Kazakhstan citizens need a U.S. visa before traveling to the United States, because Kazakhstan is not part of the Visa Waiver Program. For most trips, the visa requirement for Kazakhstan citizens traveling to the USA is a B-1/B-2 visitor visa, which under the U.S.-Kazakhstan reciprocity schedule is issued for multiple entries and remains valid for 10 years.1U.S. Department of State. U.S. Visa Reciprocity and Civil Documents by Country – Kazakhstan Approval comes down to a DS-160 application, a $185 fee, and an in-person interview at the U.S. Embassy in Astana or the U.S. Consulate General in Almaty.
Which Visa You Actually Need
The B-1/B-2 visitor visa covers both business and tourism in a single stamp.2U.S. Department of State. Visitor Visa The B-1 side is for business activities like meetings, conferences, and contract negotiations. The B-2 side covers tourism, family visits, and medical treatment.3U.S. Department of State. 9 FAM 402.2 – Tourists and Business Visitors and Mexican Border Crossing Cards – B Visas and BCCs Consular officers usually issue the combined B-1/B-2 so a single approval covers most reasons you might travel.
The 10-year validity does not mean a 10-year stay. It means the visa remains usable for entries over that period. How long you can actually stay on each trip is set separately at the airport by Customs and Border Protection, and for B-1/B-2 visitors that is normally up to six months per entry.
There is no reciprocity issuance fee on top of the standard application fee for Kazakhstan applicants.1U.S. Department of State. U.S. Visa Reciprocity and Civil Documents by Country – Kazakhstan
Just Passing Through the U.S.?
A Kazakhstan citizen connecting through a U.S. airport still needs a visa. If the only purpose is to catch a connecting flight, a C-1 transit visa is an option instead of a full B-1/B-2. If you already hold a valid B-1/B-2, you can use it to transit and do not need a separate C-1.4U.S. Department of State. Transit Visa Leaving the airport to visit anyone during a layover counts as a visit and requires a B-type visa, not a transit visa.
How to Apply
Step 1: The DS-160
Every nonimmigrant visa application starts with the DS-160, filed online through the Consular Electronic Application Center. It asks for personal details, travel plans, employment history, and security background questions. Plan on about 90 minutes to complete it in one sitting, and save often because the system times out during inactivity.5U.S. Department of State. Online Nonimmigrant Visa Application (DS-160) When you finish, print the confirmation page with the barcode. You need it at the interview.
Step 2: Pay the Fee
The nonimmigrant visa application fee is $185 and is non-refundable.6U.S. Department of State. Fees for Visa Services You cannot schedule an interview until payment is complete. The U.S. Embassy in Kazakhstan directs applicants to the official visa appointment website at ais.usvisa-info.com for payment and scheduling.7U.S. Department of State. U.S. Consulate General Almaty, Kazakhstan – ATA
Step 3: Book the Interview
Once the fee is paid, schedule your interview at either the U.S. Embassy in Astana or the U.S. Consulate General in Almaty.8U.S. Embassy & Consulate in Kazakhstan. U.S. Visa Services Book as early as you can. Wait times fluctuate and can stretch to several weeks in busy months.
What to Bring
Required items for the interview:
- A passport valid for at least six months beyond the dates of your planned stay.9U.S. Customs and Border Protection. Six-Month Validity Update
- The printed DS-160 confirmation page with your application barcode.
- Your $185 fee payment receipt.
- A printed backup photograph meeting State Department format requirements, in case the DS-160 upload failed.2U.S. Department of State. Visitor Visa
Beyond the required items, bring documents that show you intend to return home. Consular officers look for evidence of strong ties to Kazakhstan. Useful items include proof of employment or business ownership, bank statements, property records, university enrollment, and family connections. No single document guarantees approval. The stronger and clearer your ties, the easier the officer’s decision.
The Interview
At the interview, a consular officer will ask about the purpose and length of the trip, your work and family situation in Kazakhstan, and how you will pay for the visit. The interview is usually short, and in most cases the officer tells you the decision that day. You will also give digital fingerprints during the appointment.
Renewal Interview Waivers
If you are renewing a B-1/B-2, you may be able to skip the in-person interview. Under the policy effective October 1, 2025, a B-1/B-2 renewal applicant can use the interview waiver process if the prior visa was issued for full reciprocal validity, the applicant was at least 18 when it was issued, and the prior visa expired within the past 12 months.10U.S. Department of State. Interview Waiver Update September 18, 2025 You must also apply in your country of nationality or residence, have no prior visa refusals, and have no apparent ineligibility. Even when eligible, a consular officer can still require an in-person interview.
If Your Visa Is Refused
The most common refusal is under Section 214(b) of the Immigration and Nationality Act, which requires every applicant to overcome a presumption of immigrant intent.11Office of the Law Revision Counsel. 8 USC 1184 – Admission of Nonimmigrants A 214(b) refusal means the officer was not convinced you would leave the U.S. at the end of your authorized stay. Common reasons the State Department flags include insufficient job stability, limited financial assets at home, being young and single with no dependents, and no travel history that shows a pattern of returning home from international trips.12U.S. Department of State. Visa Denials
A 214(b) refusal is not permanent and applies only to that application. There is no formal appeal, but you can reapply at any time with a new DS-160, another $185 fee, and a new interview.12U.S. Department of State. Visa Denials Reapplying with the same file rarely changes the outcome. What helps is genuine new evidence: a new job, property, a stronger financial position, or something else that addresses the weakness in the first application.
Administrative Processing
Some cases are neither approved nor refused at the interview. Instead, the officer places the application into administrative processing under Section 221(g) for additional review, which can include background checks or document verification. Timing is unpredictable. Most cases resolve within a few months; some take longer. The State Department does not accept status inquiries until 60 days after processing begins. If your case is placed in administrative processing, ask whether any further documents are needed before you leave the window.
Arriving in the United States
A visa in your passport does not guarantee entry. Final admission is decided by a Customs and Border Protection officer at the port of entry, who reviews your travel purpose and stamps your admission into the electronic I-94 system.13U.S. Customs and Border Protection. CBP Search Authority
The I-94 record, not the visa, controls how long you can stay. For B-1/B-2 visitors, the standard maximum is six months from the date of entry.14U.S. Customs and Border Protection. I-94 Fact Sheet Your visa might be valid for 10 years, but if the I-94 says you must depart by a specific date, that date controls. You can check the I-94 and your admit-until date at i94.cbp.dhs.gov after arrival.
What Happens If You Overstay
Overstaying the I-94 date triggers unlawful presence, and the penalties escalate fast:
- More than 180 days but less than one year of unlawful presence: a three-year bar on re-entry once you depart.
- One year or more of unlawful presence: a ten-year bar.15Office of the Law Revision Counsel. 8 USC 1182 – Inadmissible Aliens
These bars are triggered by leaving the U.S. and then trying to come back. In the meantime, an overstay will typically cancel the existing visa, and prior unauthorized stays are on the State Department’s list of common grounds for future visa ineligibility.12U.S. Department of State. Visa Denials Track your I-94 admit-until date carefully, and if something changes and you need more time, talk to an immigration attorney about filing an extension of stay before the authorized period ends, not after.