Visitor visas are reserved for nonimmigrant persons traveling to the U.S. temporarily for business (B-1) or for pleasure, tourism or medical treatment (B-2). Certain countries qualify for temporary visits to the U.S. without a visa.
If the purpose of travel is to consult with business associates, attend a scientific, educational, professional or business convention, settle an estate or negotiate a contract, then a B-1 visitor visa would be appropriate.
If the purpose of travel is recreational — tourism, vacation, amusement, visit friends and family, visitors should obtain a B-2 visitor visa. Other qualifying purposes include medical treatment, service activities and amateur musical or sporting events.
Applicants for visitor visas should generally apply at the U.S. Embassy or Consulate with jurisdiction over their place of permanent residence. Although visa applicants may apply at any U.S. consular office abroad, it may be more difficult to qualify for the visa outside the country of permanent residence. It is important to apply for your visa well in advance of your travel departure date.
An interview at the embassy consular section is required for visa applicants from age 14 through 79, with few exceptions. Persons age 13 and younger and age 80 and older generally do not require an interview, unless requested by the embassy or consulate. Making your appointment for an interview is the first step in the visa application process.
During the visa application process, usually at the interview, an ink-free, digital fingerprint scan will be quickly taken. Some visa appications require further administrative processing which takes additional time after the visa applicant’s interview by a Consular Officer.
Using the Bureau of Consular Affairs’ Reciprocity Table, locate your country and visa category. Here, you will find the issuance fee, number of applications and visa validity period of each visa classification.
Note: For more information regarding your issuance fee, visit the Bureau of Consular Affairs site and select your country of permanent residence.
Before applying for a student visa, nonimmigrant students must be accepted by a Student and Exchange Visitor Program (SEVP) certified United States educational institution. The U.S. Government requires students attending a university, college, high school, private elementary school, seminary, conservatory or other academic institution to obtain an F visa. Students attending vocational or other recognized nonacademic institutions generally need an M visa.
Typically, student visas are only required for full-time students. For applicants primarily going to the United States for tourism, but who also wish to take a short course, a visitor (B) visa should be adequate. If the course exceeds 18 hours a week, a student visa will be required.
Applicants for visitor visas should generally apply at the U.S. Embassy or Consulate with jurisdiction over their place of permanent residence. Although visa applicants may apply at any U.S. consular office abroad, it may be more difficult to qualify for the visa outside the country of permanent residence. It is important to apply for your visa well in advance of your travel departure date.
An interview at the embassy consular section is required for visa applicants from age 14 through 79, with few exceptions. Persons age 13 and younger and age 80 and older generally do not require an interview, unless requested by the embassy or consulate. Making your appointment for an interview is the first step in the visa application process.
During the visa application process, usually at the interview, an ink-free, digital fingerprint scan will be quickly taken. Some visa appications require further administrative processing which takes additional time after the visa applicant’s interview by a Consular Officer.
Using the Bureau of Consular Affairs’ Reciprocity Table, locate your country and visa category. Here, you will find the issuance fee, number of applications and visa validity period of each visa classification.
Note: For more information regarding your issuance fee, visit the Bureau of Consular Affairs site and select your country of permanent residence.
Before applying for an exchange visa, the prospective visitor must be accepted in an established program that is Student and Exchange Visitor Program (SEVP) certified. Once accepted into an approved program, the student needs to apply for the exchange visitor (J) nonimmigrant visa. Information necessary to complete the J visa application will be provided by the sponsoring organization. Nonimmigrant visitors accepted to program categories of Au Pair and EduCare, Camp Counselor, Government Visitor, Department of State Visitor, Physician, Professor or Research Scholar, Short-term Scholar, Specialist, Student, Summer Work Travel, Teacher and Trainee are required to obtain an exchange visa before traveling to the United States.
Applicants for visitor visas should generally apply at the U.S. Embassy or Consulate with jurisdiction over their place of permanent residence. Although visa applicants may apply at any U.S. consular office abroad, it may be more difficult to qualify for the visa outside the country of permanent residence. It is important to apply for your visa well in advance of your travel departure date.
An interview at the embassy consular section is required for visa applicants from age 14 through 79, with few exceptions. Persons age 13 and younger and age 80 and older generally do not require an interview, unless requested by the embassy or consulate. Making your appointment for an interview is the first step in the visa application process.
During the visa application process, usually at the interview, an ink-free, digital fingerprint scan will be quickly taken. Some visa appications require further administrative processing which takes additional time after the visa applicant’s interview by a Consular Officer.
Using the Bureau of Consular Affairs’ Reciprocity Table, locate your country and visa category. Here, you will find the issuance fee, number of applications and visa validity period of each visa classification.
Note: For more information regarding your issuance fee, visit the Bureau of Consular Affairs site and select your country of permanent residence.
Based primarily on the Immigration and Nationality Act, temporary work visas are divided into a variety of categories. In order to be considered for any category of temporary work visa, the applicant’s potential employer must obtain a labor certification as defined by the Department of Labor. Additionally, before applying for a temporary worker visa, applicants must obtain an approved Form I-129, Petition for Nonimmigrant Worker from USCIS.
For further information regarding work eligibility, please reference the Bureau of Consular Affairs website.
Applicants for visitor visas should generally apply at the U.S. Embassy or Consulate with jurisdiction over their place of permanent residence. Although visa applicants may apply at any U.S. consular office abroad, it may be more difficult to qualify for the visa outside the country of permanent residence. It is important to apply for your visa well in advance of your travel departure date.
An interview at the embassy consular section is required for visa applicants from age 14 through 79, with few exceptions. Persons age 13 and younger and age 80 and older generally do not require an interview, unless requested by the embassy or consulate. Making your appointment for an interview is the first step in the visa application process.
During the visa application process, usually at the interview, an ink-free, digital fingerprint scan will be quickly taken. Some visa appications require further administrative processing which takes additional time after the visa applicant’s interview by a Consular Officer.
Using the Bureau of Consular Affairs’ Reciprocity Table, locate your country and visa category. Here, you will find the issuance fee, number of applications and visa validity period of each visa classification.
Note: For more information regarding your issuance fee, visit the Bureau of Consular Affairs site and select your country of permanent residence.
In most cases, an applicant must be sponsored by a U.S. citizen relative, U.S. lawful permanent resident or by an employer. Additionally, potential immigrants must qualify for one of the following immigration categories to obtain an immigration visa:
Required Documentation: Documentation varies for each category. For more documentation information, please visit the Bureau of Consular Affairs website.
Applicants for visitor visas should generally apply at the U.S. Embassy or Consulate with jurisdiction over their place of permanent residence. Although visa applicants may apply at any U.S. consular office abroad, it may be more difficult to qualify for the visa outside the country of permanent residence. It is important to apply for your visa well in advance of your travel departure date.
An interview at the embassy consular section is required for visa applicants from age 14 through 79, with few exceptions. Persons age 13 and younger and age 80 and older generally do not require an interview, unless requested by the embassy or consulate. Making your appointment for an interview is the first step in the visa application process.
During the visa application process, usually at the interview, an ink-free, digital fingerprint scan will be quickly taken. Some visa appications require further administrative processing which takes additional time after the visa applicant’s interview by a Consular Officer.
Using the Bureau of Consular Affairs’ Reciprocity Table, locate your country and visa category. Here, you will find the issuance fee, number of applications and visa validity period of each visa classification.
Note: For more information regarding your issuance fee, visit the Bureau of Consular Affairs site and select your country of permanent residence.
Visitors come from all over the world to travel in the United States. From short business trips to permanent immigration, most visitors must obtain a visa before entering the U.S. Knowing international travel requirements before embarking on your journey can save valuable time and prevent travel mishaps. Research visas, U.S. travel medical insurance and documentation requirements to ensure your safety and success when traveling to the U.S. Once you’ve compiled your need-to-know travel information, create a travel checklist including everything from visa deadlines to packing essentials. Checking off each box will keep you on track through the excitement and bustle of your upcoming travels!
Business or leisure? The U.S. offers thousands of recreational destinations for nonimmigrant travelers-from tourist hotspots to internationally recognized landmarks such as the Grand Canyon, the Statue of Liberty and the White House. Business travelers may wish to take in some of the country’s popular sights when visiting as well. However, without a proper visa, your travel plans may hit a few bumps. A U.S. visa must be issued by your country of origin and included in your passport documentation. There are a few exceptions where nonimmigrant travelers do not need visas.
A nonimmigrant visa is simply documentation for a foreign visitor wishing to visit the United States temporarily. A temporary visa may be issued to athletes coming into the U.S. to compete, nannies traveling with their foreign national employer, business travelers, diplomats and foreign military personnel stationed in the U.S. These types of nonimmigrant visas require only the visa application through the U.S. Consulate. Visitors to the U.S. can locate the closest U.S. Embassy in their country by visiting the U.S. Department of State at USEmbassy.gov.
Students, temporary agricultural workers, physicians, teachers and other travelers such as religious workers and intra-company transfers need to apply for other documentation beyond the basic visa application. Visit Travel.State.gov for a complete list of visa designations and their required pre-travel petitions and documentation. When applying, you’ll need to provide items such as birth certificates, identification photos and even bank statements. Gather all this data early, keep it organized and your visa application process should go smoothly. Watch this video for additional helpful tips.
When providing the digital photo for your new U.S. visa, it’s required to provide all file formats by JPEG. The photo needs to be square (height equals the width) and should fit the U.S. passport and visa dimensional requirements. It needs to be in color and equal to or less than 240kb as a file size. Photos also may be scanned and submitted, using the U.S. Department of State’s Smart Photo Tool. Photo tips:
The Department of State provides a list of visa fees. You can find your country’s visa fees using the “Reciprocity by Country” pull-down menu. When planning a visit to the United States, be sure to add all visa and application fees into your travel budget. Don’t forget to budget in the time it will take to apply for and secure all proper travel documents as well.
