What is the visa number on a US visa?
U.S Visa Number. The visa number, also known as the visa foil number, is the red number printed on the bottom right of the visa document. Usually, the number on a US visa contains eight numeric characters. However, it may begin with one letter followed by seven numeric characters. The visa number is a random string of numbers.
What is a US visa?
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. Certain international travelers may be eligible to travel to the United States without a visa ...
Do you need a visa number for immigration?
All U.S. immigrant and non-immigrant visas have a U.S. visa number. This number plays a crucial role in the immigration process. You may need to reference your visa number in certain documents. A U.S. government officer may need your visa number to check certain information on your file.
Can I travel to the United States without a visa?
Certain international travelers may be eligible to travel to the United States without a visa if they meet the requirements for visa-free travel. The Visa section of this website is all about U.S. visas for foreign citizens to travel to the United States.
What does a visa number look like?
Each U.S. visa number is unique. The number itself looks like a random string of numbers. The numbers won’t mean anything to you. However, they will be used to reference your U.S. visa application in the future.
Where is the visa number on a visa?
In most cases, however, your U.S. visa number will be typed in red ink on the bottom right corner of your document.
Where Can I Find My Visa Number?
On virtually all visas (the document or stamp inside your passport), you should see a red number in the bottom right corner of the document.
What is included in a visa?
It includes an expiry date, a photo, and other information. It also includes a number. When you enter the United States, Customs and Border Protection (CBP) officials will check your visa and verify the information on that visa. They want to ensure each visa matches each individual seeking entry to the United States.
What are annotations in a visa?
Annotations, which can include any additional notes made by U.S. embassy staff to supplement your visa, like the name of your educational institution, your fiancé, your spouse, or your employer
Do visa numbers change based on visa type?
Interestingly, the U.S. visa numbers do not change based on your visa type or other information. There are no similarities between the two K-1 visa numbers, for example, or H-1B visa numbers. All U.S. visa numbers are randomized based on the individual.
Can a CBP officer write down your visa number?
The CBP officer may write down or record various information on your visa into the system, including your visa number. By entering your visa number into the system, the border officer can verify your information. In addition, that information can be recalled at a future date. Each U.S. visa number is unique.
How to Get a US Visa Number?
The US visa number is only given to individuals once they have a visa. So to get a visa number, you must go through the process of applying for a US visa. Depending on which type of visa you want, the application procedures are different. In general, you will have to do the following:
What does the letter M mean on a visa?
The letter M (Multiple Entries) means you can enter the US multiple times. Issuing Date – when the visa was issued.
How many characters are in a visa number?
Usually, the number on a US visa contains eight numeric characters. However, it may begin with one letter followed by seven numeric characters. The visa number is a random string of numbers. It does not have any meaning to those who hold it because it is randomly generated.
Is a K-1 visa different from a H-1B visa?
It is not different depending on the type of the visa. Your K-1 visa number will not have a different format than a H-1B visa number or a F-1 visa number. They will all be random and there is not a specific pattern you can find.
Does the color of a visa change?
The place or color does not change whether it is a nonimmigrant visa number or an immigrant visa number. The example below shows what a US visa looks like. As you can see, most of the information is in black ink. The number in red ink is the visa number. So if you are being asked to show your visa number, you know that you can find it there.
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.
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:
Additional Resources
Please visit these webpages as well as selections on our website's left toolbar:
What is a non-immigrant visa?
Non-immigrant visas are temporary visas for the purpose of business, work or tourism. If you are planning to travel to the United States for a temporary stay, you may need a visa. The chart below lists all the non-immigrant visas, descriptions and any required documents/applications.
What is USCIS approval?
USCIS approval of a petition or application (The required petition or application depends on the visa category you plan to apply for.) U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services. USCIS approval of a petition or application (The required petition or application depends on the visa category you plan to apply for.)
What is a work visa?
What's a U.S. work visa and why do you need one? A visa is a document that provides authorization for travel to and admittance to the United States. Before visiting, working, or immigrating to the U.S., generally a citizen of a foreign country must first obtain a U.S. visa. 1 .
What is a visa for employment?
The visa provides entry to the U.S. and , depending on the type of visa obtained, may provide authorization for employment in the U.S.
Where is the visa number on a visa?
The visa number, also called a visa foil number, is a red number that is generally printed on the bottom right side of newer visa documents. In most cases, the U.S. visa number contains eight numeric characters. In some cases, the number contains one letter followed by seven numeric characters.
What is a visa stamp?
visa, the officer likely placed a visa stamp inside your passport. The U.S. visa stamp is the physical document that is placed in your passport by the consular officer.
What is an annotation on a visa?
The annotation may include additional information about your visa. For example, a J-1 visa may have information about the exchange program. Or an F-1 student’s visa may have your SEVIS number and name of your school.
What does M mean in a visa application?
If there is a number here, you may apply for entry to the U.S. that many times. “M” means that you can seek entry multiple times. This is no limit.
What does R stand for in a visa?
For visa, “R” is an abbreviation for “regular” passport.
Do you need a visa to travel to Bermuda?
Again, if traveling for general pleasure purposes, citizens of Canada and Bermuda to not require a U.S . visa stamp when visiting the United States. Unless ineligible for a visa under U.S. immigration law, or have previously violated the terms of their immigration status in the U.S., Canadian and Bermudian citizens may enter the U.S. with only their passports. When traveling for more than 180 days or for reasons inconsistent with a B-2 visa, visitors from these countries may require a nonimmigrant visa.
