The U.S. Embassy strongly encourages residents of The Bahamas and the Turks and Caicos Islands to apply now for any U.S. visas they may need during the busy summer travel season, particularly for cruise travel.    According to the U.S. Embassy’s Consul, Robin Haase, there is currently low-to-no wait time for an interview appointment, leaving potential applicants with plenty of opportunity to apply now for their U.S. visas.  In addition, there will be fewer available visa appointments between April 1 and April 15 due a computer software upgrade, giving travelers more reason to apply early.

“If you are thinking about taking the family on a cruise or plan on visiting relatives abroad while the kids are on summer break, we encourage you to take advantage of the slower applicant season by applying for your U.S. visas in February or March,” Haase added.  Although most Bahamians can normally travel visa-free if they travel on commercial air carriers at the international airports in Nassau and Freeport, Bahamians who are traveling to the U.S. to board a cruise ship are required to hold valid U.S. visas.

The U.S. Embassy also recommends that travelers not purchase travel tickets until they have their visas in hand.   Haase explained that under the current visa processing requirements, approved visas usually require more than 24 hours to produce, and in some cases longer.    “The majority of successful visa applicants can expect to receive their visas the next business day,” Haase said.  “However, if your application requires additional processing or if there there’s a systems glitch, you may have to wait several days or potentially several weeks after the visa is approved before you receive your visa.”

During the busy student visa season (May – September), the waiting period for an appointment increases from a few days to several weeks or more.  To ensure that students from The Bahamas and the Turks and Caicos Islands have the opportunity to attend their classes in the U.S. on time, student visa applicants are given the highest priority for appointment requests during the summer. 

“ Because of the student visa rush between May and September, the U.S. Embassy is unable to expedite visa appointments for vacation travelers. Exceptions will only be possible in cases of a clear emergency,” said Haase.  “If you apply for your tourist visa now, instead of waiting until just before your trip, you will make sure that you will not miss your cruise or lose your deposit.”

The U.S. Embassy offers a fantastic step-by-step guide on how to apply for a travel visa. This guide can be found on the Embassy’s website (http://nassau.usembassy.gov) under the “Non-Immigrant Visa” tab at the top.   This easy-to-read guide provides information on scheduling an appointment, a link to the visa application form, and suggestions on the types of documentation applicants should be prepared to present the day of the appointment.

“We know that there is inaccurate information out there about the visa process, so we encourage all visa applicants to visit the U.S. Embassy, Nassau’s website for official information on applying for a U.S. visa,” said Haase.