U.S. Embassy in Sierra
Leone

For a student visa, you must have received your I-20 from the university that you applied for your course of study. The I-20 is normally referred to as an "Acceptance Letter" from a university/college. Please go to the U.S. embassy website https://sl.usembassy.gov/visas/nonimigrant-visa/ and apply for your visa. After applying for the visa, book an appointment for your visa interview and pay for your visa at any Guarantee Trust Bank. Prepare for your visa interview with all supporting documents including bank statements, valid passport, DS 160 confirmation page, appointment page, and affidavit of support from your sponsor (s). Pay your SEVIS www.ice.gov/sevis/i901 fees online and print receipt and bring it along. Do thorough research about your university/college and go for your student interview.

For students, go to https://portal.ustraveldocs.com/?country=Sierra%20Leone&language=English and enter your username and password. On your left hand side, select "Emergency appointment" and follow further instructions. Make sure you clearly indicate the reason for your expedited vis appointment with supporting documents like DS160 confirmation page, I-20, SEVIS receipt, valid passport, initial appointment confirmation page and or any other supporting documents you deem necessary. Please monitor your email to know if your request is accepted or denied. If denied, please reach out to your school immediately to update your I-20 for the next admission cycle.

Please go to https://sl.usembassy.gov/services/ and select the "appointment-only system" link for all non-emergency services. This allows American citizens in Sierra Leone to plan ahead and book a time to complete their required service. The American Center Freetown that is located at the U.S. Embassy can also offer free computer service with high speed Internet that you can use to book your appointment. Visit the Center today and talk to a staff member to help you navigate the process!

Do you want to study in the United States? It is possible with the "5 Steps to U.S. Study"! https://educationusa.state.gov/your-5-us-study. You must do your research thoroughly to know which college/university best fits your needs. You must have completed high school for undergraduate study or college for graduate study with clear standing. You must think of how you are going to finance your study - personal funding or scholarship or both. After you have secured funding, go to the college's website and complete your application. This includes submitting your transcripts, test scores, and recommendation letters. When you have gained admission and received your I-20, please go to the U.S. embassy Sierra Leone and apply for your student visa and schedule an appointment for an interview. After securing a student visa (F1 visa), you can now prepare for your departure. For U.S. Exchange Programs like Fulbright, you must have been accepted into the program after thorough review by the PD Team. You will be required to take prerequisite exams like TOEFL and GRE for college placement. When DS2019 form is received, go to the U.S. embassy website and apply for your Exchange Visitor Visa. Please take note of the SEVIS number and Program Number to be entered correctly. Print your DS160 confirmation page and submit to the program coordinator with your valid passport. After a date has been secured, come for your interview and prep

Thank you for your interest in working with the U.S. Mission in Sierra Leone. A listing of current job opportunities can be found here. All applications must be submitted through our Electronic Recruitment Application (ERA) with the appropriate attachments to be considered, so make sure you review the required documents when you apply.

You can find opportunities to apply for small grants, such as the Ambassador's Special Self Help Fund or Public Diplomacy Grants on our website, or by visiting grants.gov to find all opportunities to apply for funding from the U.S. government. We do not accept unsolicited proposals, and applying for grants is the only mechanism through which an organization can apply for funding to do a project.