What Are the Different Types of US Visas?

US Visa

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 travelers may be eligible to travel to the United States without a visa if they meet the requirements for visa-free travel

Do I Need to Apply for a US Visa?

Canadian citizens generally do not require a visa to enter the US directly from Canada for the purpose of visiting or studying. However, every case is different and it also depends on which country you’re entering from. It is best to consult an immigration expert to find out more information.

Can I Enter the US Without a Valid Visa?

You can go on vacation to the US for a limited period of time with an Electronic Travel Authorization (e TA), but if you want to immigrate to the US you need a valid immigrant or nonimmigrant visa. 

To be eligible to travel to the US under the Visa Waiver Program, you need to be a citizen from one of the following countries: Andorra, Australia, Austria, Belgium, Brunei, Chile, Croatia, Czech Republic, Denmark, Estonia, Finland, France, Germany, Greece, Hungary, Iceland, Ireland, Italy, Japan, Latvia, Liechtenstein, Lithuania, Luxembourg, Malta, Monaco, Netherlands, New Zealand, Norway, Poland, Portugal, San Marino, Singapore, Slovakia, Slovenia, South Korea, Spain, Sweden, Switzerland, Taiwan, and the United Kingdom. 

If you are not from one of the aforementioned countries, you need to fully apply for a US visa.

No Travel Visa or Authorization Needed

There are 40 different countries that you can travel from where you are eligible to travel to the US under the Visa Waiver Program, but although you do not require a visa, you still require an e TA. 

B2 Visa for Tourists

The B-2 Visa is for individuals who wish to travel in the United States for personal reasons like tourism or to receive medical treatment. To be eligible for the B-1 or B-2 visa, applicants must plan to remain in the US for a limited and specified period of time, have sufficient funds to support their stay, and demonstrate sufficient ties to their home country.

C1 Visa to Transit Through US Airports

Generally, a citizen of a foreign country who wishes to enter the United States must first obtain a visa, either a nonimmigrant visa for temporary stay, or an immigrant visa for permanent residence. C Transit visas are nonimmigrant visas for persons traveling in immediate and continuous transit through the United States en route to another country, with few exceptions.

Immediate and continuous transit is defined as a reasonably expeditious departure of the traveler in the normal course of travel as the elements permit and assume a prearranged itinerary without any unreasonable layover privileges. If the traveler seeks layover privileges for purposes other than for transit through the United States, such as to visit friends or engage in sightseeing, the traveler will have to qualify for the type of visa required for that purpose.

B1 Visa for Business Visitors

The B-1 Visa is a visitor visa for individuals who intend to conduct business, attend conferences/conventions, or appear as a witness in court trials in the United States. Applicants are not permitted to perform productive work or accept employment.

Visa Types and Visa Policy of the United States

There are two types of US visas: immigrant and nonimmigrant. Within those two categories are many sub sectors based on your specific needs, situation, and intention of travel/moving. 

It is important to note that if you are a Canadian NAFTA professional worker, a visa is not required. You will need to apply to US Customs and Border Protection (CBP) at the border port of entry.

The visa policy of the United States consists of the requirements for foreign nationals to travel to, enter, and remain in the United States. Visitors to the United States must obtain a visa from one of the U.S. diplomatic missions unless they come from one of the visa-exempt or Visa Waiver Program countries.

Regulations for Canada and Bermuda citizens

In Canada, the U.S. Government issues visas from its Embassy and six consulates located throughout the country. Canadians typically do not require visas to enter the United States, although there are some exceptions. Citizens of certain other countries also do not require entry visas to visit the United States. 

The purpose of your intended travel and other facts will determine what type of visa is required under U.S. immigration law. As a visa applicant, you will need to establish that you meet all requirements to receive the category of visa for which you are applying.

Citizens of Bermuda traveling to the United States do not require a nonimmigrant visa for travel up to 180 days, except for the travel purposes described below. Additionally, Bermudian citizens do not require a visa unless they are ineligible for a visa under U.S. immigration law, or have previously violated the terms of their immigration status in the U.S.

US Visa Application

The US Visa application process has 8 steps: check if you need a visa, choose the type of US visa you will apply for, fill in the non-immigrant visa application form DS-160, pay your application fee(s), schedule a visa interview, compile the document file, attend the visa interview, and wait for processing.

You need to check if you need a visa first because you could be a citizen of a country that is eligible to travel to the US under the Visa Waiver Program and might not have to go through the application process. 

Once you choose which visa you will apply for, you need to fill out the DS-160 form, which is the online nonimmigrant US visa application form and it can be found online on the website of the US consulate from which you are applying. 

What is the Difference Between a Nonimmigrant Visa and an Immigrant Visa?

Immigrant visas and nonimmigrant visas have clearly defined differences in U.S. immigration.

In short, the United States grants an immigrant visa to people that intend to work and live permanently in the United States and issues a nonimmigrant visa to people who are temporarily visiting the U.S. for tourism, medical treatment, temporary work, school and other reasons.

What Does a US Visa Look Like?

Traditional US visas can either be stamped or glued into your passport. If your visa is glued into your passport, it is usually a small document that includes your name, passport number, place of birth, reason for travel and expiration date.

Does Having a US Visa Guarantee Entry Into the United States?

No, having a US Visa does not guarantee entry into the United States. 

Having a U.S. visa allows you to travel to a port of entry, airport or land border crossing, and request permission of the Department of Homeland Security (DHS), Customs and Border Protection (CBP) inspector to enter the United States.

While having a visa does not guarantee entry to the United States, it does indicate a consular officer at a U.S. Embassy or Consulate abroad has determined you are eligible to seek entry for that specific purpose. DHS/CBP inspectors, guardians of the nation’s borders, are responsible for admission of travelers to the United States, for a specified status and period of time.

What Happens if I Do Not Get a US Visa?

Some reasons for being denied entry into the US include incorrect paperwork, conflicts with travel documentation, health concerns, being previously denied entry, overstaying your visa, insufficient funds to support themselves during their stay, problems with a background check, suspicion of malicious intent, having worked illegally in the US, being convicted of a crime, criminal history, or suspected or known ties to terrorism.

You may request a review of your case before a judge if you arrive in the United States through a visa and are denied entry. Be aware that if you plan to go to the US as a visitor on the visa waiver program, you may not request a judge to review your case if denied entry. 

A nonimmigrant is someone who is not a US citizen and enters the US for a limited time period for a specific reason. Nonimmigrants are those who will stay in the US temporarily and do not qualify for the waiver for the three or ten year bar.

Nonimmigrants may however qualify for a general waiver for inadmissibility. People with medical problems, a history of drug use, criminal or terrorist activities, etc. are considered inadmissible and may never be given a visa, green card, or special entry to the US unless special permission, like the waiver of inadmissibility, is granted.

The I-192 waiver is for inadmissible nonimmigrants who need to apply for advanced permission to enter the US on a temporary basis. A nonimmigrant may be considered inadmissible for various reasons, including health, financial, criminal, and security considerations.

The processing time is generally about six to twelve months.

How Long Can I Stay in the United States With a Visa?

The length of time that you may legally remain in the U.S. starts when you arrive at your destination point of entry. A U.S. Customs and Border Protection officer who processes your entry upon your arrival in the U.S. will stamp your passport with a date. This marks the day 1 of your stay. Check your Visa Type/Class to know until when you may legally remain in the U.S.

Some visa categories allow the holder to apply for an extension of stay. The extension may or may not be granted depending upon the reason for extension. You must justify to USCIS why you need to extend your stay and that you still intend to return to your country after at the end of your specified visit. This extension of stay is normally applied within 3 months of coming to the U.S. The maximum duration of extension you can ask is 6 months.

In consideration to all the information above, take for example a B2 Visa (visiting U.S. for pleasure, tourism, visiting friends or relatives), the maximum you can stay in the U.S. is 1 year.

What to do When my US Visa Expires?

If your US Visa expires, you can either return to your home country or apply for visa renewal.

You can apply for US visa renewal if you want to renew a visa you previously had, if the US Embassy did not deny a recent visa application from you, if you will renew a US visa with multiple entries, and with a validity of more than 1 year, if you still fulfill the requirements for the visa you are trying to renew, if you are applying for US visa renewal from your home country, and if your visa expired between less than 48 months ago. Sometimes visas that expired more than 48 months ago are also eligible.

When renewing your US visa, you will have to submit similar documents to your initial visa application.

Can I Bring my Children to the US?

Yes, you can bring your children to the US, but in most scenarios they will have to apply for a separate Visa (for example, the spouse and unmarried minor children under age 21 who accompany an F-1 primary visa holder may receive F-2 dependent status) or apply for a visa waiver. 

Can I Bring my Parents to the United States?

The IR5 parent visa allows US citizens to bring foreign-born parents to the United States as permanent residents. However, this visa will have to be granted abroad and issued at the US embassy or consulate in the foreign country where the parent resides. You must also be at least 21 to sponsor the IR-5 visa for a parent.

If you hold a different type of visa, your parents may still be eligible to come to the United States. They will either have to apply for a visa themselves or will receive a visa waiver.

How Do I Become a US Citizen With a US Visa?

If you live in the U.S for a stipulated period of time without violating rules, you can apply for citizenship with a US Visa and other documents. If your application is approved, you will become a US citizen.

Citizenship through Naturalization is the process by which a foreign national voluntarily becomes a US citizen after meeting certain requirements.

As a US Immigrant Visa holder, you are generally eligible for naturalization after five years of being issued a US Immigrant Visa (green card). This is the most common way foreigners become U.S Citizens.