Do not end up being a victim of immigration scams! If you need legal suggestions on immigration matters, make sure the person helping you is authorized to provide legal recommendations. Only an attorney or a recognized agent working for a Department of Justice (DOJ) recognized company can offer you legal advice.
Generally, a resident of a foreign nation who wishes to enter the United States need to initially obtain a visa, either a nonimmigrant visa for a short-term stay, or an immigrant visa for long-term residence. Visitor visas are nonimmigrant visas for persons who wish to get in the United States temporarily for business (visa classification B-1), for tourist (visa classification B-2), or for a combination of both functions (B-1/ B-2).
Your Rights and Defenses
If you are coming to the United States as a short-lived visitor for employment or education, as the foreign-citizen fiancé( e) or partner of a U.S. person, or as the foreign-citizen spouse of a legal permanent homeowner (LPR), as provided by U.S. migration laws, we invite you to this country.
For lots of short-lived visitors pertaining to the United States to work or study and for numerous immigrants, we know that English might not be your native language and that you may not be familiar with U.S. laws. For that reason, we wish to ensure you know that, if you need to encounter problems in the United States, such as abuse or domestic violence, for example, you have rights under U.S. laws, and you can get help.
Short-term Visitor (Nonimmigrant) Visa Applicants: If you are requesting a nonimmigrant visa in among the categories below, examine our Rights & Protections for Temporary Employees and Education-Based Nonimmigrants web page and pamphlet.
What is a U.S. Visa?
A citizen of a foreign nation who looks for to go into the United States generally need goodadvise to first get a U.S. visa, which is placed in the tourist's passport, a travel document released by the traveler's nation of citizenship.
Specific global travelers might be eligible to take a trip to the United States without a visa if they meet the requirements for visa-free travel. The Visa section of this site is all about U.S. visas for foreign people to travel to the United States.
( Note: U.S. residents do not need a U.S. visa for travel, but when planning travel abroad may need a visa issued by the embassy of the nation they wish to go to. In this situation, when preparing travel abroad, discover visa requirements by country, see Nation Specific Travel Information in the Passport section of this site.).
How Can I Utilize a Visa to Get In the United States?
Having a U.S. visa permits you to travel to a port of entry, airport or land border crossing, and demand permission of the Department of Homeland Security (DHS), Customs and Border Security (CBP) inspector to get in the United States. While having a visa does not guarantee entry to the United States, it does suggest a consular officer at a U.S. Embassy or Consulate abroad has actually determined you are qualified to seek entry for that specific purpose. DHS/CBP inspectors, guardians of the nation's borders, are accountable for admission of tourists to the United States, for a specified status and time period. DHS likewise has duty for migration matters while you are present in the United States.