Immigration Laws

The Two Main Types of Visas offered by the United States for foreign travelers are the Nonimmigrant Visa and the Immigrant Visa. Depending upon the reason and intent for the visit, the applicable visa will apply.

Nonimmigrant Visa

A Nonimmigrant Visa is issued to foreign persons traveling to the United States for travel, tourism, and short-term visits. Foreign travelers likely to fall under the nonimmigrant visa would be individuals who come to the U.S. to compete in sporting events, familial visits, individuals conducting business operations, foreign dignitaries and official representatives of foreign countries, military members of foreign nations who may be stationed temporarily in the United States, medical patients requiring hospital services, media representatives, and journalists. It is important to note that additional categories of foreign travelers not listed here exist and are not limited to the above criteria.

Immigrant Visa

An Immigrant Visa is issued to foreign persons traveling to the United States with the intent on legally obtaining permanent long-term residency. The complexity and time-consuming process of applying for an immigrant visa to the United States can be complicated and require much research and preparation for the person interested in residency.

Requirements And Information Needed To Apply For A Visa

The types of documents and paperwork a foreigner can expect to provide the department of State of the U.S. are as follows:

Step One

A Petition from one of the following:

Immediate Family Member or Sponsor Family
U.S. Employment Sponsor
Spouse of a Lawful U.S. Resident

This petition must be completed in order to begin the Visa process.

Step Two

The Department of State will review and process Visa Petition.
Certain required documents from applicants may include the following requests:

Birth Certificate from country of origin
Criminal Record
Medical Examination Record
Marriage and/or Divorce Certificate
Interview and examination of applicant

When applying for a visa, the applicant can expect the entire process to be completed in approximately 60 days to review and begin visa processing. This estimated time may be longer in duration, depending upon the amount of visas being processed. An important caveat to remember in order to speed up the process of obtaining a visa: Make certain that all papers and effects are in proper order. This will smooth out the process and help in avoiding delays in processing.