MAY 24 — The thought of visiting the US is something that fills me with anxiety; I like planes but hate flights longer than 12 hours and nightmare TSA encounters are to me the equivalent of horror flicks.

Still, when I was invited to a big US tech event, I knew I would be an idiot to say no on the basis of an irrational fear of US border controls. 

The process of getting a US visa, however, was rather painless. Here’s what I found out from both my experience and those shared with me on social media.

1.            The US Visa application website is your best guide

The US has simplified the entire application process where you just need to go to the official website and follow the steps given. Having perused the site obsessively, I can conclude: Malaysians just don’t read. More on that later.

2.            Be certain which visa you need

There isn’t one standard, one-size-fits-all visa. Before this, I never knew that foreign media reps visiting the US to work for news gathering  needed a specific visa, namely the I visa. There are also different visas for business and social visits, as well as specific visas for those wishing to immigrate to the US.

Interesting bit: if a journalist went to the US on a social pass, but ended up writing a story from information/experiences gathered on that visit after returning from the US, it would be considered a violation of your visa terms. So for working journalists, an I visa is the safest option.

3.            Paying for your visa is really easy to do online

In the past, you would need to go to a bank and get a receipt for your visa payment. Now, using the JomPay service, you can pay your visa fees from your online banking acount in a matter of minutes. 

You first need to download a unique e-receipt from the US visa website and using the reference number provided, make a payment online. 

Most Malaysian banks support JomPay which is very convenient. The e-receipt will also specify how much you need to pay—it’s important you pay the correct amount because there are no refunds. If you make a mistake in your first payment, you will need to spend more money to try again. 

If you pay your fees before 4.30pm, your payment will be processed by noon the next day. 

Miss the 4.30pm boat and it will be processed by around 2-3pm. You can only proceed to the online application after the payment has been acknowledged by the system.

4.            It’s faster to take your own picture to speed up the online application process

Once your payment is processed, you will be prompted to create an account on the US visa website and fill in the online form. Set aside at least two hours for this. You do not want to rush the application and end up making costly mistakes. 

Part of the process includes uploading a digital picture of yourself. While you could kill two birds with one stone and get a photo taken to get a digital and physical copy in one shot, you might be better off doing your own digital photo to quicken the process. 

Tip: Get a friend to take your photo with a decent smartphone camera, find a nice white clean wall in a room full of natural light and use an app to help you get the proportions right for instance Passport ID Photo Maker for Android or ID PhotoPrint.

Then to verify if the photo is usable, use the official US Photo Tool. 

Make sure you do not wear your eyeglasses or headgear (hijab being an exception).

You still need a physical photo to bring to the interview, where it will be scanned and handed back to you. I only got my photo taken professionally after I finished the online application. 

5.            The sooner you complete your app, the sooner you get interviewed

Here is the reason you shouldn’t delay your online application: only once you submit your online form, along with a digital photo, will you be allowed to set an appointment for your visa interview. 

The good news is that it can be all done online though you could also call the hotline, which I do not recommend. You need both your payment reference number as well as the ID given with your online application acknowledgement. You will be shown a list of available interview dates and you can then select the best available time and date.

To get an earlier date, check back online often. Interview slots often free up. My original interview date was two weeks after I uploaded my application, but two days later, I logged in and got one less than a week after. Changing my interview date was as easy as logging in and selecting a new date.

6.            The best time for an interview might not be the earliest

I chose the 8:15am slot as I just wanted to get it over with. Truth be told, I could have gotten more sleep and been less anxious if I’d just gone later.

The US embassy does not allow you to wait outside any earlier than 15 minutes. It is all a very orderly process; if it is your turn to queue, you will be called to line up and then ushered in where you will go through two security checkpoints.

I arrived at 8am, and left the embassy before 8.30am. Going around 9am or 10am would have left me time for breakfast but at least I had time to grab some nasi lemak after.

7.            Do not drive to your appointment. Cab it or walk 

There is no parking near the US Embassy, so either be dropped off or take a short walk from the Ampang Park LRT. Not to mention this is Jalan Tun Razak so the surrounding roads are usually fairly congested.

Walking is straightforward. Alight from the station on the side opposite of the Ampang Park mall, stay on the pavement along the junction, walking past Tabung Haji until you reach the overhead bridge. Cross and keep walking straight ahead, the US Embassy will be on your left.

8.            Bring only what you require, nothing more

The only electronics allowed in are mobile phones. No tablets, no PCs. The website also states that only clear plastic bags for your documents and bags only big enough for you to hold in one hand are allowed, with no backpacks permitted.

Don’t worry about your phones; they will keep your phones in special lockers and give you a token to redeem them once your interview is done.

What did I bring? A clear plastic folder with my documents and passport, with cash and ID in a small case along with my keys. Yet many Malaysians showed up with large handbags as well as backpacks.

Perhaps the US Embassy gives leeway to smaller backpacks so long as they’re not the huge backpacker-style bags tourists haul around. Or too many Malaysians refuse to read, thus the Embassy just gave up and relied on security scanners instead. My money is on the latter.

9.            The visa interview is in many cases a mere formality

My interview was a mere two questions: how long have I been a journalist and how long was I staying. "Your visa is approved.” No further questions, no request to see other documents or proof of my employment. 

Yet I saw quite a few people being rejected, subjected to quite a few questions. From my understanding, your background and application will have been vetted prior to your appointment. Young, single, male applicants tend to get scrutinised more; one applicant was rejected as he had just quit his job and intended to visit relatives in US on a self-funded trip. 

Whether he was seen as a risk for overstaying or they doubted his capacity for self-funding, who knows. 

10.          Unless you’re a terrorist, there’s little reason for anxiety

The US Embassy staff, from the security guards to the counter staff, were all polite, professional and efficient. So long as you do your homework (read, Malaysians, read) and have your documents in order, the US visa interview is actually the breeziest part of the entire process. 

If you have plans to travel to the US in future, good luck. Just maybe don’t visit Iran or North Korea. Like ever. But if you have and got into the US anyway, feel free to share your experience.

* This is the personal opinion of the columnist.