US Embassy in Costa Rica announces changes for visa requests

The U.S. Embassy in San José announced changes to the visa request process Wednesday that it hopes will streamline the process for Costa Ricans looking to travel to the United States.

Ticos looking to renew their 10-year tourist visa within three years of its expiration will have the interview portion of the process waived.

Applicants should request their appointment under the visa program “sin entrevista,” or interview waived, on the embassy’s website or by phone at 4000-1976.

The day of the appointment, renewal applicants should appear at the Consular Section to provide their fingerprints.

Minors under 14 years old and applicants 80 years old and over can now apply for their visas without appearing in person at the embassy’s office in Pavas. Only minors whose parents already have a valid U.S. tourist visa can take advantage of this.

All documents can be sent via Correos de Costa Rica, the national postal service. Passports with visas will be sent to the postal office indicated on the application.

For details and application requirements see the embassy’s website: http://costarica.usembassy.gov.