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Bahamian travelers departing Lynden Pindling International Airport in Nassau by air may apply for admission without a visa if they meet the U.S. Customs and Border Protection (CBP) Preclearance requirements. However, CBP has the final authority to determine eligibility to enter the United States. Visa-free travel is not available to Bahamian citizens entering the United States from any other international border crossing, those entering via boat, those only transiting the United States, nor individuals traveling to the United States to embark on a cruise.
Information on fees can be found on the application website.
Fees for State Department services occasionally change but you can check for the most up to date schedule of fees. Additionally, nationals of some countries may be required to pay a supplemental application fee. Consult the State Department reciprocity table to determine whether your visa will require an additional fee.
Due to COVID-19 application fees have been extended. If you have submitted a visa application, your application fee (also known as the MRV fee) remains valid in the country where the payment was made for one year from the date of payment or until September 30, 2023, whichever is later.
All applicants must begin their visa application process through the GSS appointment scheduling website.
Visa Process Overview
To apply for a visa to travel to the United States:
Courier process for returning visas and passports to applicants
When applying for a visa, applicants choose where their passport will be delivered. Delivery options include the DHL facilities at Solomon’s Plaza in Nassau; Regent Centre in Freeport; Town Center Mall in Providenciales in Turks and Caicos; or home delivery in Nassau or Grand Bahama. Delivery to the Family Islands is not available. If you want your passport delivered to a Family Island you will need to purchase and bring a DHL, FedEx, or GWS courier label to the interview. The U.S. Embassy does NOT allow in-person passport pickup.
For questions on courier waybills or refunds please reach out directly to your local courier service provider.
Courier Options
Expedited Appointment
All expedited appointment requests are processed through the regular appointment scheduling website. To request an expedited visa appointment, please register through the normal process and follow the prompts to indicate your need for expedited service. The decision to grant an expedited appointment is made on a case-by-case basis. A legitimate need includes travel for urgent medical care, death or serious illness of a family member, or study in the United States.
To reach a customer service agent with questions about how to schedule or apply for a nonimmigrant visa:
All visitors must be screened prior to entering the U.S. Embassy and are subject to inspection via walk-through metal detector and a hand-held metal detector. All personal items will undergo full inspection by use of x-ray and other detection equipment.
Any visitor refusing to submit to security screening shall be prohibited from entering.
The following items are prohibited inside the U.S. Embassy and we have no storage facilities for them, so please leave them at your home, your hotel, or in your vehicle:
This list is not all-inclusive. The U.S. Embassy reserves the right to deny entry of any items deemed suspicious.
Access to the Embassy is limited and generally only applicants are permitted to enter and be present during visa interviews. On a case-by-case basis, applicants may be accompanied by ONE non-applicant during the visa application process.
Special Needs Visitors: Applicants may bring ONE person to assist them if they are over 80 years of age, are a minor child, or are disabled and require assistance to complete the application process.
Interpreter: Applicants may bring ONE interpreter if they do not speak English well enough to participate in an interview. A final decision as to whether an interpreter is needed will be made by consular staff at time of the interview.
Note:
Location: The Consular Section is located on the ground floor of the Embassy building at 42 Queen Street in Nassau, just off Marlborough Street. It is opposite the British Colonial Hilton Hotel.
Mailing Address:
Consular Services
P.O. Box N-8197
Nassau, The Bahamas
If you need reasonable accommodation for your appointment, we encourage you to request your accommodation immediately once you schedule your appointment. We make every effort to provide accommodations to persons with disabilities and medical conditions. Reasonable accommodations vary, depending on the situation and the person’s needs.
Examples of accommodations include, but are not limited to:
If you are unable to provide fingerprints because of a medical condition, including birth defects, physical deformities, skin conditions, you may qualify for a fingerprint waiver for certain fingers.
The waiting room of the Consular Section and its restroom is wheelchair-accessible.
Please call: 1-242-322-1181 ext.1
Outside of Office Hours, contact: 1-242-322-1181 ext.43111
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