

Non-Immigrant (Visitor) Visa Questions

 How do I apply for a non-immigrant (visitor) visa?
 What is the process to apply for a student (F1) visa?
 I have been offered a job in the U.S. How do I apply for a work visa?
 An applicant was recently denied a visa under section 214(b) of the INA. Please explain
what that means.
 I have a non-immigrant visa that has expired or will expire soon and I would like to
renew it. Do I need go through the whole visa application process again?
 I submitted my on-line DS-160 application, but lost my confirmation page. Can I print a
new one?
 I did not print or lost my appointment confirmation page? What should I do?
 I, or someone I know, was denied a non-immigrant visa and I would like to appeal the
decision. How can I do this? What does it mean to have a ‘change in circumstances?
What documentation can I provide that will ensure the issuance of a visa?

Unanswered Questions
If the above information does not answer your question, please send an e-mail to one of the
addresses below.

Please send your question to the specific address for your question. Writing multiple addresses
will delay a response to your question.

In your message, be sure to include all information relevant to your question.

Relevant information may include the applicant/beneficiary’s full name as it appears on the
passport, date of birth, visa type, visa case number, petitioner’s full name, and date of interview or
appointment. In the body of your message, please provide a brief description of your question or
concern.

For American Citizen Services questions, address your message to Addis, ACS.
For DNA questions, address your message to Addis, DNA.
For Asylee/Refugee questions, address your message to Addis, Asylee/Refugee.
For Adoption questions, address your message to Addis, Adoptions.
For Immigrant Visa questions, address your message to Addis, Immigrant Visa.
For Diversity Visa questions, address your message to Addis, Diversity Visa.
For Non-immigrant (visitor) visa questions, address your message to Addis, Non-immigrant Visa.
For Fiancé visa questions, address your message to Addis, Fiancé Visa.

Hours:
Please note the following hours for specific services.
American Citizen Services: Monday through Thursday, 1:00 p.m. – 3:30 p.m, by appointment
ONLY. Please make an appointment using this website.
Visa Interviews: Immigrant Visa, Diversity Visa, Refugee and Asylee Visa, Fiancé Visa and Non-
Immigrant (visitor) Visa interviews are scheduled by appointment only.
DNA Collection: By appointment only
Additional documentation/information per officer’s instructions (221g): All follow-up
interview must be scheduled online.

NOTE: Beginning January 1, 2015 all follow-up interviews will need to be scheduled online at
https://ais.usvisa-info.com/

Administrative Processing
Some visa applications require additional administrative processing before they can be
completed. There is no set time for the completion of the processing. The processing may
require up to a year to be completed. The applicant will be contacted directly to proceed with
the application when the processing is complete.

Supporting Documentation
Given the large volume of applicants and supporting documents that come to our office, we
unfortunately do not have the resources to ensure that the documentation is properly matched
with designated visa applications. We request that the applicant bring any relevant
documentation with them so it may be presented to the consular officer at the time of the visa
interview.

Please bear in mind that consular officers may not issue visas based solely on the assurance,
recommendation or support of third parties, be they personal or professional. It is the visa
applicant alone who must establish eligibility for a visa as required by current immigration law.

Additional Information/Documentation
Please refer to the instruction sheet you were given. It provides the days and times you may
bring the required information. When you bring the additional information/documentation,
you must also bring the instruction sheet given to you by Embassy personnel. Documentation
or information requested by NVC should be sent as instructed in your NVC correspondence.

Information to Third Party Inquiries

Under U.S. immigration regulations, the records of the Department of State relating to visa
decisions are confidential; therefore, information may not be provided to third parties about a
particular visa applicant.

If you are an attorney representing a petitioner and we have a signed G-28, Notice of Entry of
Appearance as Attorney or Representative on file from you, we can respond to your request for
information.

File Transfer to Addis Ababa

To initiate the immigrant visa case transfer request, the beneficiary may visit the Embassy
Consular Section any Monday through Thursday at 11:00 a.m., to complete the transfer request
form. Proof of residency must be presented. Unless proof of residency in Ethiopia can be
demonstrated, we are unable to accept your file transfer request. E-mail requests for file
transfers may be accepted. However, proof of residency must still be provided.

The only exception to this rule is in the case of Eritrean nationals. The U.S. Embassies in Addis
Ababa, Nairobi and Cairo are designated posts for processing Eritrean nationals’ visa
applications. Proof of residency in these cases is not required.

Visa denial under section 214(b) of the Immigration and Nationality Act
Section 214(b) of the Immigration and Nationality Act states applicants for non-immigrant visa
shall be presumed to be intending immigrants, and it places the burden of proof on the
applicants to overcome that presumption. Under the law, consular officers must evaluate the
facts and circumstances surrounding each visa application and judge whether the applicant has
met the burden of proof required by law for issuance of a non-immigrant visa. Applicants must
demonstrate that they have the ties that will compel them to return to their home country
after their travel to the United States. Some of the ties that may be considered during the
interview include professional, employment, educational, family, and social linkages to the
home country. Additionally, consular officers may not issue visas based solely on the assurance
of third parties or by professional affiliation; it is the applicant alone who must establish
eligibility for a visa.

The decision of the consular officer is final and may not be appealed. However, visa ineligibility
under section 214(b) is not permanent, and applicants are welcome to reapply for a visa should
their circumstances change or if they believe that they can present additional evidence to
demonstrate their eligibility for the visa. Those persons reapplying will need to submit a new
visa application, along with any necessary supporting documents, and pay the visa application
processing fee. The application will be given every possible consideration consistent with U.S.
immigration law.

Non-immigrant Visa Renewal

Yes, you will have to go through the whole visa application process each time you want to apply
for a visa, even if your visa is still valid. There are some situations in which a visa applicant may
not need to be interviewed when renewing his/her visa. See this website for more information
about the Personal Appearance Waiver Program.

Application Confirmation Page Reprint

Yes, you can reprint the confirmation page of a DS-160 application that has already been
submitted. In order to do so, go to the Consular Electronic Application Center website and
select the Addis Ababa, Ethiopia. Select “Retrieve Application” on the Getting Started page and
enter your application ID number. From there you will be able to view and print your
confirmation page. Also, if you provided an e-mail address when completing the on-line
application, a confirmation e-mail will be sent to you.

Appointment Confirmation
If you did not print or lost your appointment confirmation page and you are sure you registered
and scheduled your appointment date, you may come on your scheduled date without the
appointment confirmation page. Your name will be checked against the scheduled
appointment list at the entry gate. Please visit this website to confirm you scheduled
appointment date.

Recommended for Revocation

Based on the evidence presented at the interview, the officer was not convinced that the
petition represents a bona fide relationship as required by the Immigration and Nationality Act.
Therefore the case is recommended for revocation. The petition has been or is in the process
of being returned to the National Visa Center (NVC). The petitioner may contact the USCIS
National Customer Service Center at 1-800-375-5283 (1-800-767-1833 for TYY calls) to inquire
about the status of the petition.

Petition Withdrawal
In order to withdraw your visa petition, you must submit a notarized request to our office. In
the request, you must include specific information about the visa case (name, case number, and
type of petition) and the reason for the withdrawal request.

Please mail the request to:

U.S. Embassy, Addis Ababa
Consular Section
P.O. Box 1014
Addis Ababa, Ethiopia
We also accept copies of the notarized requests via e-mail. Please e-mail your notarized
withdrawal request to Addis, IV, or Addis, Fiancé or Addis, Refugee/Asylee

Proof of Identity
It is very difficult to give you a specific list of evidence to provide. All evidence will be
considered on a case-by-case basis. Evidence may include, but is not limited to: school records,
registration cards, official correspondence, or hospital records. Generally speaking, official
documents such as an Ethiopian residency permits or registration cards are more likely to
establish your identity than non-official documents such as money transfer receipts or hospital
receipts. The consular officer is also looking for evidence of continuous use of an identity for at
least the past five years. Without proof of identity, we are unable to continue the visa
application process. DO NOT SUBMIT FALSE DOCUMENTATION WITH YOUR APPLICATION!
Submitting false documentation may result in permanent visa ineligibility and/or a refusal of
the current application.

Expedited Interviews
Expedited interview appointments are only provided in the event of a documented medical
emergency, for emergent business travel or for students enrolling in school. In order to request
an expedited appointment the applicant must first schedule the earliest available appointment
at our website https://usvisa-info.com/. Then after he or she schedules the appointment, he or
she must select the "Request Expedited Appointment" link on the "Application Summary Page"
and follow the instructions.

If your case is still with the National Visa Center, you may contact [email protected] to
request expedition.

Rescheduling Interviews
Immigrant Visa: For immigrant visa interviews we recommend that you make every effort to
come on your scheduled date even if you do not have all of your documents ready. If it is
determined that additional documentation or information is required, you may return Tuesday
or Thursday at 8:00 a.m. for your interview. If you are unable to come on the scheduled date,
please send an e-mail to Addis, Immigrant Visa including your full name as it appears on your
passport, the visa type, the case number, your date of birth and currently scheduled interview
date.

Diversity Visa: Diversity visa numbers are allocated on a monthly basis and all Diversity Visa
applicants should come for their scheduled appointment; otherwise, they risk forfeiting the
opportunity to receive a DV. However, if Diversity Visa applicants are unable to keep their
scheduled date, there is no need to reschedule. They may come to the Embassy any Monday
through Thursday at 8:00 a.m. for their interview. In the event the visa section exhausts their
monthly DV allotment, the applicant risks not having their case processed.
Please be advised that there is no guarantee that Diversity Visas will be available after the
month of your scheduled appointment. Under no circumstance can a Diversity Visa be issued
after September 30 of a given Diversity Visa year.

Non-immigrant (visitor) Visa: If you have a scheduled appointment already and wish to
reschedule, cancel, confirm and/or review the visa required documents to present at the visa
appointment, you will need to login to http://www.usvisa-info.com.

Logging into the site requires the passport number, date of birth and nationality of the primary
applicant applying for the visa. It is very important that you use the same information used to
create the account under which the appointment was scheduled.

Once logged in, you will be directed to an Applicant Summary page and will find choices to
reschedule, cancel, email and/or print your appointment confirmation page. You must bring
this confirmation page to your interview as it serves as proof of your scheduled appointment
date and MRV fee payment.

Please note the following:

* All appointments are non-transferrable. Only the person(s) scheduled will be allowed to enter
and attend the appointment. Another person cannot attend your appointment nor can you give
the appointment date and time to someone else.
* Appointments may not be changed on the date of the appointment.
* An unused MRV fee (visa application fee) payment is valid up to one year from date of
purchase.

I-129 Application Denial

The consular officer was unable to issue a visa in this case because the applicant has been
found ineligible under Section 221 (g) of the Immigration and Nationality Act (INA). This section
prohibits the issuance of a visa to anyone whose application does not comply with the INA or
regulations issued pursuant thereto.

Unless revalidated, I-129F Petitions are only valid for four (4) months from the date of the last
action by the United States Citizenship and Immigration Service (USCIS) or Consular Office. We
are not able to revalidate the case. It will be returned to the National Visa Center (NVC) and
transferred to the USCIS office that originally processed the petition. Because the petition will
have expired by the time the USCIS office receives it, USCIS will not reopen the case.

DNA Testing Option

The consular officer has suggested that DNA testing could be used to prove your eligibility to
immigrate to the U.S. as a relative of the petitioner in your case. DNA testing analyzes the
genetic material present in human cells and has been found to be over 99 percent accurate in
verifying family relationships such as parent/child. The testing is entirely voluntary and all costs
and expenses associated with it must be borne entirely by the petitioner and/or the
beneficiary.

The U.S. based petitioner must use a DNA laboratory that is accredited by the American
Association of Blood Banks (AABB) and conducts buccal swab testing. A list of AABB-accredited
parental testing labs can be found at http://www.aabb.org. The petitioner must contact the
AABB accredited lab directly. DO NOT USE A THIRD PARTY VENDOR. THE RESULTS WILL NOT BE
ACCEPTED. Please ensure that the DNA laboratory:
1. Is AABB-accredited;
2. Can process buccal swabs;
3. Is willing to process the testing for the relationship under question;
4. Is willing to handle international shipments;
5. Will forward the buccal swab test kit to the U.S. Embassy with a copy of this instruction
letter.
Fees incurred for DNA testing are the responsibility of the petitioner and/or beneficiary and are
paid directly to the laboratory. Prices for DNA testing vary by lab. The shipping fee for sending
the sample back to U.S. is the responsibility of the petitioning relative or the beneficiary.
Applicants must also pay a sample collection fee directly to International Clinical Laboratories
(ICL) at the time of sample collection at the U.S. Embassy.

After the DNA swab samples have been taken, we will return them to the AABB-accredited lab
chosen by the petitioner. For immigrant visas and CRBA cases, the Consular Section will contact
the applicant to continue his/her case processing when the results are received. For USCIS
cases, the lab will send the results to the petitioner and the USCIS office that is processing the
petition.

Inquiries regarding DNA sample collection kits or DNA results received by our office may be
sent to Addis, DNA. Include the petitioner’s and beneficiary’s names, the case number and date
collection in your message.

Diversity Visa Fraud

The U.S. Embassy or Department of State will never ask you to pay any fees online, by wire
transfer, or through email. Any email you receive requesting you to pay fees related to the DV
program is fraudulent.

If you receive a fraudulent email notification, please send it to [email protected]. The State
Department has dedicated units that work with Internet providers to try to stop these scams.

Please check our website for additional fraud alert information.

Passport Renewal - Adult

To renew your US passport:
1. Complete form DS-82. Do not sign the form until requested to do so.
2. Make an appointment to appear in person at the US Embassy any Monday through
Thursday, 1:00pm until 3:30 pm.
3. Bring with you:
a) Completed form.
b) Your old passport and 1 copy of the front page.
c) Fees – must be paid in cash. We do not accept Credit Cards or Personal Checks.
d) Photos – 2 passport size (2 in x 2 in or 5 cm x 5 cm), color photos on a white (or very
pale gray) background.

Passport Renewal - Child

1. To renew your child’s US passport:
2. Complete form DS-11 on behalf of your child. Do not sign the form until requested to
do so.
3. Make an appointment. Both parents and your child must appear in person at the US
Embassy any Monday through Thursday, 1:00pm until 3:30 pm. If both parents are not
physically present, the absent parent must complete DS-3053 or submit a Power Of
Attorney with text similar to the following:

“I ---- (absent parent’s name) give my consent to --- (the applying parent’s name) to
process all documents necessary for the issuance of a U.S. Passport to my minor
daughter / son --- (child’s name), whose date of Birth is --- (child’s date of Birth).

The DS-3053 or Power of Attorney must be notarized. You must bring the original
notarized document with you. WE WILL NOT ACCEPT STATEMENTS OF CONSENT
THAT HAVE BEEN FAXED, SCANNED, E-MAILED OR OTHERWISE COPIED.
4. Bring with you:
a) Completed form.
b) The child’s American Birth Certificate or CRBA – original and 1 copy.
c) Your child’s old passport and 1 copy of the front page.
d) Original and 1 copy of the front page of the father’s and mother’s passport. If
the original documents are not available, bring a notarized or certified copy.
e) If both parents are not present, you must bring the notarized DS-3053 or Power
of Attorney as described above.
f) Fees – must be paid in cash. We do not accept Credit Cards or Personal Checks.
g) Photos – 2 passport size (2 in x 2 in or 5 cm x 5 cm), color photos on a white (or
very pale gray) background.

Lost or Stolen Passports

To replace your lost or stolen passport:
1. You must complete form DS-11 and form DS-64. Do not sign the forms until requested
to do so.
 2. You must make an appointment to appear in person at the US Embassy any Monday
through Thursday, 1:00pm until 3:30 pm.
3. Bring with you:
a. Completed form.
b. If your passport has been stolen, bring the original and 1 copy of the police
report. Bring an English translation if it is written in any other language.
c. Fees – must be paid in cash. We do not accept Credit Cards or Personal Checks.
d. Photos – 2 passport size(2”x2” or 5cm x 5 cm), color photos on a white (or very
pale gray) background.

Additional Visa Pages

To add visa pages to your passport:
1. Complete form DS-4085. Do not sign the forms until requested to do so.
2. Make an appointment to appear at the embassy any Monday through Thursday, 1:00pm
until 3:30 pm.
3. Bring with you:
a. Completed form.
b. Your passport.
c. Fees – must be paid in cash. We do not accept Credit Cards or Personal Checks.

Fees Renewal Lost or Stolen Additional Visa

Pages
Adult (>21 years old) 110.00 USD or 135.00 USD or 82.00 USD or
equivalent in Birr equivalent in Birr equivalent in Birr
Adult (17 – 21 years old) 135.00 USD or 135.00 USD or 82.00 USD or
equivalent in Birr equivalent in Birr equivalent in Birr
Minor (<17 years old) 105.00 USD or 105.00 USD or 82.00 USD or
equivalent in Birr equivalent in Birr equivalent in Birr

Fraud
If you have information regarding visa fraud and would like to tell us about it, please e-mail us
at [email protected].

Fraud
If you have information regarding visa fraud and would like to tell us about it, please e-mail us
at [email protected].

Website Problems/Technical Difficulties

If you are experiencing problems with the completing the online application, using the visa
website, or making a fee payment, please contact this email: [email protected].
Please only send ONE request for each problem.
You may also use our call-center:
Applicants can access this service by logging into this web site, calling our local number in Ethiopia, or
via Skype.

+251 11 5151010
+251 11 5581184
Local Numbers:
+251 11 5581186
+251 11 5580877
+251 11 5581183

If you are calling from within the United States, please dial +1.703.439.2369.

For service in English:

- Open Monday - Friday, 7:00 to 19:00 US Eastern Time.

- Open Monday - Friday, 7:00 to 19:00 local time.

For service in Amharic:

- Open Monday - Friday, 7:00 to 19:00 local time.

If you are using Skype: USVISAETHIOPIA

Appealing a Visa Denial

The officer’s decision to deny a non-immigrant visa application is final and cannot be appealed.
If the applicant is eligible to apply again and he or she believes that his/her circumstances have
changed, he or she may reapply. Unfortunately, there is no set list of documentation that will
guarantee the approval of a non-immigrant visa application. The officer must consider a variety
of factors when adjudicating visas including professional, employment, educational, family, and
social linkages to the home country. A ‘change in circumstances’ entails a significant change in
one of those factors. Visas cannot be issued solely on the basis of assurances of family
members, sponsors or any other third parties. It is the applicant alone who can establish
eligibility.

For student visas, applicants must demonstrate that they have sufficient knowledge of English,
a strong academic record, sufficient funds to pursue the intended program, and the likelihood
to succeed academically in the United States. In addition, they must be able to articulate how
their educational goals tie in with their future in Ethiopia.