Special US Visas - What We Handle, and What You Bring

Most Israelis know only the B1/B2 tourist visa - but there's a whole category of US visas that work in an entirely different way, in two stages. First a US-side organization files a petition with US authorities and receives approval, and only then can you approach the embassy in Israel to collect the visa itself. Here's how each category works - what falls to us, and what you need to bring.

F-1 student visa

A visa for full-time studies in the US. After acceptance, the US academic institution ⁦(university, college, or approved private school)⁩ issues Form I-20 for you through the SEVIS system - physically or digitally. Before the embassy interview you'll also pay the $350 SEVIS fee at fmjfee.com, and the consular visa fee is $185.

R-1 religious visa

A visa for a religious appointment in the US - a community rabbi, a teacher, or an emissary of a religious organization. Here the US religious organization, not you, files the petition with USCIS on Form I-129. The process includes a USCIS review of the organization, and sometimes a physical site visit to its US premises. Once approved ⁦(Form I-797)⁩, you receive the copy and come to the embassy. Fee: $205. Initial validity up to 30 months, extendable to a 5-year maximum.

L / O / J work visas

• L-1 - intracompany transfer ⁦(manager, specialist)⁩. US employer files I-129. Fee: $205
• O-1 - extraordinary ability ⁦(artists, scientists, athletes, prominent business figures)⁩. Requires a peer/group consultation letter. Fee: $205
• J-1 - exchange ⁦(researchers, teachers, students in special programs)⁩. Doesn't require I-129 - requires Form DS-2019 from the program sponsor. SEVIS fee: $220, visa fee: $185

What we handle - and what we don't

The entire embassy side in Israel is ours: DS-160 filing, appointment booking, file preparation, interview support, and the final visa stamp in the passport. What we don't file is the I-129 or the I-20 - those belong to your US immigration attorney or the US institution/employer, and they're done before you ever reach us.

The correct order of operations

• Institution/employer/organization in the US files the petition with USCIS ⁦(Form I-129, I-20, or DS-2019)⁩
• Approval is received ⁦(Form I-797 or equivalent)⁩
• You pay the SEVIS fee ⁦(if applicable)⁩
• We fill out DS-160 and pay the visa fee
• We book the embassy appointment
• Embassy interview - conducted by you, with our support
• Visa stamp in the passport within a few days

The mistakes that cost you

Show up at the embassy without prior approval - the application is denied. Pick the wrong visa type - also denied ⁦(for example, leaving to work in the US for years under B1/B2 instead of L/O simply won't fly)⁩. Run late to the interview over a form problem - a lost work day and valuable time. We review every document before filing, so all of this is headed off in advance.

How to start

Tell us the visa type and where your prior approval stands ⁦(do you have an I-20? a signed I-797? still waiting?)⁩, and we'll spell out exactly the next steps, the costs, and a realistic timeline.