What You Need To Know About US Visa?
Added: (Tue Feb 07 2012)
Pressbox (Press Release) -
Need US visa info?
Generally, a citizen of a foreign country, before traveling to the U.S., must usually obtain a nonimmigrant US visa for temporary stay or an immigrant visa for permanent residence. The type of American visa you will need is based on the purpose of your travel.
The United States has about 185 different types of USA visa application, of which the type of United States visa you must obtain is defined by U.S. immigration law and relates to the purpose of your travel.
Having a United States visa enables its holder to travel to a port of entry, airport or land border crossing, and request permission from the Department of Homeland Security (DHS), Customs and Border Protection (CBP) inspector to enter the U.S. Though contrary to a popular misconception, having a USA visa does not authorize the visa holder to gain entry to the United States, nor does it authorize them to stay in the U.S. in a particular status. However, an approved US visa application does indicate a consular officer at a U.S. Embassy or Consulate abroad has determined you are eligible to seek entry for that specific purpose. The Department of Homeland Security (DHS), Customs and Border Protection (CBP) inspectors then will determine if you will be admitted to the U.S., for a specified status and period of time.
There are two main categories of U.S. visas which are defined by U.S. immigration law and relates to the purpose of your travel. The Nonimmigrant visas are for travel to the U.S. on a temporary basis such as for tourism, business, work or studying while Immigrant visas are for those who want to travel to live permanently in the United States without any time limitation.
Visitors who travel on temporary basis to the U.S must comply with U.S. visa immigration law and specific procedures to apply for their visa. However, based on law, not everyone will receive a visa to come to the U.S.
For those who want to migrate to the US permanently, a foreign citizen must be sponsored by a U.S. citizen relative(s), U.S. lawful permanent resident, or by a prospective employer, and be the beneficiary of an approved petition filed with U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS). An Affidavit of Support form is required for most family-based and some employment-based immigrants to show there is adequate means of financial support in the U.S., by the petitioner or other sponsor(s) for the immigrant. They must also comply with U.S. visa immigration law and specific procedures to apply for your visa.
Though immediate relative visa categories do not have yearly numerical limits, family preference and employment immigrant visa categories have numerical limits each year; and therefore, wait times are involved which can be lengthy.
Moreover, due to recent changes in U.S. laws governing visa policy and procedures, there is an increased amount of time it can take to obtain a visa. So you must apply early!