About USA Visa Requirements

If you are a citizen of a foreign country who wants to enter the U.S., you typically need to apply for a visa. The type of visa required depends on the purpose of your stay: non-immigrant visa for a temporary stay or an immigrant visa for permanent stay. By showing your visa at your entry point to the U.S. you request a permission to enter, but having a visa does not guarantee entry. Whether you are allowed to enter or not is decided by the immigration officer working for the Department of Homeland Security.

The Visa Waiver Program allows citizens of certain countries to enter the U.S. without a visa for 90 days or less for tourism and business purposes. Countries participating in the Visa Waiver Program include Andorra, Australia, Austria, Belgium, Brunei, Denmark, Finland, France, Germany, Iceland, Ireland, Italy, Japan, Liechtenstein, Luxembourg, Monaco, the Netherlands, New Zealand, Norway, Portugal, San Marino, Singapore, Slovenia, Spain, Sweden, Switzerland and the United Kingdom. For stays more than 90 days, citizen of these countries need also apply for a visa no matter what the purpose of their travel.

All visa applicants must submit a completed visa application Form DS-156 or its online version DS-160. The passport valid at least six months beyond the applied travel, with at least one blank page. The attached photograph must meet the State Department regulations. Finally, the application must include receipt of the paid visa application fee. During the interview you are often required to show evidence of sufficient funds to cover all expenses while in the U.S. and ties connecting you to your home country to show your willingness to return at the end of your stay.

Applicants for temporary working visas, also need to file a petition using Form I-129.

Applicants for student visa F-1 need also include Form 1-20A-B and applicants for student visa M-1 need to include Form 1-20M-N. In addition, both student visa applicants need to submit the Form I-20 provided by the school they were accepted to and Form DS-158. At the interview, student visa applicants are expected to show transcripts and diplomas earned from previous institutions, scores from standardized tests such as TOEFL, SAT, GRE and GMAT and sufficient funds to pay their education expenses.

Immigrant visa applicants need to have their petition approved and be sponsored by a U.S. citizen relative, U.S. permanent resident or by a prospective employer. Permanent residence applicants can apply through four categories: immediate relatives, family based, employment based and Diversity Immigrant Visa Program. Immediate relative and family based category applicants need to submit the Form 1-130 to the U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services. Employment based category applicants need to submit the Form I-140 to the U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services. In both cases, all male applicants also need to submit Form DS-157. Contact your local USCIS office for further information. Diversity Immigrant Visa Program randomly selects people for visas giving them a change to obtain a legal alien status. To qualify for the lottery, complete the lottery entry form. Remember that participating in the Diversity Visa lottery is free to avoid fraudulent websites and scams.

How long it takes to process your visa application varies greatly between countries. In some countries, getting an appointment for visa interview can take several months when in some countries appointments are given within two weeks. Contact your nearest U.S. Consulate to request information on processing times. No guarantees are provided regarding visa issuance, so it is strongly advised not to purchase any tickets until your visa is processed. Therefore, you should apply for your visa as early as possible.

Mail all the required documents to the nearest U.S. Consulate via insured mail with delivery confirmation. After the Consulate receives your application, an appointment for an interview is scheduled for you. You might be asked to wait at the Consulate after your interview, if your visa is issued to you then, especially if no special clearance is needed and you have all the required supporting documents with you. If your visa is not issued to you during your interview, it will be mailed to you.

An application fee of $131 is charged to cover the costs of manufacturing, processing and printing the visa. This fee is paid in advance and a receipt is submitted as part of the visa application. In some countries, a visa issuance fee is added to the application fee.