What determines the type of student visa you need?
Your course of study, the school you plan to attend, or the exchange program you will be with will determine the type of student visa you will need.
What is an F-1 visa?
F-1 visa classification is for a full-time international student pursuing academic studies.
What is ESTA in travel?
Fill out the (ESTA) online application. ESTA determines the eligibility of a visitor to travel to the U.S. under the VWP.
What is transit C visa?
Transit C visa classification is for foreign nationals traveling through the U.S. to another country and stopping briefly in the U.S. as part of their travel to the next foreign destination.
What happens if you violate your work visa?
If you violate the terms of your work visa, it could be revoked. You could be deported, arrested, or denied re-entry into the U.S.
Can an international student apply for a student visa?
An international student can apply for a student or exchange visitor visa only after being accepted by a school certified in the Student and Exchange Visitor Program (SEVP). Students’ records are kept in the Student and Exchange Visitor Information System (SEVIS). Learn more about SEVP and SEVIS, and about the SEVIS fee.
Do you need an authorization to travel under VWP?
If you plan to visit the U.S. under the VWP, you must get an approved travel authorization prior to your trip. Authorization approvals are determined using the Electronic System for Travel Authorization (ESTA) .
What is a U.S. Visa?
A citizen of a foreign country who seeks to enter the United States generally must first obtain a U.S. visa, which is placed in the traveler’s passport, a travel document issued by the traveler’s country of citizenship.
Find out what visa type is appropriate for you
The type of visa you must obtain is defined by U.S. immigration law, and relates to the purpose of your travel.
Visa Appointment Wait Time
A wait time listed as "999 calendar days" indicates that the Consular Section is only providing that service to emergency cases. Please check the Embassy or Consulate website for further information.
What is a visitor visa?
A US Visitor Visa is a non-immigrant visa for those who wish to enter the United States temporarily for business, tourism, or visit. Depending on the purpose of your visit, you may be eligible for a B-1 or B-2 visa, or both (B-1/B-2) if your reasons fall under both categories. Visas may be either single-entry or multiple-entry, depending on an individual’s eligibility. Applicants for visitor visas must be able to prove that they are not coming to the country to immigrate, but rather to visit for one of the purposes included under the visa.
What happens after a visa interview?
After your visa interview, the consular officer may determine that your application requires further administrative processing. The consular officer will inform you if this required.
What is the purpose of a consular interview?
A consular officer will interview you to determine whether you are qualified to receive a visitor visa. You must establish that you meet the requirements under U.S. law to receive a visitor visa .
How long is a passport valid for?
Passport which is valid for travel to the United States – passport must be valid for at least 6 months beyond your period of stay in the United States (unless exempt by country-specific agreements ). Each individual who needs a visa must submit a separate application, including any family members listed in your passport.
Why do people need a B2 visa?
Many people want to visit the U.S., whether because they have family in the country or they just want to see the sights. The B2 Visa allows them to see relatives and all the attractions that make the U.S. famous.
When traveling for business, an individual should apply for a B-1 visa.?
Reasons to apply for a business visa include the following: consulting with business associates, attending a business conference or convention, negotiating contracts, purchasing property, and investigating business opportunities. If you plan to come to the United States for one of these business-related purposes, you may be eligible to apply for a B-1 visa. Learn more about your eligibility on our B-1 visa page.
Is a US visitor visa still being processed?
All US visitor visa applications are still being accepted and processed, although this process is taking longer than usual due to the spread of COVID-19. Only United States citizens and foreigners deemed essential travelers to the U.S. may enter at this time. Do not travel if you are sick, or if you have been around someone with COVID-19 in ...
Why is it important to learn how to apply for a US tourist visa?
It is, therefore, important to learn how to apply for a US tourist visa to lessen the chances of making a mistake. In fact, failure to follow instructions is the number one reason a consular officer refuses an application.
Why is a consular officer ineligible for a tourist visa?
Some reasons a consular officer may find you ineligible are that you. did not complete the visa application. failed to prove that you are not an intending immigrant. did not provide all documents required of you. misrepresented a material fact or committed fraud.
What is a B visa?
The visa category of a US tourist visa is “B” since the US temporary visa types follow the letters of the alphabet. There are two sub-categories of the B visa, though a consular officer will often issue both. These visas are:
How long before an appointment to the US embassy do you have to be at the embassy?
So, even if you completed all the requirements, the consul may not ask to see them. Be at the US Embassy at least 15 minutes before your appointment date and time.
Where to fingerprint a non-immigrant?
The second is at the waiting area inside the consular interview section of the Embassy. Embassy personnel will fingerprint you at the second waiting area.
Is a temporary visa considered an immigrant?
With some exceptions, US immigration law considers all temporary visa applicants as intending immigrants. Thus, consular or visa officers are stricter with tourist visa applications.
When to approach the consul?
Approach the consul only when it is your turn. Then, listen to any question the consul may have and give a comprehensive answer.
Where to get documents for USCIS?
Contact USCIS and your country's embassy or consulate for all document requirements.
How long is a re-entry permit valid for?
For permanent residents, the re-entry permit is valid for two years from the date of issue. For conditional residents, it is valid for up to two years.
Do you have a question?
Ask a real person any government-related question for free. They'll get you the answer or let you know where to find it.
How to Apply for a US Tourist Visa?
To apply for a US Tourist visa you must go through these simple steps :
How much does it cost to get a US visa?
The application fee for the US Tourist Visa is $160. Depending on your country’s relationship with the US, you might have to pay other fees too. These are called visa issuance fees and they vary from country to country. After making the payments, you need to keep the receipts and attach them to your file of required documents.
What Are the Eligibility Criteria for a Tourist Visa?
To be eligible for a US Tourist visa, the purpose of your visit should be one of the following:
Can I Get a Green Card With a US Tourist Visa?
It is very difficult to get permanent residence or a Green Card if you are a tourist in the United States. Since the B2 visa is a temporary visa, you must prove that you will return to your home country after it expires in order to get it. Also, you are not allowed to look for a job or start studying, which means the easiest paths to a Green Card may not be available for you.
Do Tourists Get Access to American Healthcare?
As a foreigner visiting the United States for tourism purposes you will not receive free healthcare. The American healthcare system is the most expensive in the world with the treatment of a broken leg or broken arm that will cost you $2,500, while staying at a US hospital for one night may cost over $10,000, on average.
How long before I-94 expires can I apply for a B2 visa?
You should do so at least 42 days before the expiration of your I-94 card. Yet, you are not allowed to apply within three months of arrival in the US. You should submit the following documents when applying for a B2 visa extension: Completed form I-539. Your valid passport.
What is VisaExpress?
VisaExpress specializes in assisting visa applicants throughout the whole process.
How long before your estimated arrival date do you need to submit your passport?
embassy / consulate to issue the visa. You collect your passport with your U.S. B1/B2 visa in it. We recommend you submit your application at least 8 weeks before your estimated arrival date to the United States.
What is a B1 visa?
B1/B2 is a category of "non-immigrant" visa for persons wishing to enter the United States temporarily for business (category B1 visa), for tourism (category B2 visa) or a combination of both purposes (B1/B2).
How long is a passport valid for?
Your passport must be valid for at least six months beyond your period of stay in the United States. This applies to each and every stay within the visa's 10 year validity period. It must also have at least 2 blank pages. My US B1/B2 visa is still valid but my passport has expired.
What is travel registration?
Travel Registration is a service provided by the government. This service allows you to record information about your upcoming trip abroad to the Department of State so it can be used to assist you in case of an emergency. People residing abroad can also get routine information from their nearest embassy or consulate if registered.
Which states require a health declaration?
Aside from that, some states, such as Alaska, Colorado, Connecticut, Massachusetts, New Jersey and Rhode Island, require a Health Declaration Form.
Does the Department of State have an appointment?
The U.S. Department of State (D.O.S.) usually has a high demand for interview appointments. We will take into consideration your date and time preferences, but the final date and time for your interview will rely solely on the D.O.S. availability.
How old do you have to be to get a US visa?
5. Schedule a US visa interview. All US nonimmigrant visa applicants between 14 and 79 years old are required to go through a US visa interview.
How long does it take to get a visa after an interview?
Processing times depend on the type of US visa you applied for, but they can range from a few days to a few months. When your visa is processed, you will find out whether you were approved or denied.
What is the second step in applying for a US visa?
The second step of the US visa application is to choose the type of US visa that you want to get. Since there are differences depending on the type of US visa you want to get, you should pay extra attention to choosing the right type of visa to apply for.
What is the form for a non-immigrant visa?
Fill in the Non-immigrant visa Application Form DS-160.
Where to find DS-160 form?
The form can be found online on the website of the US consulate from which you are applying.
How to fill out DS-160?
You can fill the DS-160 form online through: 1 by yourself through the Consular Electronic Application Center, or 2 with the assistance of a third-party company, that we recommend, such as TravelAssist.
Why do people want to go to the US?
For most people around the world, wanting to go to the US means that they need a visa. The reasons for wanting to go differ from just visits for tourism or business, working, studying, or permanently moving there. The country attracts a wide range of people who have various goals and want to achieve “the American dream”.
