Overview
The Consular Section of the U.S. Embassy in Buenos Aires is responsible for providing visa services to those seeking to enter the United States for tourism, business, study, medical treatment, work or other temporary travel purposes.
Please visit our Visa Appointment Service website for complete information on applying for a nonimmigrant U.S. visa, including a directory of nonimmigrant visa categories.
We are unable to answer visa questions submitted by mail or telephone. Please take the time to read all the relevant visa and travel information on our website. If the answer to your question is already on our website, we will be unable to provide you with a further response.
Groups of agricultural workers, artists or athletes traveling to the United States.
Holders of this visa type are foreign government diplomats, international organizations officials and employees, their immediate family members and their domestic workers.
Treaty Traders & Investors Visa (E)
Treaty Trader (E-1) and Treaty Investor (E-2) visas are for citizens of countries with which the United States maintains treaties of commerce and navigation. To qualify for an E-1 visa, the applicant must be coming to the United States solely to engage in substantial trade in qualifying activities, including trade in services or technology, principally between the United States and the treaty country, or to work in the enterprise as an executive, supervisor, or essentially skilled employee. To qualify for an E-2 visa, the applicant must be coming to the United States solely to develop and direct the operations of an enterprise in which the applicant has invested a substantial amount of capital, or to work in the enterprise as an executive, supervisor, or essentially skilled employee.
Transit & Crewmember Visas (C1/D)
Transit (C) visas are nonimmigrant visas for persons traveling in immediate and continuous transit through the United States en route to another country, with few exceptions.
Personal or domestic servants who are accompanying or following to join an employer in the United States are eligible for B-1 visas; those accompanying or following to join an employer who is a foreign diplomat or official are eligible for A-3 or G-5 visas, depending on the visa status of their employer. This category of persons includes, but is not limited to, cooks, butlers, chauffeurs, housemaids, parlormaids, valets, footmen, nannies, au pairs, mothers’ helpers, gardeners, and paid companions.
Summer Work & Travel (SWT) and Exchange Programs (J)
Promoting cultural exchange by allowing post-secondary and/or university students to travel to the United States in order to know its people, customs, improve their English and work temporarily during their summer vacation.
How to Apply
Filling out the DS-160 online is easy and doesn’t require help from a third party. Just click on this link https://ceac.state.gov/genniv/
For specific information about how to apply for a visa (required documents, visa fee, scheduling an appointment, and delivery services), please visit https://ais.usvisa-info.com/en-ar/niv
Visa Renewals, Personal Appearance and Interview Requirements
For more information on visa renewals, please visit https://ais.usvisa-info.com/en-ar/niv/information/niv
For more information on personal appearance and interview requirements, please click here.
Visiting the Embassy- Security and Access Policy
The Embassy of the United States in Buenos Aires is located on Avenida Colombia 4300, Buenos Aires City.
The business hours of the Consular Section are Monday to Friday, from 7:00 a.m. to 4:00 p.m., excluding Argentine and American holidays. However, access to the Consular Section is by appointment only.
Only non-immigrant visa applicants with a scheduled appointment and those specified below will be admitted into the Embassy:
- Parent(s) or guardian(s) accompanying children under 18 years old
- Interpreters for applicants who do not speak English or Spanish
- Assistants for the disabled
- Employers of domestic employee applicants
Security
Every person visiting the Embassy must agree to a security screening before entering the Consular Section with their belongings.
Applicants will not be allowed to enter the Embassy with the following items:
- Weapons or any element that could be used as a weapon, including knives, metallic files, nail clippers, scissors, etc.
- Electronic devices (mobile phones, cameras, laptops, tablets, USBs, cables, remote controls, remote access keys or other electronic equipment) with the exception of medical devices.
- Liquids and/or flammable items, including sodas, perfume, lighters, matches, etc.
- Purses or bags measuring 20 x 15 x 10cm or more (smaller purses are allowed)
- Packages, bags, backpacks, briefcases, suitcases
- Drugs, narcotics or any illegal substance, as well as medicines without a prescription
Administrative Processing
Some visa applications require further administrative processing, which takes additional time after the visa applicant’s interview by a consular officer. Applicants will be advised of this requirement.
Most administrative processing is resolved within 60 days of the visa interview, but the timing will vary based on individual circumstances of each case.
The Consular Section recommends that individuals apply for visas well in advance of their proposed date of travel, and not make final travel plans or purchase non-refundable tickets until the passport and visa have been received.
If your case:
Has been delayed for more than 10 days since it was processed, you received a green sheet (administrative processing/221g) or you have been notified about the delay by email or phone and you need to check on the status of your case or;
Has been delayed for more than 10 days since it was processed by the consular section and when you verify the case the status is “no status’ or “application received” or it appears as denied
Please use the contact form in our website so we can verify the status of the case. Please select “My question is about Nonimmigrant visas and it is not included in your website”.
Lost or Stolen Passports
If your passport with a U.S. visa (valid or expired) is stolen or lost, even if you have no immediate travel plans, please report the theft immediately to the Embassy via email to:
BNS-FPU@state.gov.
Please include the following information, as well as the words “Lost” or “Stolen” in the subject line:
- Full name (as it appears on your stolen or lost passport)
- Date of the robbery or date in which you believe your passport with the visa was lost. Passport number of your lost or stolen passport (if available)
- Number of the lost or stolen passport (if you have it)
- DNI or National Identification number
- Phone number
- Police report (if available)