Updated September 8, 2020
The U.S. Embassy in Belgrade is currently processing certain immigrant and nonimmigrant visa services, including: IR-1/CR-1, IR-2/CR-2 immigrant categories, as well as F (student), M, J, (alien physician, government visitor, international visitor, professor, research scholar, short-term scholar, specialist, secondary school student or college/university student categories that qualify for an exception to the COVID-19 Presidential Proclamations) E, I, O, P, and C1/D nonimmigrant visa categories.
Nonimmigrant visa applicants for H1B, H2B, H4, L and certain J categories covered by Presidential Proclamation 10052 should request an appointment only if you have reason to believe you may qualify for one of the exceptions listed in the Proclamation. Please read Presidential Proclamation 10052 in full for details, including exceptions.
If you had an immigrant visa that was valid on April 23, 2020, and your visa expired before you were able to travel to the United States, you may be eligible to have your visa reissued. Please email BelgradeIV@state.gov and provide the full names of the visa applicant(s), the petitioner, and the case number (typically BLG followed by ten digits) and we will review your case.
While the U.S. Embassy in Belgrade aims to process cases as soon as practicable, there is likely to be increased wait times for completing such services due to substantial backlogs. We are unable to provide a specific date for when we return to processing at pre-COVID workload levels.
Please note that visa appointment availability for the primary purpose of tourism and business remains suspended. The MRV fee is valid and may be used to schedule a nonimmigrant interview appointment in the country where it was purchased within one year of the date of payment. If you have an urgent matter and need to travel immediately, please follow the guidance provided at our Appointment Service Website to request an expedited appointment. Requests for expedited appointments will only be considered if they are submitted through the Appointment Service Website.
When new nonimmigrant visa appointment dates are available for booking, they will display through the appointment calendar through our Appointment Service Website. Immigrant visa applicants who are documentarily qualified and ready to be scheduled for an interview will be contacted directly by the National Visa Center (NVC) and the Belgrade Immigrant Visa Unit.
Please review our Frequently Asked Questions for the latest information about travel to the United States and visa services in Serbia. You may also find detailed information about the current status of visa services worldwide and visa restrictions related to the COVID-19 pandemic by visiting the State Department COVID-19 Visa Services and Restrictions page.
The purpose of your intended travel and other facts will determine what type of visa is required under U.S. immigration law. As a visa applicant, you will need to establish that you meet all requirements to receive the category of visa for which you are applying.
See our Directory of Visa Categories on usvisas.state.gov to determine which visa category might be appropriate for your purpose of travel to the United States.
Nonimmigrant Visas
Travel to the United States on a temporary basis, including tourism, temporary employment, study and exchange.
Immigrant Visas
For foreign citizens who want to live permanently in the United States.
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.
Certain international travelers may be eligible to travel to the United States without a visa if they meet the requirements for visa-free travel. The Visa section of this website is all about U.S. visas for foreign citizens to travel to the United States.
(Note: U.S. citizens don’t need a U.S. visa for travel, but when planning travel abroad may need a visa issued by the embassy of the country they wish to visit.).
Contact Us
Consular services are available by appointment only.
For all information about U.S. visas please visit the Official U.S. Department of State Visa Appointment Service (https://ais.usvisa-info.com) for nonimmigrant (https://ais.usvisa-info.com/en-rs/niv) and immigrant (https://ais.usvisa-info.com/en-rs/iv) visas.
For specific questions about nonimmigrant visa cases after the visa interview email us at consbelgrade@state.gov.
For questions about immigrant visa applications, immigrant visa petitions, diversity visa program (DV Lottery), fiancé(e) visas, returning resident visas, transportation letters, boarding foils for lawful permanent residents and immigrant visa waivers, please contact the immigrant visa unit by email belgradeiv@state.gov .
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.
