US Visa Application : Guide for Malaysian (Especially Travelling As A Family)

USA here I come !

 

Wait till you read the whole post then only you can interpret the happiest moment once you got the visa....why? I tell you..not as easy as when you apply for Australian visa for example where you can do it online by filled up few details and tadaaa..in 10 mins puffff!! visa approved sent via email and its actually electronically linked to our passport!
 

Rindukan kak Britney?

Berangan ke US sebab nak poyo makan sambal udang petai berlatar belakangkan Hollywood sign? haha - ok tu aku yg berangan pfftt

As a Malaysian, we HAVE to obtained a valid Non-Immigrant Visa to enter USA if the purpose of travelling is for business / tourism. It's gonna be a lengthy structured process starting from filling up the application form (DS-160), payment (via JomPay, or EFT or Cash), registration for interview (a separate login profile), attending the interview at the embassy and then only you will know you will be granted a visa or not...Bear in mind, the visa fee is not refundable and a single mistake while doing payment will coz you to lost the money and have to pay again.

 

When I googled it, most of the step to step process applicable for individual application and none of it explain in detail on how would it be done for family..US website did explained it well but still I find it a bit confusing..huarrrggghh..aku kah yang lembab di sini? ok fine..since I've gone through it and I know, some of you mesti ada yang pening-pening lalat time nak start apply US visa especially apply untuk sekeluarga..ok now its easy peasy..all the lalatss you go go awayyy and have it clear with my guide below :p

 

US APPLICATION GUIDE (STEP BY STEP)

 

1.  Go to US Official Visa - Malaysia website at this address :

 

http://ustraveldocs.com/my

Select " Yes"

Then akan appear another screen :

Select " Non-immigrant" - for business / tourism purpose yaaa

You will be directed to a page where there is a general step-by step advice. Please read it carefully for better understanding of an overall process

And oh ya, make sure ready with passport photo as per US visa standard with white background (both hard copies & soft copies) coz you'll need hard copy during interview and soft copy to be uploaded upon fill up the DS-160 form

Note : Wearing a hijab is not a problem at all. You DO NOT need to prepare a statement stating the reason why are you wearing the hijab. I have no clues before this so I did prepare a letter to justify the reason I wear a hijab but later found out that it is not required

2. Fill up the DS-160 Form

It's gonna be a lengthy process where there are more blanks to fill up..be prepared with your passport, IC, education background, working experience and etc...different people will be asked different question..as in my case, my husband being asked for a more detail itinerary plan.

Click this link to start the application : https://ceac.state.gov/genniv/

Select Location : Malaysia, fill up the code and then click " Start An Application"

Remember to save your Application ID No (can print -pdf) coz you will need this to retrieve your form once you have done it halfway and plan to fill up again later and you need this ID as well when you want to schedule appointment

For this first section- if your name as per passport is Aminah Binti Hassan

Surnames : Hassan

Given Name : Aminah Binti

then bila sampai ke bahagian ni :

Select answer as above untuk Purpose to US and Specify

and so on you may continue the filling process - each will have a slightly different question so it is a must to fill up on your own

3. Pay the Visa Fee - in my case pay it via JomPay

Since I have 3 pax - me, my son and my husband, so I have to generate 3 deposit slip for JomPay because each deposit slip will have a different Reference No or called as Ref-1 (see below Biller Code) which will be used later when you want to schedule an appointment

Go back to the homepage where there is a step by step advice at :

http://ustraveldocs.com/my

Select tab " Pay My Visa Fee"

Look for JomPay description, Click here to generate the deposit slip :

here the deposit slip will look like - remember if have 3 pax have to generate 3 slips yaa coz each individu (include child) have to have different Ref-1 number

Then, go to Maybank2u, select Bill Payment and click "JomPay"..each visa will cost you RM680 as per current exchange rate and remember each deposit slip have an expiration date.. in my case I have 3 pax so I will perform 3x transaction of payment

And oh ya, when you click JomPay at Maybank2u, it will appear like this :

Amount : RM 680 (Visa Fee : USD 160 and tertakluk kepada current exchange rate so always refer to amount stated in deposit slip in RM)

From Account : Select your saving account lah / credit card account lah

Biller Code : 5116 (as of now - always refer to US Visa website for updated info)

Ref-1 : *14 digits number generate from deposit slip*

First I wonder why there is a Ref 2 since in the deposit slip only have Biller Code & Ref-1, later than I found out that, it's not compulsory to fill up the Ref-2. Since we only have Ref-1, so just key in Ref-1 and proceed

Keep the receipt with you and save the deposit slip as well for each member because you will retrieve the Ref-1 no later for scheduling the appointment

Payment Processing Timeline before they activate the Ref-1  for appointment process :

In my case, it takes about a week for them to activate my receipt in order for me to be able to schedule the interview...so tak payah la dok call tiga juta dua ratus kali ke embassy tanya pasaipa depa dok tak activate receipt kau lagi sebab its simple..just give them an ample time..tambah2 kalau apply time ada public holiday / festive season

4. Scheduling An Appointment

To schedule an appointment, you have to create another profile at this link :

https://cgifederal.secure.force.com/

Click "New User" and generate the login detail

Here you need to fill up some personal details & dependant details, then proceed to decide where to collect the visa (either Aramex Office, Jalan Tandang PJ or at Port Klang) and then they will prompt for payment. Like me, I've paid earlier so this step I just key in the Ref-1 No to each applicants and after that we will be directed to the scheduling page where you can select the date & time for interview.

After completion, print the appointment application and compile it with other documents required for the interview.

5. Interview Day

We've selected 16th Oct 2017 as a date to attend the interview at time slot 8:15 am. A day before aku dah ajak hubby round Jalan Tun Razak to ensure the exact location and looks like the nearest covered car park is within G Tower but you have to walk like 7 mins, across the bridge and walk again 5 mins till arrived at the gate of embassy. Sebenarnya ada open car park sebelah embassy dekat Menara See Hoy Chan tapi sapa la nak nampak kalau parking nyer kena masuk ke dalam sikit celah lorong..dah le takde symbol "P" kat tepi jalan..hurghh

And oh ya, Aqeil pun I bawak tau join the interview

Menunggu giliran dengan ketiak berketi haha peluh penat naik turun tangga jambatan..tak lama sebab we should arrived just nice 15 mins from the time slot..

1st - the guard will call according to time slot and when your time slot is being called, get in the line and prepare documents such as appointment confirmation slip, passport and IC. Don't forget, handphone switch off!

2nd - Wait for your turn and at the counter, pass over all your handphone, car key, IC and also passport coz they will put a white sticker behind the passport and return it back to you and you'll be given a visitor card and also a token to claim back your items later

3rd - Get back to the queue and wait for security screening

4th - Get in the embassy and follow the instruction to the waiting area for finger print process

5th - Queue for interview process and questions to us were :

- How are you guys related?

- Why are you going to US?

- Locations you are going to visit?

- How many days in US?

- What's your current position?

then taraaa...your visa is approved for 10 years bebeh!!

Feel like wanna do a jumping jack there!!

mmuahh cikeddd haha

So easy peasy..settle part interview can straight away went out the embassy to the guard house to collect back your items and go back home

Wair for another 2 -3 business day to receive SMS from them asking you to collect the visa if you choose pick up or just wait at home if you choose delivery

You only need maximum 1 hour to go through the process..and after all, I wish you all good luck too in your visa application!

About supporting document, I do bring few supporting docs such as bank statements, pay slip, employment letter but none of it being asked by the officer. My advice, please be prepared with all necessary supporting docs to support your application

Good Luck Y'all

Note : All info, image displayed here are credited to http://ustraveldocs.com/my