Q: Can I apply for a visa in Australia if I am not an Australian passport holder or a permanent resident here?
A: Yes, an applicant has the right to apply for a nonimmigrant visa at any U.S. consulate abroad, therefore you can apply at any U.S. consulate in Australia.
All applicants between the ages of 14 and 79 (inclusive) must appear in person for an interview. Applicants younger than 14 or older than 79 who are neither citizens nor permanent residents of Australia are also required to appear in person.
However, it may be harder to qualify for a visa when applying outside your own country of permanent residence. At your interview you will be required to demonstrate that you have strong ties abroad, and that you will return overseas after your visit to the U.S. If you choose to apply in Australia, keep in mind that your application may be refused, and the application fee is non-refundable.
The most frequent basis for refusal concerns the requirement that the prospective visitor or student possess a residence abroad he/she has no intention of abandoning. Applicants prove the existence of such residence by demonstrating that they have ties abroad that would compel them to leave the U.S. at the end of the temporary stay.
If you do apply in Australia, please bring documentation to your interview to establish that you:
1.Have a residence abroad which you do not intend to abandon
2.Are coming to the U.S. for a definite temporary period
3.Will depart upon the conclusion of your visit
4.Have permission to enter a foreign country after your stay in the U.S.
5.Have access to sufficient funds to cover the expenses of your visit and return passage
A decision on the issuance of your visa will be made at the time of your application and is solely at the discretion of the interviewing officer. Once this decision has been made, there is no course of appeal other than to make a new application at a later date.
Individuals wanting to apply in Australia must schedule an appointment online at the VisaPoint website. You can also fill out and print out the visa application form on this site.
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