Belizeans: Which Us Visas Are Options?

US citizens travelling to Belize for stays of 30 days or less do not require a visa, but they must have a valid passport and proof of an onward or return ticket. For longer stays, visitors must have their passport re-stamped by a local immigration office and pay an additional fee for every additional month they wish to stay, up to six months. Beyond this, visitors may need to provide further documentation to the local immigration office and may need to pay additional fees. US citizens can apply for a visa to Belize by completing an application form and submitting it to the Embassy of Belize, along with a passport-sized photograph, a copy of their bank statement, a letter of employment, and a copy of their itinerary.

Visa Waiver Program

The Visa Waiver Program (VWP) allows citizens of 41 countries to travel to the United States for business or tourism for up to 90 days without a visa. In return, the US requires that those 41 countries allow US citizens and nationals to travel to their countries for a similar length of time without a visa for business or tourism purposes. The program is administered by the Department of Homeland Security (DHS) in consultation with the State Department.

The VWP is a comprehensive security partnership that has evolved since its inception in 1986. It utilises a risk-based, multi-layered approach to detect and prevent terrorists, serious criminals, and other mala fide actors from travelling to the United States. This approach incorporates regular, national-level risk assessments concerning the impact of each program country’s participation in the VWP on US national security and law enforcement interests. It also includes comprehensive vetting of individual VWP travellers prior to their departure for the United States, upon arrival at US ports of entry, and during any subsequent air travel within the United States.

To be eligible for the VWP, a country must meet the following requirements:

• Have an annual nonimmigrant visitor visa refusal rate of less than 3%, or a lower average percentage over the previous two fiscal years.
• Accept the repatriation of its citizens, former citizens, and nationals ordered removed from the United States within three weeks of the final order of removal.
• Enter into an agreement to report lost and stolen passport information to the United States via INTERPOL or other means designated by the Secretary.
• Enter into an agreement with the United States to share terrorism and serious criminal information.
• Issue electronic, machine-readable passports with biometric identifiers.
• Undergo a DHS-led evaluation of the effects of the country’s VWP designation on the security, law enforcement, and immigration enforcement interests of the United States.
• Undergo, in conjunction with the DHS-led evaluation, an independent intelligence assessment produced by the DHS Office of Intelligence and Analysis.

In addition to these requirements, DHS continuously monitors all VWP countries to ensure that their continued designation in the program will not adversely affect US security. The Secretary of Homeland Security, in consultation with the Secretary of State, has the authority to immediately terminate or suspend a country’s designation in the VWP without notice if there is a credible threat originating from that country that poses an imminent danger to the United States or its citizens.

All prospective VWP travellers are required to obtain pre-travel authorisation through the Electronic System for Travel Authorization (ESTA) prior to boarding a plane or ship bound for the United States. ESTA applications collect biographic information and answers to VWP eligibility questions, and may be submitted at any time prior to travel. However, it is recommended that travellers apply as soon as they begin preparing their travel plans or before purchasing airline tickets.

Short-term visas

For short-term visits to the US from Belize, there are a number of visa options available. Firstly, it is important to note that citizens of Belize do not require a visa for tourist visits of 30 days or less. For visits longer than 30 days, a visa is required, and visitors must have their passport re-stamped and pay an additional fee for every additional month they wish to stay, up to six months. For visits longer than six months, further documentation and additional fees may be required.

For short-term visits to the US for tourism, business, education, or other purposes, the online application form DS-160 can be completed. This is a nonimmigrant visa, for those seeking to enter the US for a temporary period. The Visa Wizard can also be used to help determine which visa is required.

For those seeking to enter the US without a visa, the Visa Waiver Program may be an option. This is administered by the Department of Homeland Security (DHS) and allows certain international travellers to enter the US without a visa.

For short-term visits to the US, it is important to have the correct documentation, including a valid passport, proof of an onward or return ticket, and sufficient funds to cover the cost of the intended length of stay.

Visa extensions

If you are visiting Belize as a tourist, you do not need a visa for stays of 30 days or less. For visits longer than 30 days, you will need to visit a local immigration office to extend your stay in Belize. The permit required to extend your stay in Belize beyond the 30 days is the 'Belize Visitor's Permit Extension'. You will need to have your passport re-stamped and pay an additional fee for every additional month you wish to stay, up to six months. For visits longer than six months, you may need to provide further documentation to the local immigration office explaining the reason for your longer stay, and you may need to pay additional fees.

The Belize Immigration website states that:

> While you may not require a visa to enter Belize or be exempted to apply for a Belize entry visa, any visit exceeding 30, 60, 90, and 180 days will require a visa and requisite extensions to remain legal in Belize.

It is important to note that US citizens travelling to Belize must have a US passport valid for the length of their stay, proof of an onward or return ticket, and sufficient funds to cover the cost of their stay.

Visa fees

The cost of a visa depends on the type of visa and the nationality of the applicant. Here is a breakdown of the visa fees for US citizens seeking to enter Belize:

Single-Entry Visa

The Single-Entry Visa is valid for 6 months and costs USD $50.00, plus USD $30.00 for shipping and handling. The total cost is USD $80.00. This visa allows for a stay of up to 90 days in Belize.

Multiple-Entry Visa

The Multiple-Entry Visa is valid for 12 months and the cost varies depending on the applicant's nationality. Nationals from the People's Republic of China, India, Nepal, Thailand, Burma, Bangladesh, Pakistan, and Sri Lanka are required to pay a different fee compared to other nationalities. Unfortunately, the specific fee amount for this visa type could not be found.

Belize Visitor's Permit Extension

For stays exceeding 30 days in Belize, visitors are required to obtain a permit extension from an Immigration Office. The fee for this extension is not specified, and it may vary depending on the length of the extension and the visitor's nationality.

Machine-Readable Visa (MRV) Fee

The MRV fee is applicable for nonimmigrant visas and must be paid before scheduling an appointment or submitting an interview waiver application. The fee amount is not specified, but it is important to note that the appointment must be made within one year of the MRV payment date. Failure to do so will result in the forfeiture of the appointment slot and the need to pay a new fee.

It is important to note that US citizens and holders of US Permanent Resident Cards or multiple-entry visas are exempt from visa fees when entering Belize. Additionally, fees may be paid via money order, certified cheques, bank drafts, or cash in person, but personal cheques are not accepted by the Embassy of Belize.

Visa requirements

Citizens of the United States do not need a visa to enter Belize. However, they must have a valid passport for the duration of their stay, proof of a return or onward ticket, and sufficient funds to cover their stay. If entering by land, different fees apply depending on the length of stay.

For visits of up to 30 days, US citizens do not need a visa to enter Belize. For stays longer than 30 days, visitors must have their passport re-stamped by a local immigration office and pay an additional fee for every additional month, up to six months. For visits longer than six months, further documentation may be required, and additional fees may apply.

US citizens travelling with children may be asked to show birth certificates for each child, and if the child is not travelling with both parents, documentation such as notarized letters of consent, custody decrees, adoption papers, or death certificates may be required.

For short-term visits to the US (tourism, business, education, etc.), a nonimmigrant visa application (form DS-160) can be completed online. Immigrant visas are issued to foreign nationals intending to live and work permanently in the US and can be applied for via the US Citizenship and Immigration Services site.

The Visa Waiver Program, administered by the Department of Homeland Security (DHS), allows certain international travellers to enter the US without a visa.

Frequently asked questions