What You Need for a U.S. Visa
The documentation necessary to obtain a U.S. visa varies, depending upon the visa purpose. Some of the most popular U.S. visas include temporary employment visas, visitor and tourist visas, education visas, immigrant visas and dependent visas. Each visa requires a different set of requirements and sponsorship.
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Temporary Employment Visas
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A temporary employment visa authorizes a foreign national to come to the United States to fulfill an offer of employment. Some examples of temporary employment visas include H-1B, H-2B, L-1A, L-1B and O-1 visas. To obtain a temporary employment visa, a foreign national must possess a written job offer or letter of support for employment and a petition filed by the employer and approved by U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services. Once the petition is approved, the foreign national must schedule a visa appointment with a U.S. embassy or consulate in her home country.
Visitor or Tourist Visas
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Visitor or tourist visas (B-2 visas) allow foreign nationals to come to the United States for a specific amount of time. In some cases, a visitor or tourist will receive a full year of visa validity, although the most common duration is six months. To apply for visitor or tourist visas, foreign nationals must schedule appointments with their country's U.S. embassy or consulate, provide a reason for travel, provide a valid passport and proof that they can financially afford to travel and return from their visit, such as a bank statement.
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Education Visas
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The F-1 visa is reserved for foreign nationals who wish to study at an American college or university. The first step in obtaining an F-1 visa is to receive an offer of admission from the institution. At that point, the school must sign a Form I-20 indicating your intent to enroll at the institution. With this signed form, a foreign national can schedule a visa appointment at the U.S. embassy or consulate in her home country. An F-1 visa is issued for the duration of an academic program as indicated on Form I-20.
Dependent Visas
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Dependent visas serve as authorization to enter the United States for dependents of U.S. visa holders. For example, a spouse or dependent child under the age of 21 is eligible to receive a dependent visa for any type of nonimmigrant visa. Some dependent visas include H-2, L-2 and F-2. Dependents on H-2 and F-2 visas cannot work in the United States, however, L-2 visa holders are eligible to apply for employment authorization through Form I-765. The only documentation needed to obtain a dependent visa is proof of relationship to the U.S. visa holder such as a marriage certificate for the spouse or birth certificate for children.
Immigrant Visas
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Immigrant visas, also known as green cards, often require several years to obtain. Applicants receive a preference category based on national origin and professional skills or ability. Countries with the highest number of immigrants to the United States usually require the longest processing time as only a limited amount of visas are issued per year. To obtain a green card, an immigrant must file Form I-140. If employment-based, the immigrant must provide a letter of sponsorship and the employer must meet strict recruitment guidelines to show that a U.S. worker of similar ability was not available. Once Form I-140 is approved, the immigrant and any family members officially apply for their green card with Form I-485. In addition to the form, the immigrants must schedule biometrics appointments and green card interviews before completing the process. At the conclusion of the process, a green card is mailed to the immigrant.
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References
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