Expedited U.S. Visa Program
This program undermines expedited U.S. visa procedures for AmCham Members within the Business Initiative Program.
Companies joining the Business Initiative Program benefit from priority scheduling for visa interviews for employees traveling on legitimate company business. Once the company has enrolled in the program, the designated representative may schedule visa applications interviews per standard procedure at: http://yerevan.usembassy.gov/consular/nonimmigrant.php
If the appointment date available is too late for your employee's travel to the U.S., please call the consular section at 010-49-4111 to re-schedule. You will need to identify yourself as a member of our Business Initiative Program.
Please note that persons applying as part of the Business Initiative Program should be sure to identify themselves as such when submitting visa application materials on their appointed date, e.g. by presenting a business card or company I.D. badge, etc.
In order to become a participant in the Business Initiative Program an Armenian company must:
- Be officially registered with the Armenian Government;
- Be a member of AmCham;
- Submit a sample letter written on the company's official letterhead with the signature and passport data of the person who will submit all future visa applications and who will be included on our Business Initiative courier list (this person will be the responsible party at the Armenian company.
In order to remain in the Business Initiative Program, each company must comply with the following:
Every company employee traveling to the U.S. on an NIV (nonimmigrant visa) issued as part of the Business Initiative program must come to the Embassy to check in when he/she returns to Armenia at the end of his/her visit to the States.
The company must state at the time of the visa application the return date of the visa applicant. Overstays and non-returnees will cause the company to be removed from the program. If an employee needs to extend their stay in the U.S. (e.g. three weeks stay stated on visa application form, resp. during the visa interview, but visa holder must now stay x weeks longer), the company representative must inform the consular section of this change in plans by phone or e-mail (consyerevan@state.gov) so we can note this change in the visa holder's record.
Participating companies must not allow employees who have traveled on an NIV to change visa status in the U.S. to any other visa type. (i.e. if the company wishes to transfer an employee to the US-based company, they must file for the appropriate visa type through DHS/USCIS once the employee has returned to Armenia.)
Use the online version of the DS-156 application form available at the following web address:
http://evisaforms.state.gov/
Any questions should be submitted to the Consular Section Chief at consyerevan@state.gov
