Business Visa Program

AmCham Moldova is pleased to announce a new achievement to serve your business!

Overview of the Program

The Business Visa Program (BVP) was designed to support the bilateral trade and investment between the United States of America and the Republic of Moldova, and to facilitate visa processing for business travelers while, in the same time, maintaining the highest visa security standards possible.

This program is open for business travel for AmCham Members’ full-time employees and immediate family members who are accompanying an employee on a business trip. Travel may be for a specific upcoming event or possible future business related travel. The program is also open for tourist travel, but only for high executives of AmCham Moldova Member Companies and their immediate family. Non-Executives working for an AmCham Moldova member company planning to travel for personal reasons should apply for a tourist visa via the normal application procedure. Companies may not submit visa applications for clients, business associates, customers, friends, domestic servants, or other relatives, etc. The Consular Department encourages companies to plan ahead and to obtain visas in advance for staff who may have a future need to travel.

To qualify for the BVP, the traveler must present at the time of the interview a letter from their company on company letterhead that clearly states how long they have worked at the company, their position within the company, their salary, specific travel dates and purpose of travel. The business visa (B1 visa) is available for anyone wishing to go to the United States temporarily to engage in commercial transactions, negotiate contracts, conduct litigation, consult with business associates, participate in scientific, educational, professional or business conventions, conferences, or seminars, etc. Gainful employment in the U.S. is generally not allowed on a B1 visa. If the employee is going to the U.S. to conduct warranty repair or service work, he must submit at the time of the interview a copy of the original sales contract that includes the repair/service clause. Individual applicants of BVP companies will still have to demonstrate at the time of the interview that they have strong social, professional, and economic ties that would compel their return to Moldova after a brief non-working visit, like all non-immigrant visa applicants. We cannot guarantee approval of visas before the interview.

Employees of Member Companies will have access to special appointment block on Wednesday: 2.00-4.00 PM and Friday: 9.00-11.00 AM of each week. The wait time for appointments will be significantly reduced and visa applications can be processed faster and more accurately.

There is no additional fee for this program.

Eligible Companies

To qualify for the program the Company must be a member in good standing of the American Chamber of Commerce in Moldova.

How to Participate in the Program

AmCham Moldova Members interested to participate in this program must submit a sample letter on their letterhead with two signatories stating they are the authorized signatories for the company and provide this sample letter to the AmCham Office which will be further submitted to the US Embassy Consular Department (see attachment A). The original of this letter will be held by the U.S. Embassy Consular Department as verification of the company’s participation in the Business Visa Program.

Additionally, at the time of visa application for travel, the Company must provide each employee that intends to travel to the United States with a letter, on the Company letterhead, stating how long they have worked for the company and in what position, the employee’s salary and outline the specific travel dates and purpose of travel (see attachment B).

How to Schedule an Appointment

1. Business Visa Program appointments are available every Wednesday, starting at 2.00 PM and Friday, starting at 9:00. 5 appointments a day will be available.

2. AmCham Moldova Member Companies’ employees, applying for a visa, should contact AmCham office at + (373 22) 211-781 or + (373 22) 211-782 to schedule an appointment with the U.S. Embassy Consular Department.

3. The Consular Department will check the Company against the member list and schedule the next available appointment.
4. Applicants from AmCham Moldova member companies are still welcome to schedule an appointment using the normal method if they prefer.

Requirements for the Individual Applicant at the Time of the Interview

1. Bring a letter from their employer on company letterhead stating how long they have worked for the company and in what position, their salary and the specific dates and purpose of their travel.
2. Demonstrate compelling social, economic, and professional reasons to return to Moldova after a temporary non-working visit in the U.S.
3. Comply with all other requirements of non-immigrant visa applicants.

Useful Links:

http://moldova.usembassy.gov/business-visas.html

Files:

Sample Letter for Embassy.doc

Sample Letter for Employee.doc

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