Millions of people enter and leave the United States each year. It is a popular tourist and immigration destination.
However, if you are not a resident of the United States, you will likely need a visa to enter the country. A US visa is a stamp you put on your travel document, specifically your passport, that means you are eligible to enter the United States. Having a US visa does not necessarily mean you will enter the United States, as this is at the discretion of Department of Homeland Security (DHS) and Customs and Border Protection (CPB) (inspectors).
Citizens of the following countries need to apply for a visa to be able to enter the United States:
On the other hand, citizens of visa-exempt countries and citizens of Bermuda and Canada can visit the United States temporarily for 90 days or less without a visa if traveling for tourism or business purposes. Instead, they can receive an ESTA (Electronic System for Travel Authorization) from U.S Customs and Border Protection (CBP). This authorization document classifies the traveler as a national of a country participating in the VWP agreement.
All travelers must also have an electronic passport with biometric information that has a machine-readable area on the profile page.
Citizens of Canada and Bermuda enjoy temporary freedom of travel to the United States without the need for a non-immigrant visa or other pre-entry authorizations, such as an ESTA (Electronic System for Travel Authorization) .
Canadian citizens – freely enter and stay in the US, including for work (they can even use a NEXUS card or enhanced driver’s license for identification, instead of a passport) Citizens Bermuda – exempt from visa requirements, for stays of less than 6 months in the United States Benefiting from the “Compact of Free Association” agreement with the United States, citizens of the Marshall Islands, Micronesia and Palau are waive visa requirements to enter, reside, study, or find employment in the United States. The United States has no restrictions.
There are about 185 types of US visas, grouped into two main categories:
Here are the main types of US visas:
The main difference between nonimmigrant and immigrant visas is the length of time the visa holder is allowed to stay in the United States. Nonimmigrant visas are temporary, meaning they expire and the visa holder must return to their home country immediately.
Immigrant visas are also known as green cards and are permanent. Once a visa holder has an immigrant visa, they can move to the United States and stay as long as they want without a deadline to return to their home country.
When you receive your visa to the United States, you will see the image below. You must check that your information is correct and matches your passport data and all sections included in the visa form. If it does not contain all the information, you should contact the US embassy that issued it.
Possession of a valid U.S. visa does not guarantee admission to the United States. The Border Patrol at any point of entry into the United States is responsible for anyone entering the country.
Therefore, when you arrive in the United States, you will first have to go through immigration and customs, they will check your documents and background and decide whether to allow you to enter the United States or not. These officials have the power to detain and question you, and they also have the power to prevent you from entering the United States. They can also organize your return home.
There are many reasons that could be given for not allowing you into the United States, but most of them relate to any security and safety threat you may pose to residents United States and other visitors.
There are a number of reasons why USCIS or the US Embassy may deny your visa application or application. You may be ineligible or have a criminal record, so you will not be able to enter the United States. If you are unable to obtain a visa, you have two options: appeal to USCIS or the US embassy, or apply for a new visa.
In general, you should apply for a new visa rather than appeal because the US embassy will have a valid reason as to why it denied your visa and you can correct that reason when you submit it single again.
Because U.S. nonimmigrant visas are temporary, they have an expiration date. This date depends on the visa type. There are visas that are only valid for 3 months and some that are valid for 3 years. You need to check the type of visa you want to apply for and see how long it is valid for after you receive it. US immigrant visas have no expiration date, so with such a visa you can stay in the US permanently.
If your US visa expires, you have the option to renew your visa through a process similar to the original US visa application process. All US visas have their issuance and expiration dates stamped in the passport. Just renew your US visa if the visa has expired.
Almost all US visas allow parents to bring their children to the United States. However, children must be minors, therefore under 18 or 21 years of age depending on the type of visa the parents have. Adult children are usually not allowed to apply for a visa if their parents have one, unless they are unable to care for themselves and are dependent on their parents.
Most visas do not allow parents to be brought to the United States because they are not considered direct dependents. However, you should check for Immigrant Visas for Immediate Relatives or Family that may allow you to sponsor your parents or siblings for an immigrant visa.
Remember that due to the high cost of health care in the United States, your parents should have appropriate health insurance for the time they visit the United States.
Unfortunately, once your visa expires and is no longer valid, you will no longer be allowed to enter the United States. If you attempt to enter the United States on an expired visa, Customs and Border Protection (CBP) will return you to your home country.
You must renew the visa you already have or apply for a new visa to be allowed to re-enter the United States. Although the US government has not made health insurance mandatory for short-term visitors to the country, as US visa holders, we strongly recommend that all travelers Guests are advised to purchase travel insurance before their trip to the United States.
Obtaining US citizenship is a long process. If you have a non-immigrant visa to the US, this is very difficult because you are not allowed to apply for citizenship directly.
You must first obtain a US immigration visa. Some U.S. nonimmigrant visas are dual-purpose, meaning that once you meet the requirements, you can change your status and receive an immigrant visa.
Once you have an immigrant visa, you must keep it for five years to apply for US citizenship.
People living in the United States may need a Schengen visa to travel to Europe. If you need to apply for a Schengen visa, you must have Schengen visa travel insurance for the entire period of your stay in Europe.
US visa or green card holders who want to travel to the UK may need to apply for a UK visa.
The United States Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS) is the primary immigration agency responsible for US visas. They accept and process applications, and make the decision to submit requests from U.S. employers to hire foreign workers.
USCIS issues visa documents and maintains detailed records of all immigrants entering the United States. USCIS is best suited for nonimmigrant work visas as well as all immigrant visa applications they process and adjudicate.
Click the Contacts below to chat on WhatsApp
