Full Answer
How do I obtain a visa?
Steps to Apply for a US Visa
- Check if you need a visa.
- Choose the type of US visa you will apply for.
- Fill in the Non-immigrant visa Application Form DS-160.
- Pay your application fee.
- Schedule visa interview.
- Compile the document file.
- Attend the visa interview.
- Wait for processing. ...
Do you need a travel visa?
A travel visa is often a mandatory document for international passengers to be granted access into their destination. If a visa is part of a state’s travel requirements, visitors without one will not be allowed to cross their borders. It is important to check the visa policy of the country or territory you plan to go to well in advance of travel. This ensures you have sufficient time for the visa application process, if it is a requirement.
What are the requirements for visa?
Requirements for USA Work Visas. Depending on the US work visa type you apply for, you might have to submit some of the following documents: Proof you meet the qualifications (diplomas and certifications) Proof of professional degree (Bachelor, Master, Doctorate) Job offer from a US employer. Resume or CV.
How to get your travel visa?
To request this electronic travel pass, be sure to have the following information/documents at hand:
- Basic personal information such as name, nationality, date of birth and intended travel dates
- A passport that’s valid for the duration of your proposed stay
- A debit/credit card to pay the Government fee of 5.50 USD
- An email address
What is considered immigrant visa?
Immigrant visas are issued to foreign nationals who intend to live permanently in the United States. Nonimmigrant visas are for foreign nationals wishing to enter the United States on a temporary basis - for tourism, medical treatment, business, temporary work, study, or other similar reasons.
How long is an immigrant visa valid for?
An immigrant visa is usually valid for up to six months from the date of issuance unless your medical examination expires sooner, which may make your visa valid for less than six months.
Is an immigrant visa a green card?
Green cards are technically a type of visa that allows for permanent residence. Green cards are issued after arrival in the United States. To qualify for a green card, the applicant must have an immigrant visa already, and applications are made to U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS).
What happens after you get your immigrant visa?
Once you have received your immigrant visa, you must enter the United States within the visa validity period to obtain an alien registration receipt or “green” card (Form I-151 or I-551) that will allow you to live and work in the United States. You will receive your passport from the courier service.
Can an immigrant visa be denied?
Among the reasons the U.S. government might deny an immigrant visa or green card are its own error (or yours, in completing the paperwork), concern that you are a security risk, inadmissibility for health or criminal reasons, a finding that you are likely to become reliant on government assistance, and more.
How long does it take to get an immigrant visa?
Generally speaking, a fair timeframe is approximately 6-10 months from the filing of the immigrant petition to approval at the U.S. Consulate. Timeframes can vary depending on backlogs of cases at both the USCIS and the U.S. Consulate abroad.
Can I travel outside USA with immigrant visa?
Eligibility. If you are a permanent resident, you can travel outside the United States. Temporary or brief travel usually does not affect your permanent resident status.
Can I reenter US with immigrant visa?
A permanent resident (called lawful permanent resident or LPR) or conditional resident (CR) who has remained outside the United States for longer than one year, or beyond the validity period of a Re-entry Permit, will require a new immigrant visa to enter the United States and resume permanent residence.
How do I get an immigrant visa?
Essential Steps to Get an Immigrant VisaIn most cases, someone must sponsor you or file an immigrant petition for you.Wait until the petition is approved and a visa is available in your category. Then apply for an immigrant visa. ... Get a medical examination.Go to an interview.Wait for a decision on your application.
How long does immigrant visa interview take?
The interview itself can take as little as 20 minutes.
How long does it take to get green card after immigrant visa?
It may take up to 90 days from the date you entered to receive your permanent resident card. You entered the U.S. using your immigrant visa, You paid the immigrant visa fee AFTER you entered, It may take up to 90 days from the date you made your payment to receive your permanent resident card.
What questions do they ask at immigrant visa interview?
Officers can ask a vast range of questions, but here are some examples:How, where, and when did you meet your spouse?Where did your first date take place?How long did were you with your spouse before getting married?When and where were you married?Did you go on a honeymoon? ... What is your spouse's current job?More items...•
Can I get a 10 year visa for USA?
The U.S. 10 Year Multiple Entry Visa is a temporary visa that allows holders to engage in business and tourist activities within the U.S. This visa is officially known as the B1/B2 Visa.
Is it possible to extend immigrant visa?
If you want to extend your stay in the United States, you must file a request with U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS) on the Form I-539, Application to Extend/Change Nonimmigrant Status before your authorized stay expires.
Can you work in the US with an immigrant visa?
If you have the right combination of skills, education, and/or work experience, you may be able to live and work permanently in the United States by seeking an employment-based immigrant visa.
How long can you stay in America without a green card?
The Normal Rule. The quick answer to the question of how long a visitor can lawfully stay in the United States for most people is six months.
What is an Immigrant Visa?
In simplest terms, an immigrant visa is a visa for a foreign individual who wishes to make the United States his or her permanent home. Being granted permanent residence is commonly referred to as getting a “green card.”
What are the two categories of visas?
Although there are many subcategories, U.S. visas fall into two basic categories: immigrant and nonimmigrant visas . Determining which type of visa is appropriate to your situation and successfully navigating the process can be complicated, and consulting an experienced immigration lawyer should be your first step.
How does immigration work?
The immigration process is commenced by the filing of a petition on behalf of the person hoping to become a legal resident of the U.S . The exact process differs somewhat depending on the type of immigrant visa requested. For example, a family-based case begins with the submission of Form I-130, petition for Alien Relative. An employment-based case is typically commenced by the filing of form I-140, Petition for Alien Worker.
How old do you have to be to get a visa?
Unmarried children of a U.S. citizen who are under the age of 21. Other qualified relatives such as brothers, sisters and children who are married or aged 21 or older may have to wait for a visa to become available, as do relatives of permanent legal residents of the U.S.
Can a green card holder apply for an immigrant visa?
A current green card holder may apply for an immigrant visa for his or her:
What Does A US Visa Look Like?
we have provided 2 photos of a normal United States Passport and a detailed Roadmapped US visa.
What is a U.S. Visa?
A US Visa is a document that allows any foreign person entrance into the United States. And anyone who seeks entrance must first obtain a US Visa which is placed on the traveler’s passport.
What is a permanent resident visa?
This is a type of visa that is for people who want to reside in the United States permanently.
Where is the visa post?
The visa-issuing post is basically located at the US embassy that granted the visa.
What does R stand for in passport?
For a visa, “R” is an abbreviation for a “regular” passport.
What is a nonimmigrant visa?
“Nonimmigrant” means a person has no intention of staying in the United States permanently. Visas are obtained at a U.S. embassy or consulate abroad.
What is the purpose of a visa?
A visa allows a nonimmigrant to travel to a U.S. port-of-entry (airport, for example) and present themselves to a U.S. Immigration Inspector. The Inspector will ask some questions about their intent for coming to the United States and check to make sure that the nonimmigrant has an appropriate visa. Once admitted, an I-94 Arrival/Departure Record will be created. This indicates which nonimmigrant status they have been admitted to and the amount of time they are allowed to stay.
Does a visa expire?
Although a visa has an expiration date, it does not determine how long one can remain in the United States. (Remember, a visa is an ENTRY document only.) Once in the United States, there are other factors that determine the allowed length of stay.
What are the two categories of visas?
There are two categories of U.S. visas: immigrant and nonimmigrant. Immigrant visas are issued to foreign nationals who intend to live permanently in the United States.
Can you travel to a foreign country with a round trip ticket?
Be in possession of a round-trip ticket that will transport the individual out of the United States to any other foreign port or place as long as the trip does not terminate in contiguous territory or an ; except that the round trip ticket may transport the traveler to contiguous territory or an , if the traveler is a resident of the country of destination or if arriving at a land border, provide evidence of financial solvency and a domicile abroad to which the traveler intends to return;
What Does a US Visa Look Like?
You should check whether it has your correct information that matches the data in your passport, and all the parts that are in the sample visa. If it does not contain all the information, you should contact the US Embassy that has issued it.
What is the Difference Between a Nonimmigrant Visa and an Immigrant Visa?
The main difference between nonimmigrant and immigrant visas is the length of time that the visa holder is allowed to stay in the US. Nonimmigrant visas are temporary, which means that they expire and the visa holder must return to their home country immediately.
Does Having a US Visa Guarantee Entry Into the United States?
Possessing a valid US visa does not guarantee entry into the US. The border patrol at any US point of entry is responsible for anyone who enters the country.
How Long Can I Stay in the United States With a Visa?
This date depends on the type of visa. There are visas which are valid for only 3 months, and some that are valid for 3 years.
What to do When my US Visa Expires?
If your US visa expires, you have the chance to renew it through a similar procedure to the initial US Visa application process . All US visas have a date of issue and a date when they will expire stamped on the passport. It is necessary to renew the US visa only if the expiration date of the visa has passed.
Can I Enter the US Without a Valid Visa?
Unfortunately, once your visa has expired and is not valid anymore, you will not be allowed to enter the United States. If you try to enter the United States with an expired visa, the Customs and Border Patrol (CBP) will make you return to your home country.
What is USCIS?
The US Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS) is the main immigration authority for US visas. They accept and process applications, as well as make decisions about giving petitions from US employers to hire foreign workers.
How Can I Use a Visa to Enter the United States?
Having a U.S. visa allows you to travel to a port of entry, airport or land border crossing, and request permission of the Department of Homeland Security (DHS), Customs and Border Protection (CBP) inspector to enter the United States. While having a visa does not guarantee entry to the United States, it does indicate a consular officer at a U.S.
What Types of Visas Are There?
The type of visa you must obtain is defined by U.S. immigration law, and relates to the purpose of your travel. There are two main categories of U.S. visas:
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What is a machine readable immigrant visa?
A machine-readable immigrant visa (MRIV) usually has the following text on it: “UPON ENDORSEMENT SERVES AS TEMPORARY I-551 EVIDENCING PERMANENT RESIDENCE FOR 1 YEAR.” When a new immigrant first enters the U.S., U.S. Customs and Border Protection (CBP) will stamp the passport with an admission stamp that indicates the immigrant has permanent resident status and has the date the new immigrant entered the U.S. The employee’ s foreign passport with the MRIV is evidence the employee has permanent residence status for 1 year from the date of admission. Even if the MRIV is issued without the statement “FOR 1 YEAR,” employers should treat the MRIV as an acceptable List A document valid for 1 year from the date of admission.
Is a stamp on a passport a valid endorsement?
If the stamp in the passport is endorsed and is near but not on the immigrant visa, it is still a valid endorsement.
Where is the visa affixed?
Your visa will be affixed inside your passport. Please verify the information contained both on the visa and on the letter stapled of the package to ensure that the information is correct. If not, please contact us.
How long does it take to get an alien card?
It normally takes several months for DHS to process and send the alien registration card to you. In the interim, the passport stamp permits employment and travel until the card arrives. You may depart and return to the US before you receive the alien registration receipt card, as long as the DHS stamp in you passport has not expired. Should you wish to leave the US and your stamp has expired and you have not yet received your alien card, you should contact DHS in the US BEFORE departure to ensure permission to return to the US. Otherwise, you will not be allowed to board the plane to return to the US.
What is the form I-151?
Once you have received your immigrant visa, you must enter the United States within the visa validity period to obtain an alien registration receipt or “green” card (Form I-151 or I-551) that will allow you to live and work in the United States. You will receive your visa and a sealed packet from the courier service.
How long can you stay in the US without a reentry permit?
Without a re-entry permit, any absence from the US of 12 months or longer, or any residence established outside the US, is considered grounds for loss of permanent resident status. Please review the rights and responsibilities of being a Legal Permanent Resident in the United States.
How long do you have to live outside the US?
If, in the future, you plan to live outside the US for more than 12 months , you must apply for a re-entry permit in the US BEFORE departure. The maximum validity of this document is two years. If the relocation is permanent, you should formally abandon your permanent resident status by returning your “green card” with completed I-407 form (PDF-653KB) to the local US Embassy or Consulate. Without a re-entry permit, any absence from the US of 12 months or longer, or any residence established outside the US, is considered grounds for loss of permanent resident status.
Do you have to open a sealed visa packet?
Do not open the sealed visa packet, you must carry it unopened to an immigration officer at a port-of-entry.
Family-Based Immigrant Visas
Employment-Based Immigrant Visas
- Certain categories of workers may be eligible for permanent residence based on their employment or a job offer. However, unlike family-based visas, all employment-based immigrant visas are subject to limits. That means that the person hoping to become a legal resident will have to wait until an immigrant visa number becomes available. Immigrant visa numbers are issued t…
Other Immigrant Visa Qualifications
- There are certain special programs that open up eligibility for a green card to persons who do not fall into one of the categories above. If you are interested in immigrating to the U.S., bringing a family member who is not listed above to the U.S. or establishing residence for an employee who is not otherwise listed, speak with an immigration attorney to learn more about the alternative ro…