My Step-By-Step Guide on How to Renew a US Tourist Visa Without Interview

September 30, 2017

My Step-By-Step Guide 
on 
How to Renew a US Tourist Visa Without Interview



Link to 2022 update: http://www.pinoyroadtrip.com/2022/09/how-to-renew-us-tourist-visa-without-interview-2022-update.html

First, you have to find out if you are eligible for visa renewal without interview. The criteria are as follows:


Eligibility Criteria for Drop-Box Applicants: 
  • I have a previous B1/B2 visa that I wish to renew. 
  • My visa was issued after July 1, 2007. 
  • My prior visa was valid for at least five years. 
  • My prior B1/B2 visa is still valid or expired within the last 12 months 
  • I am a citizen of the Philippines. 
  • My prior visa does not say “Clearance Received” or “Travel with Employer”. 
  • I have my passport with my B1/B2 visa in my possession
  • My most recent visa was issued on or after my 14th birthday. 
  • The last time I applied for a B1/B2 visa it was approved.

HOW TO APPLY


STEP 1. Have your photo taken.

In my case, I had my photo taken at Great Image. I told them that the photo is for US visa purposes so they know what to do. They charged me 249 pesos and got the photo in 15 minutes. Make sure to get a digital CD copy so you can use the disc to upload the photo when you fill up the DS-160 online application form.


STEP 2. Pay the visa fee.

The tourist visa is US$160. It's peso equivalent at this time is 8320 pesos at the exchange rate of 52 = 1USD. Click HERE   to verify the visa fee amount.

Check out US Visa Bank and Payment Information for primary information on how to pay the visa fee.

To summarize, you can pay 2 ways:

1. Over-the counter at Bank of the Philippine Islands
Go to this site: Bank and Payment Information. Click the Deposit Slip - $160 MRV Fee link to retrieve your US visa deposit slip with the RECEIPT NUMBER. Then go to any Bank of the Philippine Islands branch to pay the visa fee. 

My tip: KEEP THE RECEIPT. You will include a copy of the receipt with all the documents to be sent to the US embassy.



2. Online
If you have a BPI online account, you can pay the visa fee online.
Go to this site: Bank and Payment InformationClick the BPI link under Online Payment to retrieve your REFERENCE NUMBER. 


Log in to your BPI account online and enroll your reference number. Click the Guide to Enrolling Other Bills online 
My tip: After payment, print your payment confirmation. You will include a copy of the payment confirmation with all the documents to be sent to the US embassy.




STEP 3. Fill up the Online Nonimmigrant Visa Application (DS-160).

You can find the form HERE .

My tip: Make sure to remember your APPLICATION ID at the start of your application so you can retrieve and continue filling up your application in case you don't finish it in one sitting.



Prepare the digital copy of your photo. Uploading the digital photo is the last stage of the the process before submitting the DS-160 form online. You cannot submit and digitally sign the DS-160 form without uploading your photo.

Print your DS-160 confirmation page with your photo. You will include this with other documents to be sent to the US embassy.


STEP 4. Register an Account at the US embassy page





You need to create an account because this is where you will input your DS-160 confirmation number so you can retrieve the Dropbox Confirmation Letter. 



NEW FORM!!! Update as of August 6, 2018.

My Tip: Make sure to click "New Application /Schedule Appointment" first and answer questions on what kind of visa you are applying for, etc. BEFORE filling up the "Update Profile" section. Otherwise, if you fill up the "Update Profile" section first, the DS-160 Confirmation Number box WILL NOT APPEAR. You need to fill up that box for the Dropbox confirmation letter to appear. 




You need to input the DS-160 confirmation number in the account you created before a link will appear where you can print the dropbox confirmation letter.





The courier, 2GO Express, will ask for a copy of the dropbox confirmation letter before accepting your documents for delivery to the US embassy.




STEP 5. Gather all documents to be sent to the US embassy via 2GO Express.

CHECKLIST OF THE ITEMS YOU NEED TO SUBMIT:

1. Passports
a. Your current valid passport. 
b. The passport with your most recent B1/B2 visa 
c. All passports issued since the date of your last visa
If you are missing a passport, an affidavit of loss or police report is not acceptable – you will need to schedule an interview.
2. One copy of the Drop-Box Confirmation letter 

3. Two photographs taken within the last six months. 

4. DS-160 Confirmation Page

5. Proof of Payment

STEP 6. Bring the documents to 2GO Express.

No need to pay anything. The visa fee includes the courier fee.


Documents submitted to the US embassy




STEP 7. ARRIVAL OF THE PASSPORTS WITH THE US VISA

FOUR DAYS after submission of the documents, the passport with the new US Tourist Visa (together with all passports submitted) are delivered to the applicant's address.

NOTE: I received my passport 4 days after submission of documents. But I was informed by some people that they received their passports 2 WEEKS  after SUBMISSION of documents. Please take note of this when deciding on when to submit your application for renewal. The embassy do not give an official timetable regarding this service.   



18 comments:

Anonymous said...

Hi! After submitting your docs, did you get any notice from the embassy telling you that they have received your application? Or any notice on the status of your application? I sent mine 5 days ago and i havent heard from them at all.

Meanne said...

You can view the the information at 2go tracking. It will show when the embassy received your passport. My brother also submitted his application a week ago ago and his passport has not been returned yet. Maybe they're busy this time of the year

zoifern said...

did u receive your passport already? how long did it take from the time you submitted it?

Meanne said...

My brother received his passport last December 20, 2017, 2 weeks after submission of documents to 2go.It seems like there's high volume of applications in December. I submitted my application for visa renewal in September 2017 and received it after 4 days.

Anonymous said...

Glad I found your post! Apart from uploading your ID photo, did you scan and upload other documents? Thank you! Happy Holidays! :)

Anonymous said...

Glad I found your post! Apart from the ID photo, did you scan and upload other documents? Thank you! Happy Holidays! :)

Meanne said...

No. Just the photo! Happy holidays to you too!😊

Anonymous said...

Hi Ms. Meanne. Thanks for your post. I'm glad I found it 'because all the while I've been waiting for the dropbox submission letter to be sent to me. I didn't know I have to click the "schedule an appointment" after completing the application process, printing my confirmation page, & creating an account. Because in Step 3 of the US renew my visa page, it says --

Register an account on https://cgifederal.secure.force.com/SiteRegister?
country=Philippines&language=en_US

Please answer the qualifications questions carefully.

If you qualify for Drop-Box submission, you will receive a Drop-Box submission letter
containing a document checklist. Print two copies of the Drop-Box Confirmation letter
(one for your records and the other to be submitted with your application)....

It didn't mention scheduling an appointment and I thought I have to wait for the letter.
Before renewing my visa, I searched for some tips/blogs but I didn't see your blog then.
Anyway, I've completed everything and hope to have my visa renewed without any question or interview. Thank you again for the sharing. Happy New Year!

Anonymous said...

Hello! Were you asked for any additional requirements aside from the ones you mentioned? Perhaps documents like an employment certificate, bank statement, ITR, etc. Thanks!!

Meanne said...

No, they didn't ask for those documents

Anonymous said...

This is very helpful.

Thank you very much for sharing. =)

Anonymous said...

hi ms. meanne, i just had my multiple b1/b2 visa renewed thru drop box. passport and some documents was returned to me after 4 days with a 221g green letter stating that i have "to return to the embassy for interview". anyone encountered the same? is there a possibility of visa denial? thank you

Meanne said...

It means you are not eligible for a visa now based on the documents you submitted. The officer needs more information before he can grant you a visa. That's why he's calling you in for interview to determine whether or not to grant you a visa. This is not outright denial. But there is a possibility of denial, depending on how the interview goes.

Anonymous said...

Hello, did you set up an appointment as well in step 4 when you registered for an account in the US embassy? Thank you!

Meanne said...

No, I didn't set up an appointment.

Katrina said...

Hi Ms. Meanne, Saw your post and used it as a guide all through out the application process and got my US visa after 4 days as well. This was really helpful. Thank you

Matt said...

THANK YOU VERY MUCH!!! This has been really helpful!!!! So that's it? No additional documents needed? Just the ones you posted and you got your passport with visa back in 4 days? Wow. That really sounds good. I hope that'll be the case for me as well, this is my 3rd time to renew my visa and my first time to try this dropbox. Hope all goes well.

Mitzi said...

HI! Thank you for your post, it was really helpful! Just followed your instructions, but what I got was an Interview Waiver Confirmation Letter instead of a Dropbox Confirmation letter. And there were fewer documents to submit, i.e. no more DS-160 confirmation page and proof of payment. Do you think they just updated their requirements?