Visas
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 traveler may be eligible to travel to the U.S. without a visa if they meet the requirements for visa-free travel.
A visa does not guarantee entry to the United States. A visa simply indicates that a U.S. consular officer has determined that you are eligible to apply for entry to the United States for a specific purpose. The U.S. Department of Homeland Security (DHS), Customs and Border Protection (CBP) officials determines the visa holder's eligibility for admission into the United States.
- Nonimmigrant Visas
A Nonimmigrant visa is used by tourists, business people, students, or speciality workers who wish to stay for a particular period of time in the United States to accomplish specific purposes. According to U.S. visa laws and regulations, most nonimmigrant visa applicants must demonstrate to the consular officer that they have strong ties to their country of residence and must show that they intend to depart the United States after their temporary stay. - Immigrant Visas
Immigrant visas are for persons who plan to live permanently in the United States. the immigrant visa permits an application for admission to the United States as a Legal Permanent Resident and is a potential step toward acquiring U.S. citizenship. Most immigrant visa applications begins when a qualified family member who is a U.S. citizen or legal permanent resident submits a petition on behalf of the intending immigrant to the U.S. Citizenship & Immigration Services (USCIS) in the United States or at a U.S. Embassy abroad. It is also possible for a U.S. employer to file a petition for a foreign national whom the employer wishes to hire for an eligible permanent position.