Visa Renewal by Mail for Student Visas (F, M) or Exchange Visitor Visa (Academic J)

Overview

Some visa applicants may not need to appear for a visa interview if they qualify for Visa Renewal by Mail. If qualified, applicants should drop off the required documents at any of the five Aramex locations. Applicants do not need to come in person to drop off their documents. Visa Renewal by Mail will take an average of TWO (2) weeks to complete.

Requirements

To qualify for Visa Renewal by Mail, you must be able to answer "YES" to ALL of the following:

  1. I am a Malaysian passport holder or a permanent resident in Malaysia.
  2. I have an approved I-20 or DS-2019 and my SEVIS fee is paid.
  3. I was previously issued a visa of any type.
  4. My previous U.S. visa is still valid or recently expired within the last 48 months.
  5. My most recent visa was issued on or after my 14th birthday.
  6. My prior visa does not say “Clearance Received".
  7. I have my old passport containing my previous visa. (If your answer is yes, you are required to submit your current passport as well as the passport with the most recent U.S. visa. You may not use Visa Renewal by Mail if you lost your previous passport that had a valid or expired U.S. visa)
  8. I have not been refused a U.S. visa in the last twelve months. (NOTE: All previous visa refusals, even if later approved, must be disclosed on the DS-160 visa application)
  9. I have never violated the terms of a previous U.S. visa or stayed in the U.S. longer than permitted on a previous visa (even if the Department of Homeland Security approved an extension of stay).
  10. I have never been arrested or convicted for any offense or crime, even if subject to a pardon.

How to Apply

If you meet the above requirements, follow the steps below:

Step 1

Complete the non-immigrant Visa Electronic Application (DS-160) form; please see this link for the guidelines 

Step 2

Log in to our appointment system and create a profile. Once logged in, choose “Schedule Appointment”. As you go through the process you will answer the Interview Waiver questions which will evaluate your eligibility to renew your visa through Visa Renewal by Mail.

Step 3

After you answer the questions, you will be prompted to pay and enter the visa application (MRV) fee. Please see this link for more information on how to pay your MRV fee. If you are eligible to apply for a visa through Visa Renewal by Mail, you will be able to print out the “Interview Waiver Confirmation Letter”. Print two copies of the Interview Waiver confirmation letter (one for your records and the other to be submitted with your application).

Step 4

Gather the following documents and drop them off at the nearest Aramex drop-off locations. You do not need to come in person to drop off your documents. Please note that submission of documents to the Aramex Main Office is free of charge; other Aramex drop-off locations are supported through Aramex’s Premium Delivery Service. To ensure security and accountability, an Aramex package is created for each applicant’s passport. Kindly note that premium delivery services are charged per applicant/passport, and passports for family members or groups cannot be combined into one package. Payment for courier service must be made over the counter at Aramex. For information regarding fees, kindly refer here.

  1. DS-160 Confirmation Page
  2. Current and prior passport containing your previous visa
  3. One photo size 5x5 cm taken within the last 6 months, please see this link for photo requirements
  4. Interview Waiver confirmation letter
  5. MRV fee payment receipt
  6. An approved Form I-20or DS-2019 from your U.S. school or program
  7. A Form I-901 SEVIS fee receipt indicating the SEVIS fee has been paid
  8. Clear photocopy of marriage certificate for any spouse applying in a dependent visa category
  9. Clear photocopy of birth certificate (for applicants below 18 years old)

Step 5

Aramex will deliver your documents to the U.S. Embassy Kuala Lumpur.

Step 6

At the end of the adjudication process, Aramex will return your passports at your chosen delivery address. If eligible, your passport will contain your visa. If you are not eligible to renew your visa through Visa Renewal by Mail, you will receive a notification from the U.S. Embassy.

Important Notes

  1. The U.S Embassy in Kuala Lumpur reserves the right to interview any applicant. If an interview is required, your passport will be returned with instructions on when to attend your interview at the Embassy.
  2. If you drop off your documents for renewal but are not eligible for the Visa Renewal by Mail, your application will be placed on hold and your passport along with your documents will be returned with further instructions on how to schedule an interview. Please make sure you are eligible for the Visa Renewal by Mail based on the above criteria. You should submit your application well in advance of your travel plans.
  3. Children under 14 years of age whose parent(s) qualify for visa renewal through the Visa Renewal by Mail do not need to schedule a regular appointment (even if the child has never previously been issued a visa). The parent can simply pay the MRV fee and submit the completed application for each child under 14 at the same time they submit their own application. The parent MUST include a clear photocopy of the birth certificate of each child, which will be returned along with the passport once the visa is issued. In addition, children under 14 years of age whose parent(s) have valid B1/B2 visas do not need to schedule a regular appointment (even if the child has previously been issued a visa). The parent must pay the MRV fee and submit the application, include a clear photocopy of the child’s birth certificate, and submit their own valid passport with valid U.S. visa of any type. For more information, please see here.
  4. All applicants must qualify on their own. Spouses, parents, or any other family member unable to meet the Visa Renewal by Mail criteria will not be eligible. Those applicants must schedule a regular appointment.