An official website of the United States government
Official websites use .gov
A .gov website belongs to an official government organization in the United States.
Secure .gov websites use HTTPS
A lock (
) or https:// means you’ve safely connected to the .gov website. Share sensitive information only on official, secure websites.
Consular services in Australia are offered by the U.S. Consulates in Melbourne, Perth & Sydney. The U.S. Embassy in Canberra does not process visa applications. Immigrant Visas are only processed by the U.S. Consulate in Sydney.
A citizen of a foreign country who seeks to enter the United States generally must first obtain a U.S. visa, which is placed in the traveler’s passport, a travel document issued by the traveler’s country of citizenship or nationality.
Certain international travelers may be eligible to travel to the United States without a visa if they meet the requirements for visa-free travel under the Visa Waiver Program. The Visa section of this website is all about U.S. visas for foreign citizens to travel to the United States. If you cannot find what you are looking for here, please visit Travel.State.gov for additional information.
Note: U.S. citizens do not need a U.S. visa for travel to the United States, but when planning travel abroad a U.S. citizen may need a visa issued by the embassy or consulate of the country they wish to visit.
For nonimmigrant visas, you can go directly to the online application for the DS-160; or for immigrant visas, directly to the USCIS site for the relevant forms. If you are unsure, please use the Visa Wizard below to help you determine your visa type.
Diplomats and Foreign Government Officials
Detailed instructions for diplomats and government officials (A visas) and employees of international organizations (G visas)
Detailed instructions for participants in government sponsored exchange programs (with program numbers starting with G-1, G-2, G-3, or G-7 on Form DS-2019)
Petitioners residing in Australia must file their Form I-130, Petition for an Alien Relative , with the U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS), unless they believe that their situation qualifies as an emergency may request an exemption to allow a U.S. Consulate General in Australia to accept the filing
The K-1 visa permits a foreign-citizen fiancé(e) to travel to the United States and marry their U.S. citizen fiancé(e) within 90 days of arrival.
Employment-Based, Diversity, and Other Immigrant Visas
Complete information on applying for an immigrant visa, including employment-based immigration and diversity visas
Returning Resident Visas (SB-1)
A U.S. lawful permanent resident (LPR) who has remained outside the United States for longer than one year or beyond the validity period of a Re-entry Permit must obtain a new immigrant visa to re-enter the United States and resume permanent residence.
Maintaining Permanent Resident Status
U.S. Immigration law presumes that a person admitted to the United States as an immigrant will live in the United States permanently. Remaining outside the United States for more than 12 months may result in a loss of lawful permanent resident status.
If your Green Card has been lost, stolen, or destroyed, you may need to submit an Application for a Travel Document (Carrier Documentation).
If you are an LPR with an expired Green Card, please read the Special Instructions section to determine whether you need to file Form I-131A.
Abandoning Lawful Permanent Resident Status (I-407)
Use Form I-407 to let USCIS know you are voluntarily abandoning your status as a lawful permanent resident (LPR) of the United States. USCIS will update your records to show you are no longer an LPR.
Lawful Permanent Resident Child Born Abroad
Under U.S. immigration regulations, a child born abroad to Lawful Permanent Residents or Immigrant Visa Holders, you may print and present the following letter to airline staff.
Individuals requiring a U.S. Criminal History Check are required to apply to the FBI directly. Fingerprint services are only available for certain applicants
Rights and Protections for Temporary Workers
The pamphlet linked below informs you of your rights as a nonimmigrant visa holder in certain employment- and education-based categories.
Rights and Protections for Immigrant Visa Applicants
The pamphlet informs applicants applying for K-1 visas, K-3, IR-1/CR-1 immigrant visas, and F2A immigrant visas of their legal rights relating to domestic violence, sexual assault, and child abuse.
Official Visit the USA Website
Our goal is to inspire people from around the world to discover all the exciting travel possibilities in the United States.
Browse 180 pages packed with beautiful photography, detailed location descriptions and real travel stories.
No matter your destination or travel style, create a personalized, day-by-day itinerary that’s just right for you.
Watch our videos to learn about the diverse destinations and exciting travel experiences, all within your reach.
As your official guide, we’ll show you a diverse range of unique experiences that are all within your reach.
Please call: (02) 8219 2100
Outside of Office Hours, contact: (02) 4422-2201
Outside of Australia: (301) 985-8663
For police, ambulance or fire brigade, dial: 000 (triple zero)
Emergency Contact – All Locations Get Travel Alerts International Parental Child Abduction Arrest of a U.S. Citizen Death of a U.S. Citizen Victims of Crime Emergency Financial Assistance