Nonimmigrant Visa Unit
The Group Travel Program
What is the Group Travel Program?
The Group Travel Program facilitates B-1/B-2 (and occasionally J) visa issuance for qualified applicants from recognized groups whose members all have the same travel plan. The Program helps to ensure consistent visa adjudication standards and to prevent fraud by visa applicants. The Consular Section approves groups to use the Group Travel Program and then allows the group members to schedule visa appointments as a group. Note, however, that each applicant must qualify on his or her own for a visa.
Definition of a Group
To participate in the Group Travel Program, the group must have a minimum of 10 members and no more than 150. All travelers must be officially registered with the sponsoring organization. All travelers must have the same travel itinerary to and from the United States. Groups must have the goal of providing an educational experience for participants, or giving a sports/cultural presentation. Groups such as travel agency tour groups are not eligible to participate in the Program.
Specific Procedures
- Groups that wish to participate in the Group Travel Program must send us an e-mail at least 45 days before the proposed travel date requesting a Friday appointment for the group interview. The request must include the list of participants (include a full name and date of birth for each), the purpose of travel, the group’s departure and return dates, and a brief description of the sponsoring organization. The Consular Section then determines whether the group is eligible to participate in the Program.
- If the Consular Section approves the group for participation in the Program, we will contact the group’s coordinator and give him/her instructions on how to contact our Visa Information Center to obtain the appointment date.
- As stated previously, each applicant must qualify for the visa on his or her own. For specific documentary and other requirements, please see our B-1/B-2 visa page or our J visa page.
Important Note: The group’s sponsor must return the passport of every participant within five business days of their return to Colombia. The passports can be delivered by an authorized representative of the group (who must present a letter signed by the group’s coordinator), Monday through Friday between 1:00 PM and 2:00 PM, and they may be picked up at Window 14 on Fridays between 11:00 AM and 1:00 PM. Evidence of any group member violating the terms of his or her visa will be grounds to suspend the entire group from future participation in the Program and may also result in further sanctions.