• Average appointment wait time for nonimmigrant visas, click here.  To make a nonimmigrant appointment, please visit the Application Processing Center's (APC) web site.

• Average visa processing time, click here: This means the number of working days it takes for applicants to receive their passport via the courier once a consular officer issues a visa.

• All applicants should be aware that the times given above are AVERAGES, and that the processing time of a specific case can vary due to individual circumstances and other special requirements.  We recommend that individuals build in ample time before their planned travel date when seeking to obtain a visa.

• Due to new biometric requirements for all visa applicants worldwide, visa applications must undergo additional computer processing in the U.S. Although this new process does not significantly increase average visa production time, occasionally individual applications may be 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 - applicants with technical and scientific backgrounds, students and scholars in scientific fields, and applicants who are not from Taiwan - AIT must refer the visa application to the US Department of State in Washington, DC for additional processing. Usually this process takes approximately four weeks, although it can sometimes take longer.
  
  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 U.S.; 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 U.S. 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., their resume and their 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 and AIT will review it.
   

The American Institute in Taiwan (Taipei office) is located at
#7, Lane 134, Hsin 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 applicants who arrive at the appointed time will be allowed into the building with minimal delay. Due to safety reasons and the large number of applications that we process every day, applicants who arrive before their appointed time cannot be let into the building early. To avoid an unnecessary wait outside 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 documents pre-processed by our appointment contractor, the Atos Origin Application Processing Center (APC). The APC service fee is NT$320 per applicant. For detailed information on how to submit your documents 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 between the ages of 14 and 79 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 between the ages of 14 and 79

  Applicants between the ages of 14 and 79 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, and other supporting documents to AIT Taipei for interview.
  
  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.
  • Click here for Press Release.
  • For Frequently Asked Questions on Biometrics, Click Here.
  • For a video demonstrating the Biometric Process, please click below:
  High Bandwidth | Low Bandwidth

• Applicants under the age of 14

  A parent or legal guardian must apply on behalf of a child who has not yet reached his/her 14th birthday 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 submit the child's application. The parent or legal guardian or representative should bring the child's application (which has been processed either online or at the APC),  the child's passport (including old passport), household registration record, other supporting documents and/or the authorizing letter to Nonimmigrant Visa Unit's Information Window between 8:00 am and 3:00 pm on any working day without appointment. If a parent or other family member between the ages of 14 and 79 who wish to apply for a visa at the same time, they should submit all applications together at the time of their visa interviews.
  AIT strongly recommends that applicants under age 14 NOT accompany parents or legal guardians to AIT to submit non-immigrant visa applications. There is no requirement for children to appear for interview. While AIT makes every effort to process all applicants in a timely fashion, unexpected delays may occur, leading to inconvenience for families with children. AIT strongly recommends that the parent(s) or legal guardian(s) of applicants under age 14 and/or their representative(s) submit US visa information on those accompanying applicants to the US. AIT also strongly recommends that applicants under age 14 traveling with a non-custodial parent, relative or friend submit a letter of permission for such travel from applicant's legal guardian(s).

• Applicants 80 years old and older

  Applicants who have reached their 80th birthday may have a representative submit their applications to AIT without appointment. Applicants or the representative should bring the application (which has been processed either online or at the APC), and applicant's passport (including old passport) to AIT's 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 a request e-mail to visaniv@mail.ait.org.tw The e-mail subject line should read: Request for Expedited Appointment. 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 NT$4,100 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 is a nonrefundable fee and may be paid at any branch of the Taiwan post office. 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. 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.

Please note that due to the recent shifts in the exchange rate between the U.S. Dollar and the New Taiwan Dollar, and in keeping with the worldwide U.S. nonimmigrant visa processing fee, AIT will reduce its visa processing fee effective April 1, 2008 from NT$4,200 to NT$4,100. As this adjustment is made on the basis of exchange rate shifts and not on any change in the underlying visa processing costs or fee structure, there will be no refund of any fees paid prior to April 1 at the NT$4,200 rate. The worldwide U.S. nonimmigrant visa processing fee remains at US$131. Applicants who paid the previous fee of US$100 prior to January 1, 2008 must pay an additional NT$1,000 into the Taiwan post office account listed below, and should present two payment receipts during their interview at AIT. Account number: 50053385, Account name: AIT Supplemental Visa Processing Fee.

APC Service Fee:

The APC service fee is NT$320 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$160, pay on delivery. Please note that this fee will be increased to NT$170 effective July 23, 2008.

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.

  • 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.)

• DS-156E: Nonimmigrant Treaty Trader / Investor Application (PDF file)
  E-1, E-2 applicants must also complete this form.

• DS-157 (Supplemental nonimmigrant visa application) (PDF file)
  Male applicants older than 16 and younger than 46 must also complete this form.

• DS-158 (Contact information and work history for nonimmigrant visa application) (PDF file)
  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$160. Pay on delivery. Families may request to place up to four applicants’ passports in one envelope for one price of NT$160. Please note that this fee will be increased to NT$170 effective July 23, 2008. AIT anticipates that passports will be returned to applicants via courier service within five to seven 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 time of a specific case can vary due to individual circumstances and 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.  Answer all questions correctly, including those about marital status, previous travel, and relatives in the U.S.  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 the US is still the most attractive tourist site in the world.  In Taiwan we issue nearly 200,000 visas a year, making it one of our largest issuance offices.  Taiwan also is one of the largest sources of foreign students in the U.S.  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" (http://usinfo.state.gov/journals/itps/0905/ijpe/visacode.htm).

Who can I contact?

We value your questions and comments regarding tourism to the U.S. To ask questions or make suggestions, please send an e-mail to visaniv@mail.ait.org.tw.

• For recorded information on nonimmigrant visas, please call 886-2-2162-2000.
• For information on appointments and how to submit your documents 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 you have any comments on nonimmigrant visa processing procedures, please call AIT at 886-2-2162-2400 (9:00 - noon and 1:00 - 3:30 pm except for holidays). We welcome any comments from you on how Atos Origin and AIT can help to provide better service.
• If your question is not answered by this web site or if you wish to check the status of a pending application, please send your inquiry to us by fax at 886-2-2162-2239 or by e-mail at visaniv@mail.ait.org.tw.