Everything You Need to Know About USA Visas

Everything You Need to Know About USA Visas

The United States offers a wide range of visas to accommodate various purposes for immigration and travel. These visas are categorized into non-immigrant visas and immigrant visas:

1. Immigrant Visas: These visas lead to stay in USA permanently either as a U.S. citizen or U.S. Lawful Permanent Resident (LPR). These are based on family ties, employment, adoption etc.

2. Non-immigrant Visas: These are issued to Foreign-citizens for temporary travels. They include a definite period of stay & are not considered permanents.

 

List of all visas offered by the United States are:

1. Visitor Visa (B): For International citizens seeking vacation or medical treatment or visiting family & friends or to attend business meetings, conferences & consultations.

 

2. Student Visas (F, M): For International applicants wanting to study in the US in a degree or vocational courses.

 

3. Temporary Worker Visas (H, L, O, P, Q): These are the non-Immigrant visas that enables employers to hire International applicants with specialised skills to work in the United States for a fixed period of time, and are not considered permanent or indefinite. Each visa requires the approved petition filed by an employer. Few of them are listed below:

a) H-1B: Person in Speciality Occupation

b) H-1B1: Free Trade Agreement (FTA) Professional: Chile, Singapore

c) H-2A: Temporary Agriculture Worker

d) H-2B: Temporary Non-agriculture Worker

e) L: Intracompany Transferee

 

4. Transit Visa (C): It is for foreign country citizens travelling through the United States en route to another country.

 

5. Family Based Visas: When a foreign citizen is sponsored by an immediate relative who is either a U.S. citizen or U.S. Lawful Permanent Resident (LPR). The sponsor should be at least 21 years of age.

Note:

U.S. citizens can file an immigrant visa for their Spouse, Son or Daughter, Parent & Brother or Sister.

U.S. Lawful Permanent Resident can only file an immigrant visa for their Spouse & Unmarried Son or Daughter.

Few of them are:

a) IR1 or CR1: Immigrant visa for a Foreign-citizen spouse of a U.S. Citizen

b) K-3: It is a Non-immigrant visa for a Foreign-citizen spouse of a U.S. Citizen that allows him/her to enter the United States while awaiting approval of the Immigrant visa petition.

c) K-4: For eligible children of K-3 visa applicants

d) K-1: It is a Non-immigrant visa for a Foreign-citizen Fiancé(e)of a United States citizen that allows him/her to enter the United States to marry his/her U.S. citizen sponsor within 90 days of arrival.

e) IR2, CR2, IR5, F1, F3, F4: Certain family members of U.S. citizens

f) F2A, F2B: Certain family members of U.S. Lawful Permanent Resident

 

6. Employment-Based Visas: These visas come under Immigrant Visas leading to permanent stay in the United States.

a) EB1 (Employment First Preference): covers those with extraordinary abilities such as Scientists, Business professionals, Athletes, Researchers, Managers or Executives. It doesn’t require a labor certification approval by the Department of Labor.

b) EB2 (Employment Second Preference): covers professionals holding an advanced degrees such as a Bachelor’s degree & at least 5 years of experience in that field or persons holding a degree of expertise rather than ordinarily encountered in the science, arts or business. It requires Labor certification & Job offer except in cases where employment is in the national interest of the United States.

c) EB3 (Employment Third Preference): covers Skilled Workers, Professionals, and Unskilled Workers (other workers). An approved Labor certification & Immigrant Petition for Alien Worker Form I-140 filed by the prospective employer is required.

d) EB4 (Employment Fourth Preference): It is a specific category of visa that covers special Immigrants such as religious workers, employees of U.S. foreign service posts, retired employees of International organisations & their unmarried children etc.

e) EB5 (Employment Fifth Preference): It covers the Immigrant Investor program. These visas are available for foreign investors who make capital investment in the United States in new commercial enterprises to create more job opportunities & at least employs 10 full-time U.S. workers.

Please note that the U.S. immigration system is complex, and eligibility criteria, requirements, and application processes can vary widely depending on the type of visa and the applicant's circumstances. It's essential to consult the official U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS) website or consult us for detailed and up-to-date information on specific visa categories and requirements.