---
kind: "section"
citation: "22 C.F.R. § 41.105"
title: "22"
number: "41.105"
heading: "Supporting documents and fingerprinting."
url: "https://uscodex.org/cfr/22/41.105"
---

# §41.105. Supporting documents and fingerprinting.

- (a) **Supporting documents—**
  - (1) **Authority to require documents.** The consular officer is authorized to require documents considered necessary to establish the alien's eligibility to receive a nonimmigrant visa. All documents and other evidence presented by the alien, including briefs submitted by attorneys or other representatives, shall be considered by the consular officer.
  - (2) **Unobtainable documents.** If the consular officer is satisfied that a document or record required under the authority of this section is unobtainable, the consular officer may accept satisfactory alternative pertinent evidence. A document or other record shall be considered unobtainable if it cannot be procured without causing the applicant or a member of the applicant's family actual hardship as distinct from normal delay and inconvenience.
  - (3) **Photographs required.** Every applicant for a nonimmigrant visa must furnish photographs of the number and specification prescribed by the Department. The applicant must either upload a digital photograph electronically as part of submitting an online visa application or submit a paper photograph at the direction of the Department or consular officer. The photograph shall be considered signed when the applicant signs the appropriate application form pursuant to [§ 41.103(b)(3)](/cfr/22/41.103.md?p=b-3).
  - (4) **Police certificates.** A police certificate is a certification by the police or other appropriate authorities stating what, if anything, their records show concerning the alien. An applicant for a nonimmigrant visa is required to present a police certificate if the consular officer has reason to believe that a police or criminal record exists, except that no police certificate is required in the case of an alien who is within a class of nonimmigrants classifiable under visa symbols A-1, A-2, C-3, G-1 through G-4, NATO-1 through NATO-4 or NATO-6.
- (b) **Fingerprinting.** Every applicant for a nonimmigrant visa must furnish fingerprints, as required by the consular officer.

## Notes

### Amendments

[52 FR 42597, Nov. 5, 1987; 53 FR 9112, 9172, Mar. 21, 1988, as amended at 61 FR 1522, Jan. 22, 1996; 61 FR 53058, Oct. 10, 1996; 64 FR 13510, Mar. 19, 1999; 67 FR 8478, Feb. 25, 2002; 72 FR 74175, Dec. 31, 2007; 73 FR 49092, Aug. 20, 2008; 88 FR 13696, Mar. 6, 2023]

### Authority

Authority: 8 U.S.C. 1101; 1102; 1103, 1104; 1182; 1184; 1185 note (Section 7209 of Pub. L. 108-458, as amended by Section 546 of Pub. L. 109-295); 1201; 1258; 1323; 1361; 2651a.

### Source

Source: 52 FR 42597, Nov. 5, 1987, unless otherwise noted.

### Amendments

[52 FR 42597, Nov. 5, 1987; 53 FR 9112, 9172, Mar. 21, 1988, as amended at 61 FR 1522, Jan. 22, 1996; 61 FR 53058, Oct. 10, 1996; 64 FR 13510, Mar. 19, 1999; 67 FR 8478, Feb. 25, 2002; 72 FR 74175, Dec. 31, 2007; 73 FR 49092, Aug. 20, 2008; 88 FR 13696, Mar. 6, 2023]