United States visas are needed by citizens of foreign countries in order to enter the United States.
The U.S. Department of State is responsible for these consular affairs. Visas indicate that your application has been reviewed by a U.S. consular officer at an American
embassy or consulate, and that the officer has determined you are eligible to enter the country for a specific purpose.
A United States visa does not guarantee entry to the country but allows you to travel to the United States as far as the port of entry, at which point the immigration officer at the airport or land border crossing will decided if they will allow you to enter. They are the only people who have the authority to permit you to enter the United States. They also will decide how long you can stay for any particular visit. The U.S. Department of Homeland Security is responsible for immigration matters. Application requirements for
B-2
Tourist Visas are stricter since 9/11. Citizens of
Visa Waiver countries are allowed to enter the United
States visa-free for up to 90 days. Check if you qualify for the
Visa Waiver Program.
U.S. Visa Types
There are two main types of United States visas: Immigrant Visas and Non-Immigrant Visas.
Immigrant Visas: These are for people who intend to live permanently in the United States without any time limitations.
Non-Immigrant Visas: These are for people with permanent residence outside of the United States but who wish to be in the U.S. on a temporary basis. Temporary stays in the U.S. are usually for temporary work or study, tourism, medical treatment or business.
To obtain United States Non-Immigrant visas, such as Tourist
Visas or Student
Visas, applicants must show that they qualify by law under the provisions of the
Immigration and Nationality Act. The presumption of this law is that every
visitor visa holder is an intending immigrant, so applicants must overcome this
presumption by demonstrating the following about their trip to the United
States:
The visa is needed for business,
tourism or medical treatment
The visitor plans to stay for a specific and limited time
The applicant has a residence outside of the United States and also binding
ties that ensure their return abroad at the end of the visit
U.S. Immigration Support offers an extensive list of downloadable U.S.
visa application guides. Use the left navigation menu to select the United
States visas you would like to apply for, download the application, complete it
according to the instructions provided and submit it to the U.S. Embassy or
Consulate in your home country for processing.
Do not hesitate to contact us if you require any
assistance with U.S. visa application.
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