Everything You Need To Know About Different Types Of US Visa

For every foreign citizen who wants to study, work, or even visit the US as a tourist, a visa is necessary. There is a non-immigrant visa issued for temporary stay, while for permanent stay or citizenship immigrant visa is provided. Most students, tourists, business people, and researchers who stay temporarily for specific tasks will need a non-immigrant visa.  However, you need to understand different types of US visas before planning a visit to the country. Let's discuss some of them. 

The US is home to several immigrants from all over the world. The country has more than 40 million people born in some other country. Several students, professionals, and travelers visit the US every year. One thing that becomes essential for all of them is a US visa. 

For every foreign citizen who wants to study, work, or even visit the US as a tourist, a visa is necessary. There is a non-immigrant visa issued for temporary stay, while for permanent stay or citizenship immigrant visa is provided. Most students, tourists, business people, and researchers who stay temporarily for specific tasks will need a non-immigrant visa. 

However, you need to understand different types of US visas before planning a visit to the country. Let’s discuss some of them.

Types of US Visa

Immigrant and non-immigrant visas are issued after proper validation of foreign nationals and compliance with specific guidelines. For example, an American visa does not guarantee entry into the US as you will have to go through rigorous checks by the Department of Homeland Security (DHS) and Customs and Borders Protection (CPB). Officers from the CPB can examine you at the entry port or airport and even conduct interviews. 

Let’s understand the types of US visas and their specific requirements.

Immigration Visas

An immigrant American visa enables you to have permanent residence. However, the type of immigrant visa you need depends on its purpose.

• Spouse visa

A conditional Resident Spouse visa (CR1) is a type of US visa that allows a recently married spouse born in another country to have a residency permit in the United States with immigrant status. Another essential condition for this visa is that the couple must stay married for at least two years. 

• IR1 visa

If a foreign national is married to a US citizen for at least two years, they can apply for IR1 or Immediate Relative Spouse visa.

• K1 visa

If a foreign national is a fiancé of a US citizen, they can apply for a K1 visa to travel to the United States for marriage within 90 days of arrival.

• K2 visa

Children of a fiancé with a US citizen who has applied for a K1 visa can apply for a K2 visa subject to the approval of the I-129F form.

• K3 visa

Foreign nationals who married US citizens outside the United States need to apply for a K3 visa in their respective countries.

• K4 visa 

Children who are eligible for the K3 visa can receive a K4 visa.

Apart from this, there are family-sponsored visas that you can apply for as per the specific purpose:

Apart from these, there are immigrant visa types for family members of US citizens and even for employer-sponsored visas. 

Non-Immigration Visas

This is the broadest set of visas issued to tourists, students, business people, journalists, media, etc. 

Business visa

A business visa is issued in scenarios where business people need to visit the country for meetings, conferences, scientific congress, negotiate business deals, etc. A B-1 visa is given to business people, valid for 180 days.

Tourist visa

B-2 visa, also known as the tourist visa, is issued for tourists visiting the United States for leisure or vacation. 

Student visa

There are two main types of US visas that students can apply for to study in the United States,

1. F1 visa
2. M1 visa

Students can apply for F1 visas to study in an American university or college. On the other hand, the M1 visa is for vocational education. Every student is given an I-20 document on application by the United States authorities. Students need to apply for a visa within 120 days and travel within 30 days of the I-20 start date.

How to Apply For a US Visa?

The first step towards applying for a visa is choosing the appropriate type according to your specific purpose. For example, if you are applying for a student visa to study at an American university, you need to apply for an F1 visa. The next step is to fill the DS-160 form from the online immigration website for the US consulate. 

Once you make the payment for the visa application, you need to schedule an appointment at the consulate. Then, further on applying with duly attached documents to the US visa Application Centre, an interview will be scheduled at the US Embassy.

Conclusion

Now that you have an idea about the different kinds of US visas and the application process, you can plan your journey accordingly. The process of application has multiple phases, and that is why after interviews, you need to wait for a specific period before the issuance of your visa. So, the best way is to plan everything ahead and also curate all the documents required for application well in advance.

Get more information on US student visas and study abroad through The WorldGrad.

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