Non-Resident Applicants
Non-resident applicants are encouraged to read this in entirety before scheduling your visa interview at the U.S. Embassy in Bridgetown, Barbados. The current wait time for Third Country National applicants is 1 day.
Routine Appointments for applicants not ordinarily resident in our consular district are limited. Any applicant currently residing in the United States who seeks to extend their legal stay should contact U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services here .
Third Country Nationals (TCN) can apply at the U.S. Embassy in Barbados, however, expedited printing of your visa to accommodate departure from your temporary stay in Bridgetown will not be accommodated for routine appointments. We do not allow expedited appointments for TCN’s and TCN’s must stay in Barbados to complete their visa processing.
What is a Third-Country National?
A third-country national (TCN) is a citizen, resident, and passport holder of a country other than Antigua and Barbuda, Barbados, Dominica, Grenada, St. Lucia, St. Kitts and Nevis, or Saint Vincent and the Grenadines who applies for a non-immigrant visa. Any applicant currently residing in the United States who seeks to extend their legal stay should contact U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services at this link: https://www.uscis.gov/visit-the-united-states/extend-your-stay
Tips for Third Country Visa Applicants
It is a grave error for an applicant or an attorney to believe that applying for a visa in Barbados will be simpler or easier than applying in the applicant’s home country. If you hold a passport from a country besides Antigua and Barbuda, Barbados, Dominica, Grenada, St. Lucia, St. Kitts and Nevis, or Saint Vincent and the Grenadines, be sure to check the website of the U.S. Embassy in that country for visa information specific to your nationality. If you have no long-term status in our consular district (e.g. you are a visitor and not an immigrant, refugee, student or worker), the best place to apply for a visa is in your home country. U.S. visa law is the same around the world and we give applicants without a long term, established connection to our consular district extra scrutiny.
Out of district residents who do not speak English are required to bring their own translator. If qualified for the visa, out of district residents MUST stay in Barbados to receive their visa and will not be permitted to take their passport to mail back for visa printing.
A visa application or appointment does not equal visa eligibility. Occasionally, applicants require additional, lengthy review, which may significantly delay travel to the United States by days, weeks or even months and may require the applicant to seek permission from the Government of Barbados to remain in the country or travel to a third country while processing occurs. Some applicants may simply be ineligible. The applicant bears all responsibility for qualifying for a visa. There is no prescreening, interim visa or expedited processing. TCN applicants are generally ineligible for expedited appointments with limited exceptions in emergency situations. By seeking a visa in Barbados you confirm that you understand and accept full and sole responsibility for the outcome of your visa application. Successful applicants for work related visas should expect that it will take at least 7 to 10 business days for a visa to be issued, depending on processing time required. None of these times are guaranteed and all applicants should expect delays. Ineligible applicants cannot travel to the United States, even if they came from the United States and hold a still-valid Arrival and Departure Record (I-94).