|
. |
US VISA APPLICATION INFORMATION
This page provides U.S. visa information and discusses the U.S. visa
application process; teaching you how to get a U.S. visa, what the
different types of U.S. visas are, plus the important details about the
U.S. visa application processes, such as, non-immigrant U.S. visa
application and immigrant U.S. visa application.
Table of Contents:
The U.S.
Visa is the U.S. entry document issued by the U.S. Department of
State that is either stamped or pasted on the individual's passport,
and generally no one can be allowed to enter the U.S.
without a visa. If you belong to one of the
Visa Waiver Program countries, then in most
cases you don't need a U.S. visa
to be able to enter the United States.
The U.S. visa system can be divided
into two major categories:
-
non-immigrant visa, which
is a temporary U.S. visa intended for those who want to visit the
U.S. on a temporary basis. This kind of U.S. visa comes in a
variety of types with different privileges and purpose such as
tourist visa, student visa, and employment visa, and
-
Immigrant visas,
officially known as
Alien
Registration Receipt Cards and popularly known as
green cards, enables
you to reside permanently in the U.S.
In this section, we will deal mainly with the non-immigrant visa. If
you wish to learn about how you can live and work permanently in the
United States, that is, become a
US
permanent resident, please click this link to the
U.S. Green Cards page.
Back to top
US immigrant visas
are also known as
US green cards, and
are
officially called Alien
Registration Receipt Card.
How to apply for US
green cards
Green cards are
US permanent residence visas. This type of US visa
gives you the legal right to live and work permanently in the United States and to enter and leave the country
freely. US immigrant visas identify its holder as a permanent
resident of the U.S. You need to learn, not only how you can obtain
your immigrant US visa, but how to keep it as well.
Back to top
There are many types of non-immigrant
US visas. Each is
issued for a different purpose and each is known by a letter-number
combination as well as a name. Many people are more familiar with
the more popular types of non-immigrant US visas such as B-2
visitor's, E-2 investor's or F-1 student's. All of these fall into
the general non-immigrant group.
Back to top
Click here to learn more about the different types of
non-immigrant US visas.
There are two ways you can come to the United States,
as a visitor or as a permanent resident. In either case you need a
particular type of visa and you must tailor your visa application to
suit your purpose. So if your intention is only for a temporary
visit, your visa application should be for a non-immigrant visa.
However, if you intend to work and live permanently in the United
States, then your visa application should be for an immigrant
visa, also known as a
green card.
One of the worst things you can do to
jeopardize the outcome of your
visa application is to lie to the U.S.
government during the U.S. visa
application process, either on paper or during an interview with a
U.S. border or other immigration inspector. Lying to the U.S.
government can have both
immediate and long-term consequences.
Back to top
Non-immigrant visa
application ordinarily starts with the US consulate of your home
country. You cannot apply for a non-immigrant U.S. visa if you're already
in the United States. However, if you're a holder of a valid visa,
you may apply for a change of status with the Bureau of Citizenship
and Immigration (BCIS).
General Requirements for
Obtaining Non-immigrant Visas
A nonimmigrant is a foreign
national seeking to enter the U.S. temporarily for a specific
purpose. Nonimmigrants enter the U.S. for a temporary period of
time, and once in the U.S. are restricted to the activity or reason
for which their visa was issued. They may have more than one type of
nonimmigrant visa but are admitted in only one status.
General requirements for
foreign nationals seeking temporary admission include, but are not
limited to, the following,
-
the purpose of
the visit must be temporary,
-
the foreign
national must agree to depart at the end of his/her authorized stay
or extension,
-
the foreign
national must be in possession of a valid passport,
-
a foreign
residence must be maintained by the foreign national, in most
instances,
-
the foreign
national may be required to show proof of financial support,
-
the foreign
national must be admissible or have obtained a waiver for any ground
of inadmissibility,
-
the foreign national must abide by the terms and conditions of admission.
Extension
of Stay in U. S.
A foreign national may apply for an extension of a temporary stay if:
-
he/she is
lawfully admitted into the U.S. as a nonimmigrant in a category that
is not ineligible for an extension, and
-
he/she has not
committed any act which would make him/her ineligible for an
extension, and
-
he/she submits
the application for an extension of stay before the current
authorized stay expires.
Changes of
Nonimmigrant Status
If you are a Nonimmigrant you may qualify for a change of
nonimmigrant status if you are:
-
lawfully
maintaining your present nonimmigrant status in a category that is
not ineligible for a change in status,
-
eligible
according to immigration regulations for the nonimmigrant status you
are requesting, and
-
have not
violated any law which would keep you from being granted this
benefit.
The steps for visa application are as follows:
-
you will be asked by the consulate to fill
out certain forms and to pay a fee,
-
you must state and prove that your visit to
the U.S. will be temporary and for a valid reason,
-
you must show that you are not
"inadmissible," and that you have means to support yourself, if
your visa application is not for employment.
The consulate will use the information you
provided to evaluate your visa application and will run a security
check on you to see if the information you provided matches whatever
facts and information were gathered during the security check. If
you're between the ages of 16 and 45, will be asked to provide more
information.
Once your visa application
is approved, a visa stamp will be placed in your passport,
but you must be careful not to violate any of the terms and
conditions attached to your visa. For example you stated in your
visa application that your intention is to study in the U.S., and
you were granted a student visa, you may not work outside your
school campus unless you have a special permission to do so.
Back top top
Immigrant visas, also known as
green cards, enable
you to live and work permanently in the United States.
Immigrant Visa
Application: Getting Your Green Card
Learn about the U.S. green card. Know what a green
card is, the different types of U.S. green cards, as well as how to
obtain keep your green card.
Related links:
US immigration information center |
US immigration law | US visa application
| USA green cards | Visa waiver program (VWP)
| I-751 petition
Back to top |