USA visa

Each year hundreds of thousands of people travel to the United States to do business and work temporarily. The kind of visa you will need is defined by immigration law, and relates to the intended purpose of your travel. For most visa applicants, an interview is required as a standard part of visa processing. Visa applications are evaluated very carefully and take more time now than in the past. Some applications require additional security screening.

Studying in the U.S.

Hundreds of thousands of people come to the United States from around the world to study and improve their skills. Numerous programs provide a wide variety of learning opportunities. Students interested in studying in the United States must be admitted to a U.S. school or university before starting the visa process.

There are three types of student visas:

• Academic Studies (F visa): For people who have been accepted into a program to study or conduct research at an accredited U.S. college or university.
• Non-Academic or Vocational Studies (M Visa) : For people who have been accepted into a program to study or train at a non-academic institution in the U.S.
• Academic Studies as an Exchange Visitor (J Visas) : For people who have been accepted into a program through a designated sponsoring organization to participate in an exchange visitor program in the U.S. The "J" visa is for educational and cultural exchange programs.

Business / Visitor Visas (B1/B2)

Millions of foreign visitors travel to the United States each year temporarily for business and pleasure. They come as tourists or to visit family and friends. Others come for specific purposes, such as, medical treatment, a conference, business meeting, or certain types of training.

The "visitor" visa is a nonimmigrant visa for persons desiring to enter the United States temporarily for business (B-1), for pleasure or medical treatment (B-2), or combination of both (B-1/B-2) purposes.

Business Visitor Visas (B-1) - For example, if the purpose for your planned travel is to consult with business associates, travel for a scientific, educational, professional or business convention, or conference on specific dates, settle an estate, or negotiate a contract, then a business visitor visa (B-1) would be the appropriate type of visa for your travel.

Pleasure, Tourism, Medical Treatment - Visitor Visas (B-2) - As examples, if the purpose of your planned travel is recreational in nature, including tourism, amusement, visits with friends or relatives, rest, medical treatment, and activities of a fraternal, social, or service nature, then a visitor visa (B-2) would be the appropriate type of visa for your travel.

Coming Permanently to the U.S.

Immigrant visas are for people who want to live permanently in the United States. You must have one even if you do not want to work in the United States. There are three categories of immigrant visas:

• Family immigrant visas;
• Employment-based immigrant visas; and
• Diversity program immigrant visas

In general, in order to be eligible to apply for an immigrant visa, a foreign citizen must be sponsored by a U.S. citizen relative(s) or by a prospective employer. Unlike most other immigrant categories, Immediate Relatives are not subject to numerical limits under immigration law. Major immigrant categories are:

Immediate Relatives

Special Immigrants

Family-sponsored

Employer-sponsored

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