How to apply for US visa in Malaysia - 2024 travel guide
Just as the United States is a highly sought after travel destination, it is also a popular destination for study and work opportunities. If you’re planning a visit, be it short or longer term, bear in mind you will have to get your US visa sorted first.
This comprehensive guide will touch on everything you need to know about getting a visa from the various types of US visa available to you, the application process, and costs involved. We’ll also detail the ways in which the Wise card can come in handy during not only your travel but also the application process.
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Do Malaysians need a visa when travelling to USA?
Let’s start with the all-important question – do Malaysians need a visa to travel to the USA? The answer is yes and as with most visa applications, the type of visa you would require is dependent on the purpose of your travel.
The following are some of the more common visas¹ you can apply for short-term visits to the US:
- Tourism and Visit
- Study and Exchange
- Business
- Employment
When applying for your non-immigrant visa online, expect to be directed to USTravelDocs, a secure third-party company that will facilitate the application and interview processes. We’ll dive deeper into the US visa application process in the following sections.
US tourist visa for Malaysians
Navigating the application process for a US tourist visa (B-2 visa) requires attention to detail, especially when gathering the necessary documents you’ll need. It is advisable to get to it early – the visa application process can take up to 4 weeks or longer.
The silver lining, though, is that upon approval, your visa will be valid for multiple-entries for the next 10 years. This is to say, if you’re planning another holiday to the US in the next decade, you will not have to reapply for a US tourist visa. There are no set restrictions on the number of visits you can make during your visa’s period of validity, however you can only stay in the country for 180 days each time.
The following are the key documents you will need on hand for your US tourist visa application:
- Passport valid for at least 6 months beyond your period of stay in the US
- Nonimmigrant visa application, Form DS-160 confirmation page
- Application fee payment receipt
- Printed photo in adherence to the requirements
While it is not a stipulated requirement, do prepare additional documents to prove your employment, intent to return to Malaysia, and ability to fund your trip. This can include things like your flight and hotel booking statements and receipts, and your bank statement.
Remember you’d rather be over prepared than not to ensure that your visa approval is hassle-free and as fast as it can be.
How to apply for U.S tourist visa from Malaysia?
With the above information on hand, let’s now look at the official steps² on how to apply for a US tourist visa from Malaysia. Here, we outline the process from start to finish:
Step 1: Complete the online nonimmigrant visa application, Form DS-160. Upon completion, print the application form confirmation page to bring to your interview.
Step 2: Pay your tourist visa fees (185 USD).
Step 3: Schedule and attend the visa interview at the U.S. Embassy or Consulate in Malaysia.
Step 4: Prepare for your visa interview by gathering the required documents. These include:
- Passport valid for at least 6 months beyond your period of stay in the US
- Nonimmigrant visa application, Form DS-160 confirmation page printed
- Application fee payment receipt
- Printed photo in the required format taken within the last 6 months (full face on a white backdrop, 51mm x 51mm)
Additional documents required may include your accommodation, flight details, and proof of employment, as evidence of the purpose of your trip, intent to depart the US after your trip, and your ability to pay for your holiday.
Step 5: Attend your visa interview.
Step 6: Visa approval and passport collection. After your visa is approved, your passport will be kept to proceed with the approval process. You will subsequently receive instructions for collection.
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Other US visas for Malaysian visitors
The visa you apply for will be dependent on the duration and purpose of your travel. If you’re unsure which visa you require, there’s a comprehensive guide for your easy reference on USTravelDocs.
Generally, beyond the tourist visa, other common nonimmigrant visas to the US include:
- Business visa
- Work visa
- Student visa
- Exchange visitor visa
US Work visa for Malaysians
If you want to work in the US temporarily as a nonimmigrant, you will require a specific visa based on the type of work you will be doing during your time there. Expectedly, applying for a working visa is a more complicated process than applying for a tourist visa.
Before you can file for a work visa, most temporary worker categories require that your prospective employees or agents file a petition, Form 1-129, which must first be approved by the U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS).
Once the first round of approval has been granted, you can proceed to apply for a H, L, O, P, or Q visa depending on your field of profession. The visa requirements for each temporary worker visa category is varied.
The following is a consolidated list of the different work visas³ that you can apply for and its requirements:
| Work Visa Type | Job Field | Requirements |
|---|---|---|
| H-1B (speciality occupation) | Pre-arranged professional job | Bachelor's or higher degree (or an equivalent degree) in the specific specialty for which you seek employment Employer is required file a labour condition application with the Department of Labor concerning the terms and conditions of its contract of employment with you |
| H2-A (seasonal agricultural workers) | Temporary agricultural jobs | A U.S. employer (or an association of U.S. agricultural producers named as a joint employer) must file a Form I-129, Petition for Nonimmigrant Worker, on your behalf |
| H2-B (skilled and unskilled workers) | A temporary job and for which there is a shortage of U.S. workers | Your employer is required to obtain a Department of Labor certification |
| H-3 (trainee) | Receive training from an employer in any field of endeavour, other than graduate education or training | Training cannot be used to provide productive employment or be available in Malaysia |
| L-1 (intra-company transfers) | Employee of an international company being transferred | Employed at a managerial or executive level, or have specialised knowledge and be destined to a position within the U.S. company Must have been employed outside the United States with the international company continuously for one year within the three years preceding your application |
| O (specialised talent) | Sciences, arts, education, business and athletics, or motion picture and television production | Approved petition, Form 1-129, by a prospective employer or agent |
| P (artists, entertainers) | Athletes, entertainers, artists and essential support personnel | Approved petition, Form 1-129, by a prospective employer or agent |
| Q | International cultural exchange program for the purpose of providing practical training, employment, and the sharing of the history, culture, and traditions of Malaysia | Approved petition filed on your behalf by the program sponsor |
US Student visa for Malaysians
The US is home to some of the most elite education institutions in the world. Therefore, it is no surprise that people from all over the globe seek education opportunities in the US.
If you’re one of the dreamers, once your application to your desired school or program has been accepted, you will then have to sort out your student visa. Before you begin, you will need an approved original signed Form I-20 from your US school or program.
Then, you can proceed to apply for either of the two student visas – F and M – depending on which applies to you.
The F-1 visa is the most common type of student visa for courses of study more than 18 hours a week. Generally, this is what you’ll need to apply for to enrol in college or university, private secondary school, or an approved English language program in the United States.
The M-1 visa, on the other hand, is more relevant for those planning to partake in non-academic or vocational study or training at a US institution, such as a flight school.
The application process for a US student visa does not deviate far from the application of a US tourist visa. As an add-on to the documents required for a tourist visa application, providing academic documents will make a stronger case for the approval of your student visa.
As for when you should start your visa applications, work backwards from here:
Your US student visa can be issued up to a year in advance before you start your course of study and you can travel within 30 days from the start date stipulated on the Form I-20.
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How much is a US visa for Malaysians
The cost of a US visa varies depending on the particular visa you are applying for. Here’s how much you will be required to fork out for the commonly acquired nonimmigrant US visas during your application process:
| Nonimmigrant Visa Type | Fee |
|---|---|
| Business / Tourist (Type B) | 185 USD |
| Work (Type H, L, O, P, Q) | 205 USD |
| Student (Type F, M) | 185 USD |
It is also commonplace to be charged extra fees for some visas, in particular. For instance, when applying for the L-1 visa, you will have to pay a fraud prevention and detection fee of 500 USD on top of the nominal amount.
If you have a Wise card, making your necessary visa payments will be a breeze as it lets you send payments to 160+ countries – the US included.
Where to apply for a US visa in Malaysia
Now that you have a good grasp of what is required to apply for a US visa in Malaysia, you can start your online application process at USTravelDocs.
Once that is successful, you can proceed to scheduling your interview which will take place at the U.S Embassy in Kuala Lumpur. The address is as follows:
376, Jln Tun Razak, Taman U Thant, 50400 Kuala Lumpur, Wilayah Persekutuan Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia
What are the US visa photo requirements?
In order to avoid delays in your US visa approval process, getting the documents done according to stipulated requirements⁶ is key. The same applies to your visa application photo. Pay special attention to the requirements as they can be particularly stringent. Here’s what you need to ensure when taking your photo:
- Taken within the last 6 months
- Full face must be visible
- Head covering does not obscure the hair of the hairline
- No glasses
- Taken against a white background
- No shadows
Visiting the US soon? Save money on your MYR to USD conversions with the Wise card
Tickets booked, accommodation settled and luggages packed? There’s just one more thing left to do – slide your Wise cardinto your wallet. If you don’t already have an account, you can apply for oneonline before you leave Malaysia, order your card, and expect to receive it within 5 working days.
With more than 40+ currencies on the Wise card, you can add MYR directly to your account and spend with ease when you’re in the US just as you would at home. The card automatically exchanges your money to USD based on the mid-market exchange rate and be assured, you’ll be charged low fees from 0.33% each time⁷. To see real-time fees, see use our handy calculator so you know exactly how much you’re getting. You’ll also get up to 2 free ATM withdrawals so you won’t have to worry about running out of cash.
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Sources:
- U.S. Department of State
- Application of US Visa Steps
- US Work Visas
- US Student Visa
- Cost of US visas
- Photo Requirements
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