To contact a customer service representative, please visit the GSS Contact Us page for full information or use contact information below:

If you have technical questions regarding applying for a visa, scheduling an appointment, or choosing delivery options please refer to information provided by the CSC Visa Information Center website, email contactus_es_UY@usvisa-info.com, call (+598) 2517 0260 in Uruguay or 703-439-2333 from the United States or usvisauruguay via Skype.

If you have a specific question about a pending nonimmigrant case, you may contact the Visa Section directly. Please note that under U.S. law, visa records are confidential and we will not respond to inquiries from third parties. The Visa Section will only respond to visa inquiries from the applicant or from the applicant’s legal representative.

If you have an urgent need to travel to the United States due to an emergency, please review the criteria for expedited appointments below. If you feel that your circumstances fall within the listed situations, you may request an expedited appointment through the appointment system at https://usvisa-info.com/. You may be asked to provide supporting documentation.

Please note the U.S. Embassy recommends that travelers apply for visas with as much anticipation ahead of their planned travel as possible.

The following situations may qualify for expedited appointments or as emergencies:

Medical emergency; a written note from the attending physician indicating the specific nature of the emergency must be provided. The note must include the physician’s contact information.

Death of an immediate family member; a written note or report from a competent authority in the U.S., indicating where and when the death occurred must be provided.

Business emergency, defined as an event that could not be foreseen, and does not generally include conference travel; a letter on company letterhead explaining the urgent and last-minute nature of the travel must be provided.

Students, where the required I-20 or DS-2019 was delayed; the approval date of the I-20 or DS-2019 must reflect this delay.

Citizens of Visa Waiver Countries whose passport was lost or stolen while visiting Uruguay.

Welcome to the Nonimmigrant Visa (NIV) Unit of the U.S. Embassy in Montevideo and thank you for your interest in visiting the United States. Temporary visitors to the United States must apply for and obtain this visa before beginning their journey.

Many people apply for tourist visas (or B1/B2 visas), but we also adjudicate more than 20 other types of NIVs, including student visas, work visas, exchange visas, and investor visas. We encourage applicants to use this website to learn as much as they can about the laws, regulations and policies involved in processing a NIV application.

We recommend that you do not purchase your airline ticket or incur non-reimbursable expenses until you have received your visa.

The information in this website is designed to help you to understand the process and, if a visa interview is required, to come to the interview prepared.

Please visit our Global Support Services (GSS) website for complete information on applying for a nonimmigrant U.S. visa, including a Directory of NI Visa Categories.

A new visa appointment system for non-immigrant visas took effect in 2011 that reduces costs for applicants and allows online appointment scheduling.

It is mandatory for every non-immigrant visa applicant to complete the DS-160 form on-line.

For more information please see Frequently Asked Questions and Visa Wait Times.

Please note that the following documents are mandatory to bring to the interview:

• Valid passport,
• DS-160 Confirmation Page,
• 5x5cm color photo.

See also: Information about Immigrant Visas

Official Travel:  Application Procedures

Official travel is defined as:  national government officials or diplomats traveling to the United States to engage in official duties or activities on behalf of their national government.  Additionally, official travel includes diplomats, foreign officials, and employees who will work for international organizations in the United States.

Individuals must obtain the appropriate diplomatic or official “A” or “G” nonimmigrant visa prior to entering the United States.

Document Acceptance and Application Procedures:

• An applicant, or courier from the sending government entity, may submit documents for a diplomatic or official visa to the Consular Section Monday – Thursday between 11:00 a.m. and 12:00 p.m. (excluding U.S. and Uruguayan holidays). No appointment is needed. The applicant need not appear at the embassy.
• The following documents are required for each applicant:
  • Diplomatic, official, or regular passport,
  • 5×5 cm photograph taken within the last six months (specific requirements are available at: https://travel.state.gov/content/travel/en/us-visas/visa-information-resources/photos.html),
  • Form DS-160 completed on-line; confirmation page with barcode must be printed and submitted, available at https://ceac.state.gov/GenNIV/, and
  • Diplomatic Note from the appropriate foreign office, mission, or international organization containing the following information for the principal applicant:

(1)  Name and date of birth;

(2)  Passport number;

(3)  Position and title;

(4)  Place of assignment or visit in the United States;

(5)  Purpose of travel (if for military training, please include a complete description of the equipment on which the applicant will be trained);

(6)  Brief description of duties;

(7)  Travel dates;

(8)  Anticipated length of stay or tour of duty in the United States; and

(9)  The names, relationships, and dates of birth of any dependents and other members of household who will accompany or join the principal applicant.

• The Consular Section will review all paperwork to ensure the required documentation and information has been submitted. If everything is correct and the applicant’s case is without complication, the visa applicant, or authorized individual with a signed letter of permission, will be able to retrieve the applicant’s passport and visa from the Consular Section three (3) business days following the day it was accepted.
• While visas for official travel can typically be processed in three business days, it is important to remember that various factors can cause delays in the issuance process. As such, the Consular Section urges official travelers to apply for visas with as much anticipation ahead of their planned travel as possible.

Note about Visa Fees for Official Travel:  Individuals who qualify for a visa for diplomatic or official travel are exempt from paying visa fees.

Questions regarding individual cases may be directed to: MontevideoVisas@state.gov.

Non-Official Travel:  Application Procedures

Government officials traveling to the United States to perform non-official or non-governmental functions of a commercial nature, or traveling as tourists, must apply for the appropriate visa category for the specific travel purpose, and cannot travel on an “A” or “G” visa for non-official travel.  Applicants for non-official purposes, including official passport holders, are required to follow the normal application process, pay the nonimmigrant visa application fee, and schedule an appointment for an interview.  Please see the complete information on this process here: https://uy.usembassy.gov/visas/.

Note for Diplomatic Passport Holders:

The only exception to the above pertains to diplomatic passport holders.  Diplomatic passport holders, regardless of travel purpose, may submit their application documentation, in person, to the Consular Section Monday – Thursday between 11:00 a.m. and 12:00 p.m. (excluding U.S. and Uruguayan holidays).  No appointment is needed.

Individuals holding diplomatic passports may also be exempt from visa fees, regardless of visa classification and purpose of travel.  Possession of a diplomatic passport or the equivalent is not by itself sufficient to qualify for a no-fee visa; the Consular Section will determine whether the visa applicant qualifies for an exemption of fees under U.S. immigration law, including 22 CFR 41.26.

For applicants holding diplomatic passports applying for visas for non-official travel (a B1/B2 visa, for example), the following are required:

• In-person appearance by all applicants between the ages of 14 and 79,
• Diplomatic passport,
• 5×5 cm photograph taken within the last six months (specific requirements are available at: https://travel.state.gov/content/travel/en/us-visas/visa-information-resources/photos.html),
• Form DS-160 completed on-line; confirmation page with barcode must be printed and submitted, available at https://ceac.state.gov/GenNIV/.and

For diplomatic passport holders, the visa applicant, or an authorized individual with a signed letter of permission, will be able to retrieve the applicant’s passport and visa from the Consular Section.

Questions regarding individual cases may be directed to MontevideoVisas@state.gov.

The telephone number for questions about the visa application process: (+598) 2517 0260
You can also send e-mail enquiries directly to the Consular Section to MontevideoVisas@state.gov

Individuals who have left the United States via deportation or voluntary departure and need their voluntary departure form signed by a consular officer must schedule a Consular appointment through: MontevideoIV@state.gov

You must present the voluntary departure form you were given before departing the United States, as well as valid photo identification and proof of when you departed the United States, such as original airline boarding passes, bus tickets, or other proof of a land border crossing.  We are closed to the public on Uruguayan and U.S. holidays.

There is no charge for this service.