The Embassy will be closed on all offical holidays.

Those wishing to visit the official website of the United States Embassy in Nepal please click HERE.

Those seeking services which can only be performed at a US Embassy or US Consulate abroad (such as issuance of a Consular Report of Birth Abroad, US Passport, or additional visa pages for a previously issued US Passport) are well advised to contact an American Citizen Services Section of a US Mission abroad with appropriate Consular jurisdiction. In some cases, it may be possible to set up an appointment with ACS in advance. Setting an appointment in advance can greatly streamline the processing of some requests.

Those seeking non-immigrant visas such as the US tourist visa (B-2 visa), US student visa (F-1 visa), US business visa (B-1 visa), or the US exchange visitor visa (J-1 visa) are likely to see their visa application processed by a non-immigrant visa unit of a US Mission abroad. Those seeking non-immigrant visa benefits should note that such applications are scrutinized pursuant to section 214(b) of the United States Immigration and Nationality Act (INA).

Those seeking immigrant visas for a foreign  relative (ex: CR-1 visa or IR-1 visa) are likely to see their visa application processed at an immigrant visa unit abroad following the approval of a US immigration petition at the United States Citizenship and Immigration Service (USCIS). It should be noted that visa applications for the K-1 visa, a non-immigrant US fiance visa, are processed in much the same manner as the immigrant visa categories as section 214(b) of the INA does not apply to K-1 visa applicants.

Those seeking visas such as the EB-5 visa (immigrant investor category) or the L-1 visa (intracompany transferees) are likely to see their visa application processed following approval of an immigration petition at the USCIS.

For related information please see: USCIS Estimated Processing Times.

There are some countries around the world which have programs whereby investors can obtain virtually instantaneous citizenship simply by investing capital into the economy of the country issuing the nationality documents. In the United States, there is no program that operates this way. However, the EB-5 visa does grant the visa holder lawful permanent residence in the USA. This is a substantial benefit and should not be taken for granted as Lawful Permanent Residence is a highly sought after status that allows the Permanent Resident to permanently reside and work in the United States. Many often refer to Lawful Permanent Residence as “Green Card” status. That said, Lawful Permanent Residence is not American Citizenship. Those in the USA in Green Card status are not permitted to vote in elections, run for political office, and such individuals also cannot obtain a US passport. Although, those in Lawful Permanent Resident (LPR) status may be eligible to obtain a US reentry permit which allows the bearer to leave the United States for as long as two years without raising the presumption of residential abandonment.

Although there is no “citizenship by investment” program in the USA, the EB-5 visa could be the first step in the United States Naturalization process. For example, if an immigrant investor is granted an EB-5 visa and enters the United States, then that individual would be granted permanent residence upon lawful admission. After residing in the United States for a statutorily prescribed period of time, and assuming all other criteria are met, it may be possible for an EB-5 visa holder to apply for naturalization. Naturalization is the process whereby a foreign national becomes a United States Citizen. The process can be somewhat cumbersome and for those unaccustomed to dealing with immigration matters it may seem complex and frustrating at times, but upon approval of a petition for naturalization an EB-5 Immigrant Investor could theoretically obtain United States Citizenship.

Even though the United States does not offer a direct “Citizenship by Investment” program, one could argue that the US offers a “Path to Citizenship” by Investment program in the form of the EB-5 visa which places holders of said visa on track to possible American Citizenship should all other criteria be adhered to and the physical presence requirement be met.

For related information please see: EB-5 Visa Thailand, EB-5 Visa China, or EB-5 Visa Taiwan.