Visas for Children

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Questions and Answers

Q: Do children need a visa?
A: All travelers, including children, need a visa to travel to the United States or must qualify to travel without a visa through a special program, such as the Visa Waiver Program.

Q: Do children pay the same application fee as adults?
A: Yes, they do.

Q: Do children need to schedule an interview appointment?
A:Children under 14 may apply through mail-in service if they live in Latvia and have no prior visa denials. Please see section Interview Waiver & Visa Renewal for information on this process. If you prefer not to use the interview waiver service, please follow the standard process to schedule your child’s visa interview appointment.

Q:Do children who do not reside in Latvia have to come in person for their appointment?
A:Yes, a personal appearance at the embassy and visa interview is required for all applicants, regardless of their age, who do not live in the Embassy’s consular district of Latvia. Please note that the U.S. Embassy in Riga, Latvia is able to provide a very limited number of appointments for applicants who do not live in Latvia. If you do not live in the Embassy’s consular district of Latvia please consider applying with another U.S. Embassy or Consulate that has a larger interviewing capacity and can interview in your spoken language.

Q: Are children required to be accompanied by their parents to the interview?
A: No. However, if the applicant prefers to be accompanied by their parent/parents they may do so.

Q: Does the Embassy require written consent from their parents to attend the interview?
A: No, the Embassy does not require written consent from their parents to attend the interview.