PUERTO
RICO VISA
INFORMATIONS AND REQUIREMENTS
Persons
intending to take courses of study of less than 18 hours a week may do
so with a tourist visa; otherwise a student (either an "M-1"
or "F-1" class) visa will be required
Countries
whose citizens may be exempted from tourist visa requirements, for stays
of up to 90 days:
Andorra, Argentina, Austria, Australia, Belgium, Brunei, Denmark, Finland,
France, Germany, Iceland, Ireland, Italy, Japan, Liechtenstein, Luxembourg,
Monaco, The Netherlands, New Zealand, Norway, Portugal, San Marino, Singapore,
Slovenia, Spain, Sweden, Switzerland, the United Kingdom and Uruguay
Note:
To qualify for visa-free travel under the Visa Waiver Pilot Program, one
must travel on an unexpired passport for holiday, transit or business
purposes only and for a stay not exceeding 90 days; hold a return or onward
ticket, a completed form I-94W and enter aboard an air or sea carrier
participating in the Visa Waiver Pilot Program if entering by air or sea
(lists of participating air or sea carriers are available from most travel
agents);
What
documents will be required?
2
completed application forms
A passport valid for travel to Puerto Rico, with a validity date at least
six months beyond the applicant's intended period of stay
1 photograph (1in x 1.5in)
Evidence of sufficient funds
Postal
or drop-box applications:
(a) Completed visa application form DS-156.
(b) Passport (valid through 6 months after entry).
(c) 1 passport-size colour photo (5x5 cm, head size 2,5 - 3,5 cm, front
view, light background, max. 6 months old).
(d) Copy of Embassy's red paying-in slip.
(e) Supporting documents: DS-158 (male between 16 and 45 also need a DS-157).
(f) Stamped, self-addressed envelope.
Applications
through travel agent:
In addition to mentioned above applicants should contact the travel agent
for details on paying the visa fee.
Further
documentation may be required to substantiate details such as the purpose
of visit plus proof of intention to return to country of residence.
Note:
(a) For nationals of countries under the Visa Waiver Pilot Program, passports
must be valid for at least 90 days from date of entry (except for nationals
of Andorra, Brunei, San Marino and Slovenia, who must hold passports valid
for 6 months from date of departure).
(b) For all other nationals, passports must be valid for 6 months from
date of entry.
Interns:
When doing an internship in Puerto Rico, a J1 visa is required. For the
application you need the DS-2016 form (former IAP66). Usually the company
or the organization arranges that. Male applicants aged 16-45 need to
fill in the DS-157 form additionally. All persons who apply for F, J and
M Visa have to fill in DS-158 (Information on contact persons and the
business background) additional.
Time
required to issue visa:
3-4 weeks, average
How
do I apply?
Contact your nearest Puerto Rico Embassy or consulate.
What
is the cost of a visa?
Each applicant for a visa must pay a non-refundable US$100 application
fee, regardless of whether the visa is denied or issued and regardless
of the duration of the visa or entries required.
Nationals of Mexico will not be charged the application fee.
The embassy will provide a paying-in slip.
The fee must be paid in cash at a bank prior to submitting a visa application
to the Puerto Rico Embassy.
How
long is the visa valid for?
10
years. Some visas are valid for multiple entries.
The length of stay in the Puerto Rico is determined by immigration officials
at the time of entry, but is generally 6 months.
When
you enter the United States on a student visa, you will usually be admitted
for the duration of your student status. That means you may stay as long
as you are a full time student, even if the F-1 visa in your passport
expires while you are in America. For a student who has completed the
course of studies shown on the I-20, and any authorized practical training,
the student is allowed the following additional time in Puerto Rico before
departure:
F-1
student - An additional 60 days, to prepare for departure from the Puerto
Rico or to transfer to another school.
M-1
student - An additional 30 days to depart Puerto Rico (Fixed time period,
in total not to exceed one year). The 30 days to prepare for departure
is permitted as long as the student maintained a full course of study
and maintained status. An M student may receive extensions up to three
years for the total program.
Other
information:
Entry
restrictions:
The following will be refused entry to Puerto Rico unless a 'waiver of
ineligibility' has first been obtained:
(a)
people afflicted with certain serious communicable diseases;
(b) anyone with a criminal record;
(c) narcotics addicts or abusers and drug traffickers;
(d) anyone who has been deported from or denied admission to Puerto Rico
within the previous 5 years.
Important
Notice: Please Note that these regulations are changed
on a regular basis by the different governments, Southtravels.com can not be liable for any information that could have been changed since
we checked it. It is the responsibility of each passenger to check the
different conditions of entry to the desired country.
