People want to visit the United States for one reason or the other. Some might want to visit for tourism purposes while others will like to go for business purposes. If you are reading this, there is a possibility that you need a United States Visa for one of the purposes listed above.
Trips to the United States of America are not however limited to the aforementioned reasons, as many others go for educational and academic purposes. For whatever reason you are planning to visit the USA, you should be aware you must apply for a US Visa.
In this article, you will find out the requirements and application process for any visa type you are going for. As a result, I will divide this piece into sections to the different non-immigrant visa types.
How to apply for a Business or Tourism Visitor Visa to the US.
To apply for this kind of visa, you MUST fall into any of these categories;
- Business travelers
- Tourists
- People coming for medical appointments or treatments
- People coming for social events
- Foreign Nationals
- Crew members of Sea vessels or international airlines.
Application Process.
Now, to apply for a US Visitor Visa, you have to go through a simple process. To make it easy, I have revised the whole process and summarized it into something more comprehensive.
Find out if you need a Visa.
This is the first thing to do even before thinking of applying for a Visa. There are countries whose citizens do not need to apply for U.S Visa before traveling over there.
You have to research if your country participates in the U.S. Visa Waiver Program (VWP). If after your research, you don’t see your country listed, you will need to apply for a non-immigrant visa.
Find out what type of Visa you will need for your visit.
Visas are classified depending on the reason for visits. Therefore, you must know what kind of visa you will be applying for. Here, I will show you the different non-immigrant visa types that fall under the Visitor Visa and the application requirements.
B-1 Visa: This is a special visa classification for business travelers to help them meet with other business associates, attend business conferences, negotiate contracts, and other business purposes.
B-2 Visa: Visa classification for tourists who are on vacation. It is also suitable for those visiting the United States for medical treatments, social events, and many more.
Transit C Visa: This category of Visa is recommended for foreign Nationals who are traveling to other countries, but will stop by in the U.S as part of their travel to their next destination.
Transit C-1, D, and C-1/D Visa: For crew members of Sea vessels or international airlines traveling to the U.S.
Apply for Visa.
After finding out the type of Visa you are to apply for, the next step is to go ahead and apply. However, the application process will vary depending on the U.S. embassy or consulate in your country.
To complete the online visa application form DS-160 (non-immigrant visa application form), you will need;
- A recent passport photograph
- To pay a Visa application fee
- To schedule an interview.
How to apply for a Student and Vocational Training Visa to the U.S.
If you are a student and intend to further or complete your education in the United States, this is the visa for you. Also, if you want to visit the U.S. to learn or improve your vocational skills, this is the visa you should go for.
However, to apply for this kind of visa, you must meet up with certain eligibility. If you meet this standard, only then will you be considered for a United States Visa.
Eligibility to apply for a Student Visa to the U.S.
An international student can only apply for a student or exchange visitor Visa after he or she must have been accepted by a school certified in the Student and Exchange Visitor Program (SEVP).
Types of Student/Educational Visas.
Different factors are affecting the type of student visa you will need. You have to put all of these into consideration before going ahead to applying for a student visa to the U.S.A. They include;
- Your course of study
- The school you plan to attend in the U.S/ The exchange program you will be with.
The different types of Student/Educational Visas are;
F-1 Visa: This Visa is recommended for full-time students pursuing academic studies in the United States.
M-1 Visa: This Visa is recommended for full-time students pursuing vocational studies in the United States.
J-1 Visa: This Visa type is otherwise known as the Exchange Visitor Program (EVP). This Visa is recommended for foreign Nationals approved to take part in exchange programs that might be work or study-based. This category includes the visiting scholar, camp counselor, or research assistant.
Please be aware that the duration of stay for J-1 visa holders will depend on the agreement between the applicant and the department of the state-approved sponsoring organization.
How to apply for a Work Visa.
As a foreign worker, you will need a Visa to get a job in the United States. There are different types of work visas with unique requirements, conditions, and time limits. So, you have to visit the U.S Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS) website to check the different work visas available.
On this website, you will also find the following;
- The visa you need for your work
- The application process
- The fees you will pay in total
- Estimated wait time for Visa interview
Please note that you have certain rights and protection as a temporary foreign worker in the United States. They are as follows;
- As a temporary foreign worker in the U.S., you will not be denied a visa or be punished by the U.S. government because you have exercised your rights under U.S. laws.
- If you violate the terms and conditions of your work visa, it could be revoked. In worst scenarios, you could be deported, arrested, and sometimes denied entry into the United States for a lifetime.
Please note:
In line with the Covid-19 regulation guidelines, the State Department temporarily suspended routine visa allocation services at all U.S. embassies and consulates in March 2020. The department however resumed the routine visa services again in February 2021.