American Chamber of Commerce in Romania

The business visa facilitation program (BVFP) was developed to help foster strong economic and commercial ties between Romania and the U.S. and to make the visa process as easy and efficient as possible for business travelers while maintaining the highest visa security standards possible. Companies that are members of the American Chamber of Commerce in Romania (AmCham Romania) will have access to special appointment blocks each week. The wait time for appointments will be significantly reduced and visa applications can be processed faster and more accurately. There is no additional fee for this program.

This program is for business travel only for full-time employees of member companies of the American Chamber of Commerce in Romania. If, however, a family member is accompanying an employee on a business trip, we would be happy to interview them together through the BVFP (please note that this is a change from last year’s policies). This program is also open for tourist travel but only for senior executives of member companies of the American Chamber of Commerce in Romania and their immediate family. Non-Executives working for an AmCham Romania member company planning to travel for personal reasons should apply for a tourist visa via the normal application procedure. Travelers planning to seek gainful employment in the U.S. should apply for the appropriate work visa.

To qualify for the BVFP, the traveler must present at the time of the interview a letter from their company on company letterhead that clearly states how long they have worked at the company, their salary, specific travel dates and purpose of travel. The types of legitimate commercial activities that are allowed on a B1 temporary visa include: business consultations, contract negotiations, purchasing goods or materials, professional conventions, or conferences. Gainful employment in the U.S. is generally not allowed on a B1 visa. If the employee is going to the U.S. to conduct warranty repair or service work, he must submit at the time of the interview a copy of the original sales contract that includes the repair/service clause.
Individual applicants of BVFP companies will still have to demonstrate at the time of the interview that they have strong social, professional, and economic ties that would compel their return to Romania after a brief non-working visit, like all non-immigrant visa applicants. We cannot guarantee approval of visas before the interview.


QUALIFYING COMPANIES

To qualify for the program the company must be a member of the American Chamber of Commerce in Romania.
 (AmCham Romania).
HOW TO PARTICIPATE IN THE PROGRAM


The AmCham member company will need to provide each employee with a letter on the company letterhead stating how long they have worked for the company and in what position, the employee’s salary and outline the specific travel dates and purpose of travel (see attachment B).

SCHEDULING AN APPOINTMENT

1. Business Visa Facilitation Program appointments are available every Monday through Thursday starting at 2 pm. 20 appointments a day will be available.
2. Employees should contact the Call Center (03 71 72 00 53 from 8:00 am to 6:00 pm, Monday to Friday) to schedule an appointment and mention that they are employed full-time by a American Chamber of Commerce member company. 
3. The Call Center will check the company against the member list, and schedule the next available appointment.
4. Applicants from AmCham Romania member companies are still welcome to schedule an appointment using the normal method with the call center if they prefer.

REQUIREMENTS FOR THE INDIVIDUAL APPLICANT AT THE TIME OF THE INTERVIEW

1. Bring a letter from their employer on company letterhead stating how long they have worked for the company and in what position, their salary and the specific dates and purpose of their travel.
2. Demonstrate compelling social, economic, and professional reasons to return to Romania after a temporary non-working visit in the U.S.
3. Comply with all other requirements of non-immigrant visa applicants. (See http://bucharest.usembassy.gov for information.)

U.S. Department of Homeland Security