A person who is not a United States citizen or a U.S. lawful permanent resident needs a United States visa to enter the United State. Citizens of the countries that participate in the Visa Waiver Program are exempt from this requirement. However, they must go through the registration process before they can enter the United States. Usually, all the United States visa applicants have to apply for a U.S. visa at the U.S. consulate or embassy abroad. Upon approval, the United States visa will be placed inside the applicant’s passport. It is important to remember that a valid U. S. visa does not guarantee the entry into the United States. The applicant will be inspected by a U.S. Customs and Border Protection (CBP) officer at the port of entry (U.S. airport, port or U.S. border). It will be the officer’s decision whether or not the U.S. visa holder is eligible to come to the United States. Customs and Border Protection is a division of the Department of Homeland Security (DHS) which enforces the U.S. immigration law. So, it is vitally important not to make false statements or use the fraudulent documentation to enter the United States. Any attempt of using false documents will be punishable by the U.S. law. The violator will be deported and banned from coming to the United States for several years or forever.
There are two basic kinds of the United States visas: immigrant visas and nonimmigrant visas. Nonimmigrant visas, such as student, tourist, or work visas can be used by the applicants who plan to stay in the United States temporarily. In order to obtain a nonimmigrant visa, the applicant must prove that he or she has an intention to return to his or her home country after his or her authorized stay in the United States expires. Usually, it takes less time to obtain a nonimmigrant visa than an immigrant visa.
Immigrant visa applicants have to go through a very thorough background investigation process in order to obtain an immigrant visa. In addition they have to meet all other eligibility requirements for an immigrant visa. For example, all the applicants who are applying for an immigrant visa through a U.S. family member must have a U.S. citizen or U.S. lawful permanent resident relative who is willing to sponsor them.
The most common ways of immigrating to the United States are:
• Through a U.S. family member
• Through employment
• Through a Green Card diversity lottery
Obtaining an immigrant visa is a very difficult process which involves lots of paperwork. So, it is important to fill out all the required forms correctly and gather all the necessary documentation for an immigrant visa application. All the immigrant visa applicants have to be interviewed by the consular officer. Prior to the interview they have to pass a medical examination and bring the results of the medical examination to the interview. The applicant’s fingerprints will also be taken. After the interview, it usually takes a couple days for a U.S. consulate or embassy to issue the visa.
