Guatemala at a glance
| Visit with an ESTA (Visa Waiver Program) | No: a visitor visa is needed |
| E-1 treaty trader visa | Not available |
| E-2 treaty investor visa | Not available |
| Own line in the Visa Bulletin | No: worldwide line |
| Green card lottery (last published list, DV-2026) | Eligible |
| Entry restrictions | No travel ban; affected by the 2026 immigrant visa pause (set aside by a court, under appeal) |
| Temporary Protected Status (TPS) | Not designated |
| Where visas are processed | U.S. Embassy Guatemala City processes immigrant and nonimmigrant visas. |
Green card lottery: registration for DV-2027 had not opened as of mid-October 2026. A federal court ordered the State Department to open it, and that order may be appealed.
What is specific to Guatemala right now
- Guatemala was on the State Department's pause on immigrant visa issuance for 75 countries that started January 21, 2026. A federal court set the pause aside in August 2026; the government's appeal was still pending in October 2026.
- The Central American Minors program is suspended, and Family Reunification Parole ended on January 14, 2026.
- Guatemala was eligible for the DV-2026 green card lottery.
Common U.S. immigration paths for people from Guatemala
Family petitionSponsor children, adult sons and daughters, or siblingsH-2A / H-2B visasSeasonal and temporary farm and non-farm work visasGreen card lottery (DV)Yearly random drawing for green cards from lower-immigration countriesAsylumProtection for people who fear persecution in their home countryEB-3 green cardEmployer-sponsored green card through PERM labor certificationB-1/B-2 visitor visaVisit the U.S. for business, tourism or family
How MyUSVisa helps
- Answer a guided questionnaire in your language and upload your documents once — we read, sort and assemble them into a clear case file and timeline.
- Your organized case is offered to licensed U.S. immigration attorneys who handle this type of case. Interested attorneys send you offers, and you compare and choose — or don't.
- Once you choose, you and your attorney work in one place: messages, documents, deadlines and automatic USCIS status updates, on the web and in the mobile app.
Frequently asked questions
Can people from Guatemala visit the U.S. with an ESTA?
No. Guatemala is not in the Visa Waiver Program, so a visitor visa (B-1/B-2) from a U.S. embassy or consulate is usually needed.
Can people from Guatemala get an E-2 investor visa?
Not on Guatemala nationality alone: there is no E-2 treaty between Guatemala and the United States. Some people qualify through a second nationality from a treaty country, or use other paths such as EB-5.
Can people from Guatemala enter the green card lottery?
Guatemala was eligible in the last published program (DV-2026). Eligibility is set again every year, so check the official instructions when registration opens.
Where do people from Guatemala have their visa interview?
U.S. Embassy Guatemala City processes immigrant and nonimmigrant visas.
Can I work with a U.S. attorney while I am still in Guatemala?
Yes. MyUSVisa works online: you tell your story from anywhere, licensed U.S. immigration attorneys review it and send proposals, and you choose. This works before you travel or once you are already in the United States.
More countries in the Americas
Last checked by the MyUSVisa team and counsel in October 2026. Country rules change often, especially entry restrictions, TPS and parole programs. Always verify on travel.state.gov and uscis.gov, or ask your attorney.
MyUSVisa is not a law firm and does not provide legal advice. Not affiliated with USCIS or any government agency.