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Visas

The Consular Section of the U.S. Embassy in Panama City is responsible for providing visa services to those seeking to enter the United States for a temporary period and for those wishing to take up indefinite or permanent residence in the United States.

Please visit our Global Support Services (GSS) website for complete information on applying for a nonimmigrant U.S. visa, including a directory of nonimmigrant visa categories.

Due to the global pandemic, the Consular Section of the U.S. Embassy in Panama is able to process B1/B2 visa renewals via authorized courier through the Interview Waiver Program only.

Additionally, we are scheduling limited in-person appointments for certain non-immigrant visa services, including the following categories: A, G, C3 (diplomatic), C1/D (crew member), E2 (investor), I (media), P (athletes), O (extraordinary abilities), F and M (students), J (students), H and L (work visas).

All visa services are subject to relevant Presidential Proclamations and U.S. court orders as noted at this link: https://travel.state.gov/content/travel/en/News/visas-news.html. While the U.S. Embassy Panama aims to process cases as soon as possible, there may be increased wait times due to staffing limitations.

If you have an urgent need to travel – such as an emergency affecting the health or welfare of a visa applicant or immediate family member– please email Panama-Visas@state.gov and explain your emergency.

The U.S. Embassy in Panama will extend the validity of your payment (known as the MRV fee) until September 30, 2023, to allow all applicants who were unable to schedule a visa appointment as a result of the suspension of routine consular operations an opportunity to schedule and/or attend a visa appointment with the already paid fee.

What is a Visa?

A citizen of a foreign country who seeks to enter the United States generally must first obtain a U.S. visa, which is placed in the traveler’s passport, a travel document issued by the traveler’s country of citizenship or nationality.

Certain international travelers may be eligible to travel to the United States without a visa if they meet the requirements for visa-free travel under the Visa Waiver Program.  The Visa section of this website is all about U.S. visas for foreign citizens to travel to the United States.  If you cannot find what you are looking for here, please visit Travel.State.gov for additional information.

Note: U.S. citizens do not need a U.S. visa for travel to the United States, but when planning travel abroad a U.S. citizen may need a visa issued by the embassy or consulate of the country they wish to visit.

Do You Already Know What Type of Visa You Need?

For nonimmigrant visas, you can go directly to the online application for the DS-160; or for immigrant visas, directly to the USCIS site for the relevant forms.  If you are unsure, please use the Visa Wizard below to help you determine your visa type.

Please Note

Please visit our Global Support Services (GSS) website for complete information on applying for a nonimmigrant U.S. visa, including a directory of nonimmigrant visa categories.

Due to the global pandemic, the Consular Section of the U.S. Embassy in Panama is able to process B1/B2 visa renewals via authorized courier through the Interview Waiver Program only.

Additionally, we are scheduling limited in-person appointments for certain non-immigrant visa services, including the following categories: A, G, C3 (diplomatic), C1/D (crew member), E2 (investor), I (media), P (athletes), O (extraordinary abilities), F and M (students), J (students), H and L (work visas).

All visa services are subject to relevant Presidential Proclamations and U.S. court orders as noted at this link: https://travel.state.gov/content/travel/en/News/visas-news.html. While the U.S. Embassy Panama aims to process cases as soon as possible, there may be increased wait times due to staffing limitations.

If you have an emergency need for a visa, complete your application, pay for, and schedule your appointment at www.ustraveldocs.com/pa . You may request consideration for an expedited appointment through the same system. Please be sure to submit supporting documents along with your request.

The U.S. Embassy in Panama will extend the validity of your payment (known as the MRV fee) until September 30, 2022, to allow all applicants who were unable to schedule a visa appointment as a result of the suspension of routine consular operations an opportunity to schedule and/or attend a visa appointment with the already paid fee.

Customer Service Statement

The Department of State manages the visa process strictly but fairly in order to best protect the United States.  We are committed to the essential openness for which the United States has always been known.  Travel to the United States is welcomed and encouraged.

We promise to you, the visa applicant, that:

  • We will treat you with dignity and respect, even if we are unable to grant you a visa.
  • We will treat you as an individual and your case as unique.
  • We will remember that, to you, a visa interview may be a new or intimidating experience and that you may be nervous.
  • We will use the limited time available for the interview to get as full a picture as possible of your travel plans and intentions.
  • We will use our available resources to fairly assist all applicants to get appointments to allow travel in time for business, study, and other important obligations.
  • We will post detailed and accurate information on visa requirements and application procedures on every Embassy and Consulate website.
  • We will provide information on non-immigrant appointment waiting times at every Embassy and Consulate posted on http://travel.state.gov.
  • We will explain the reason for any visa denial to you.

Furthermore, if you are a:

  • Student, we will make every effort to ensure that you get an appointment and, if qualified, a visa in time to start classes.
  • Medical and humanitarian emergency traveler, we will expedite processing for those dealing with life threatening emergencies.
  • Business traveler, we will establish appropriate mechanisms to facilitate business travel and expedite cases of particular concern to American business.

At the same time, we expect you, the visa applicant, to:

  • Plan your travel and visa application as far in advance as possible.
  • Complete your application fully and accurately.
  • Be forthcoming about your purpose and plans.
  • Prepare for your interview by being able to clearly and concisely describe your intentions.

Contact Us

To contact a customer service representative, please visit the GSS Contact Us page for full information or use contact information below:

For information about how to apply for U.S. non-immigrant visas in Panama, please contact our call center between 9 a.m. and 5 p.m Monday through Friday at +507 833-9393 (closed on weekends and holidays), or visit our new visa information website at http://ustraveldocs.com/pa for the most recent guidance.

If you have any information or fact-based suspicions of possible fraud in U.S. visa, immigration or U.S. passport cases, please send us your report with as much details as you have to panamadenuncias@state.gov or leave a voice message at 3175324. Your report can be anonymous, or you if you wish you may leave your name and contact information. Thank you for helping us combat fraud.

 

Visa Types

Tourism & Visit

Business

Employment

Study & Exchange

Immigrate

Other Types of Visas

Our Locations

Rights and Protections for Temporary Workers

The pamphlet linked below informs you of your rights as a nonimmigrant visa holder in certain employment- and education-based categories.

Select Your Pamphlet

Rights and Protections for Immigrant Visa Applicants

The pamphlet informs applicants applying for K-1 visas, K-3, IR-1/CR-1 immigrant visas, and F2A immigrant visas of their legal rights relating to domestic violence, sexual assault, and child abuse.

Select Your Pamphlet

Other Resources

Nonimmigrant Visa FAQs

COVID-19 Travel Planner

Legal Rights and Protections

Summer Work Travel

Fraud Prevention Warning

U.S. Citizenship and Immigrant Services

U.S. Customs and Border Protection

USA.gov

Travel.state.gov

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