Press Release
American Institute in Taiwan Announces New Appointment System for Nonimmigrant Visas
PR0418E | Date: 2004-03-24
Beginning March 24, the American Institute in Taiwan is introducing a new appointment system for applicants for nonimmigrant visas, including tourist, business and student visas. This system is already in use in most large U.S. visa-issuing facilities throughout the world.
The system will replace AIT's existing caller-pay telephone appointment system. It will allow each applicant to set a specific time for a visa application interview and assist the applicant with completing the application form. AIT will be able to handle more visa applicants more quickly, thus reducing the waiting period for the interview and the time needed to process a visa.
Starting March 24, all nonimmigrant visa applicants must go to the Atos Origin Application Processing Center (APC), our new service provider, to make an appointment for a visa interview at AIT. The APC address is 6F, No.6, Hsin Yi Road, Section 4, which is located near the Ta-An MRT station in Taipei.
Both the visa application fee of NT$3600, payable to Taiwan Post Office account number 19189005, and the service charge of NT$240, payable to Taiwan Post Office account number 19832104, must be paid before submitting the visa application to the APC. The visa application fee will drop to NT$3400 as of April 1, 2004, because of changes in the exchange rate.
Applicants must bring their valid passports and receipts to the APC for assistance in preparing their application. Children under the age of 14 do not need to appear at the APC nor at AIT for an interview. Likewise, applicants over the age of 79 may submit their passport and application through a representative. Please note that the personal appearance waiver program has been cancelled.
After accepting the application for pre-processing, the APC will give each applicant a personal identification number (PIN) so that he or she can make an interview appointment at AIT. An appointment can be made either on the Internet at
The current caller pay appointment system will cease as of today. Those applicants who have already scheduled appointments through the current caller-pay telephone system will still be able to come to AIT at their scheduled appointment time up until April 2. Anyone who makes an appointment on or after March 24 must go through the APC. People who plan to apply for a U.S. nonimmigrant visa during the busy summer months should make an appointment as soon as possible.
New Appointment System For Nonimmigrant Visas
Frequently Asked Questions
1. Q: What is the new AIT appointment system for nonimmigrant visas?
A: Beginning March 24, the American Institute in Taiwan (AIT) is introducing a new appointment system for applicants for nonimmigrant visas (NIVs), including tourist, business and student visas. This system is already in use in most large U.S. visa-issuing facilities throughout the world. It will allow AIT to facilitate legitimate travel to the United States while providing better protection of U.S. borders.
2. Q: Why are you instituting this new system?
A: The new system will bring visa processing for the people of Taiwan, into the 21st Century with the capability of internet appointments and website downloading of forms. The new system will enable AIT to process visas quickly and completely in accordance with the new biometric enrollment requirements that will begin later this summer. The older, caller-pay telephone technology simply did not have the capacity to be able incorporate all of the changes that have been mandated and handle the volume of requests that AIT has traditionally received.
3. Q: What is the difference between the new appointment system and the current one?
A: The new system will replace AIT's existing caller-pay telephone appointment system. It will allow each applicant to set a specific time for a visa application interview and assist the applicant with completing the application form. AIT will be able to handle more visa applicants more quickly, thus reducing the waiting period for the interview and the time needed to process a visa.
4. Q: How do I schedule an appointment with AIT after March 24, 2004?
A: Starting March 24, all nonimmigrant visa applicants must go to the Atos Origin Application Processing Center (the APC), our new service provider, to make an appointment for a visa interview at AIT. The APC address is 6F, No.6, Hsin Yi Road, Section 4, which is located near the Ta-An MRT station in Taipei.
Both the visa application fee of NT$3400, payable to Taiwan Post Office account number 19189005, and the service charge of NT$240, payable to Taiwan Post Office account number 19832104, must be paid before submitting the visa application to the APC.
Applicants must bring their valid passports and receipts to the APC for assistance in preparing their application. Children under the age of 14 do not need to appear at the APC nor at AIT for an interview. Likewise, applicants over the age of 79 may submit their passport and application through a representative. Please note that the personal appearance waiver program has been cancelled.
After accepting the application for pre-processing, the APC will give each applicant a personal identification number (PIN) so that he or she can make an interview appointment at AIT. An appointment can be made either on the Internet at
5. Q: What are the APC's business hours?
A: Starting March 24, the APC will be open from 8:00 am to 5:00 pm, Monday through Friday. The business hours may be extended during the peak season.
6. Q: Isn't the new process more inconvenient for the applicants? Now they have to go to two different locations so it will take even longer.
A: Although they will have to go to two locations, they should spend less time at each location than they do now waiting at AIT. The physical constraints of our facilities right now severely limits the number of applicants we can handle and results in long lines and occasional extended delays in getting the visa.
7. Q: How much does it cost for this service? Where do I pay the fee for this service? Can I pay this fee together with the AIT visa application fee?
A: Both the visa application fee of NT$3400, payable to Taiwan Post Office account number 19189005, and the service charge of NT$240, payable to Taiwan Post Office account number 19832104, must be paid before submitting the visa application to the APC. Please do not pay the service fee together with the AIT visa application fee.
8. Q: Why do applicants have to pay another fee?
A: Under the caller pay system, applicants have to pay for 0204 Caller-pays telephone appointments. The cost to each applicant varies with the time it takes them to make an appointment. That will cease when the new the APC opens on March 24. After March 24, applicants will only pay a fixed fee at the Post Office, which covers data entry, appointment and some visa information.
9. Q: Applicants already pay NT$3400. Isn't that enough?
A: The basic visa application fee is an amount that is collected by the US Department of State for every visa issued worldwide. Those funds go for the overall logistical support of the system superstructure, which is linked to all of the hundreds of Ports of Entry in the United States and the Department of State, as well as the physical production of a secure document. That fee does not support local companies like Atos Origins in providing visa applicants with information and application assistance
10. Q: If I have been interviewed at AIT and I have been asked to bring in more documents, how do I make another appointment?
A: You can use your original PIN number make a new appointment.
11. Q: What happens if I lose my PIN number?
A: Contact the Atos Origin Application Processing Center and they will help you.
12. Q: I live in Kaohsiung. Does this mean I have to come to Taipei twice—one day to submit my application to the APC and then another day to be interviewed at AIT?
A: You can have any representative submit your passport, the AIT and Atos Origin receipts and completed form(s) to the APC. You can also mail a copy of the above-mentioned documents the APC. Make sure that the copy is clear and can be easily read. The address of the Application Processing Center is: 6F, No.6, Hsin Yi Road, Sec.4, Taipei, 106. After your documents have been received and data entered, you will be given your PIN number to make an appointment. On the day of your appointment, come to Taipei and go to the APC. There they will put your documents in an envelope and you will be able to go to your appointment at AIT.
13. Q: How far in advance will I be able to schedule an appointment? Can I make any changes on an existing appointment?
A: Applicants will be able to make an appointment for the next working day and as far as one month in advance once when they receive a PIN. Applicants will also be able to change, cancel or check an existing appointment via telephone or the Internet.
14. Q: If I already have my appointment scheduled through the current appointment system, will AIT accept my application? Do I need to schedule another one?
A: The current caller pay appointment system will cease as of today. Those applicants who have already scheduled appointments through the current caller-pay telephone system will still be able to come to AIT at their scheduled appointment time up until April 2. Anyone who makes an appointment on or after March 24 must go through the APC.
15. Q: Can Atos Origin submit my visa application to AIT on my behalf?
A: No, Atos Origin only provides data entry and appointment services for visa applicants. All applicants will have to submit their own applications to AIT in person. Children under the age of 14 do not need to appear at the APC nor at AIT for an interview. Likewise, applicants over the age of 79 may submit their passport and application through a representative. Please note that the personal appearance waiver program has been cancelled.
16. Q: How long does it take for AIT to process my application?
A: If an application is approved, it takes 3 to 6 working days to process a nonimmigrant visa. People who plan to apply for a U.S. nonimmigrant visa during the busy summer months should make an appointment as soon as possible.
17. Q: How can I get my passport back when the visa processing is complete?
A: Passports will still be delivered back to applicants via courier service.
18. Q: If I am traveling to the US for emergency reasons, what should I do?
A: For life or death emergencies, applicants may continue to appear at AIT's information window without appointment.
19. Q: How can I learn more about the appointment system and visa procedures?
A: Information about the appointment system and visa procedures can be obtained through AIT's web site at