The United States (US) government offers various types of visas for potential immigrants, allowing them to relocate, work, and study in the country.
A US visa is a permit issued by the US government that grants non-citizens entry for specific purposes like work, study, or travel.
To apply for a US visa, applicants must complete several important tasks, including filling out forms, providing relevant documents, and paying a fee.
Some applicants may also need to attend an interview at a US embassy or consulate.
Key application requirements include having a valid passport, demonstrating the purpose of travel (such as employment contracts or educational records), proving sufficient funds, and showing evidence of the intention to return home after the authorized stay (for temporary or nonimmigrant visas).
All documents must be in English or translated into English, and original documents must be presented with copies during the visa interview.
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The US offers two main types of visas: immigrant visas for those intending to stay permanently, and non-immigrant visas for temporary stays. Non-immigrant visas typically allow people to work or study in the US for up to 180 days.
Types of non-immigrant visas include:
- Work Visas (e.g., H-1B for specialty workers, L-1 for intracompany transferees)
- US Visitor Visas (e.g., B-1 for business visitors, B-2 for tourists)
- Internship and Student Visas (e.g., F-1 for students, J-1 for exchange participants)
An immigrant visa (Green Card) allows permanent residency and employment in the US. Immigrant visas are categorized into employment-based immigration, family-based immigration, and the Diversity Visa Program.
Employment-based immigration visas include:
- EB-1 (Priority Workers)
- EB-2 (Advanced Degree/Exceptional Ability)
- EB-3 (Skilled Workers, Professionals, and Other Workers)
- EB-4 (Special Immigrants, including religious workers)
- EB-5 (Immigration Investor Program)
Family-based visas are available for spouses and relatives of US citizens or permanent residents.
The Diversity Visa program (Green Card Lottery) is open to citizens of eligible countries and grants permanent resident status to a certain number of people each year.
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