Starting on September 20, 2016 the United States has increased the validity of short-term business, tourist, and crew visas issued to citizens of Slovenia.
Slovenians may still travel to the United States without a visa under the Visa Waiver Program (VWP), however those Slovenian applicants who require and qualify for a B-category nonimmigrant visa (NIV) may now be issued 10-year, multiple-entry visas for business and tourist travel. The extension of visa validity from 5 to 10 years for short-term business and tourist travelers from Slovenia will reduce the burden for those Slovenians who need a visa to travel to the U.S.
Crew members who qualify for C or D-category visas are now eligible for multiple-entry visas valid for up to ten years. Ten years is the longest visa validity possible under U.S. law. Complete information about U.S. visa validity for citizens of Slovenia is available online.
The Department of State is committed to facilitating legitimate travel and providing prompt and courteous service.
Frequently Asked Questions
Do Slovenians need a visa to travel to the U.S.?
Generally no, but it depends on the length and purpose of travel. Under the Visa Waiver Program (VWP), qualified citizens of 36 countries including Slovenia may enter the United States without a visa for the purposes of tourism, business, or in transit. You can travel without a visa if you meet all of the following requirements:
- You are a citizen of Slovenia traveling on a valid, machine-readable passport which is an e-passport (note: e-passports are enhanced secure passports with an embedded electronic chip, denoted by this symbol )
- Traveling for business, pleasure or transit only;
- Staying in the United States for 90 days or fewer;
- Holding a return or onward ticket;
- If you are entering by air or sea, you have obtained approval from the Electronic System for Travel Authorization.
In what cases does a Slovenian need a visa to travel to the U.S.?
You need a visa if you plan to study, work, or remain more than 90 days in the United States.
Other reasons Slovenians could need a visa to travel to the U.S. include:
- If you have been denied ESTA authorization to travel under the VWP;
- If you want to adjust status (e.g. from tourist to a student) in the United States. VWP travelers are generally barred from adjusting status once in the United States;
- If you want to work, study, or perform in the United States, want to travel as a working foreign media representative, want to come to the United States for other purposes not allowed under the VWP or intend to immigrate to the United States;
- If you do not have a VWP-compliant passport as described above;
- If you have been denied admission to the United States under the VWP before, or did not comply with the conditions of previous VWP admissions;
- If you have a criminal record, a serious communicable disease, or other condition which makes you inadmissible to the United States;
- If, in addition to your Slovenian citizenship, you are also a national of Iran, Iraq, Syria, Sudan, or Libya; or
- If you have been present in Iran, Iraq, Syria, Sudan Libya, Somalia, or Yemen at any time on or after March 1, 2011, unless your presence in one of those countries was to perform military service in the armed forces of Slovenia or to carry out official duties as a full-time employee of the government of a Slovenia.
If you meet any of those criteria and attempt to fly to the States without having a visa in your passport, you will be refused entry into the United States.
How does this increase in visa validity impact typical Slovenian travelers?
The vast majority of Slovenians travel to the U.S. through the Visa Waiver Program (VWP) with authorization from ESTA (Electronic System for Travel Authorization). If you qualify to travel through the VWP and successfully obtain ESTA, you do not need a visa to travel to the U.S. and this change will have no impact on your travel.
For those Slovenians who do not qualify for the VWP (for any of the reasons outlined above), this change will allow them to apply for a 10-year validity visa which, if approved, would allow travelers to enter and exit the U.S. for short periods for up to ten years. In short, for the small number of Slovenes who do need a visa to travel to the U.S., this change reduces the financial and time burden required to obtain a visa.
How much is a U.S. visa?
The worldwide fee for a U.S. visa is $160. This fee does not vary by country.
What is the wait time to obtain an appointment to apply for a U.S. visa?
Typically, at the U.S. Embassy in Ljubljana, visa appointments are available within 5-7 days.
