How To Get a Nonimmigrant U.S. Visa

Traveling to the United States for tourism, work, or educational purposes often requires a nonimmigrant visa. The U.S. visa is crucial because it is a legal document you need to enter at the U.S. port of entry. 

The application process for getting a nonimmigrant visa involves a series of steps. This includes completing a visa application form, submitting documents, attending interviews, and going through the immigration security check. The requirements and the processing times vary depending on your visa category and the volume of U.S. visa applicants.

This article aims to give a comprehensive overview of how to get a nonimmigrant U.S. visa.

U.S. Government Agencies Involved in Processing Visa Applications

There are U.S. government agencies that play essential parts in visa processing. Each one fulfills specific roles in the journey from visa application to approval.

U.S. Embassies and U.S. Consulates

U.S. embassies and consulate offices provide services for foreign citizens who want to visit, study, or work in the United States. They also issue passports, register births, and provide other services to visiting or resident U.S. citizens in foreign countries.

The U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS)

USCIS is the central government agency that oversees lawful immigration to the United States. It administers a wide range of immigration services, from processing U.S. visa applications to granting U.S. citizenship through naturalization. The USCIS aims to enhance the efficiency of lawful immigration to the United States.

National Visa Center (NVC)

The NVC plays an integral part in the immigration process by acting as an intermediate government body after the USCIS approves immigrant visa petitions. At the NVC, U.S. visa petitions go through pre-processing. The pre-processing includes collecting essential documents and application fees and ensuring that U.S. visa applications are complete.

Understanding Nonimmigrant Visas

Nonimmigrant visas cover a wide range of purposes. They can be for tourism, business, work, or education. Each of these categories is for specific conditions and requirements. For instance, most work visas need sponsorship by a U.S. employer. Student visas need proof of enrollment to an educational institution. Because of these varying requirements, it is crucial to understand their differences to find the U.S. visa applicable to your needs.

Check Your Visa Eligibility

Before applying for a U.S. visa, you must check whether you meet the eligibility criteria for particular visa types. Each visa category has its own requirements that applicants must meet. For instance, temporary workers must show proof of their professional qualifications and a job offer from a U.S. employer. Tourist visa applicants must show their intent to return after a short trip and strong ties to their home country. Becoming familiar with these requirements ensures a smoother visa process.

Complete a Visa Application Form

The first step is to complete a visa application form. Often, this is the DS-160 form, the nonimmigrant visa application form used for most U.S. visas. You can fill out this form online.

Create a Profile Online for Your Visa Appointment

After completing the DS-160 form, you must create an online profile for your visa appointment. This is through the U.S. Department of State's online system used when scheduling a visa interview at the U.S. embassy or U.S. consulate.

Pay the Required Fees

Unless you qualify for a waiver, pay the application fees before scheduling an interview with the U.S. embassy. The visa application fees are nonrefundable. So, even if your visa application is later denied, you can't get your money back. If you want to apply for a U.S. visa, check the current visa fees and understand the payment options.

Schedule Your Visa Interview

Once you've completed the form, created a profile online, and paid the fee, you can schedule an interview appointment. Often, you can schedule online through the U.S. embassy website. The availability of an appointment for a visa interview varies, so schedule your interview as soon as possible. Because of the high demand for U.S. visas, prepare for long wait times. When you make the appointment, look at the requirements and documents you might need. These requirements vary depending on the visa category for which you are applying. To find the nearest U.S. embassy near you, visit the official list of embassies from the U.S. Department of State.

Prepare Your Documents

One of the keys to a successful visa application is coming prepared. You must gather all the documentation you need for your U.S. visa application. The documents needed vary depending on the type of visa you are applying for. But in general, it includes the following:

• Valid passport
• Appropriate application forms
• Documents detailing your reason for travel
• DS-160 confirmation page or the document you see after completing the online nonimmigrant visa application
• Any more information or forms as indicated by the consular officer

You may also need to present proof of ties to your home country. For instance, tourist visa applicants must show ties to their home country and funds to cover their stay in the United States. Student visa applicants should show their acceptance letter from the U.S. institution. Extra documentation may include proof of employment or study, invitation letters, financial statements, and other information on the U.S. government website.

Attend Your Visa Interview

Attending your U.S. visa interview is critical in the visa application process. In the interview, the consular officer will examine your visa application and ask questions about your trip to the United States. For instance, they might ask about the purpose of your visit to the U.S., your travel plans, and whether you meet the criteria for the U.S. visa you are applying for. The visa interview is the only chance for the consular officer to clarify your intentions and gather more documentation to support your visa application. The interview's outcome is crucial to whether your U.S. visa application will be approved or denied.

Visa Approval or Denial

At the end of your visa interview, you will learn if the consular officer approved or denied your petition. In most cases, if the consular officer approves your application, they will collect your passport to print the visa on it. They will inform you immediately after your visa interview of the denial or approval of your visa application. If they approve your application, you will get instructions on collecting your passport with the U.S. visa. It can be through a courier service, mail, or personal collection at the U.S. embassy or an assigned location.

Traveling to the United States

The port-of-entry typically will be the airport in the U.S. where you land. Before landing or before departing the plane, you will complete an arrival/departure form. Once you deplane, follow the directions for non-citizen entry, which includes a brief interview and verification of paperwork by a U.S. official. Luggage is subject to inspection by U.S. Customs officials.

Remember that having a U.S. visa is not an immediate guarantee of entry into the United States. The U.S. Customs and Border Protection (CBP) officer will have a final say at the port of entry. The CBP officer can allow or deny your entry into the United States regardless of your visa.

Extending Your Stay

Visitors to the United States may extend the life of their visa under certain circumstances. You must immediately file Form I-539 (Application to Extend/Change Nonimmigrant Status). Customs officials recommend applying for an extension within 45 days of the nonimmigrant visa expiration date.

Family Members of U.S. Citizens and Green Card Holders

U.S. Citizens and Lawful Permanent Residents (LPR) may sponsor their family members to come to the United States as lawful permanent residents. Your immigration status will help determine the preference of relatives receiving these immigration benefits.

For instance, if you are a U.S. Citizen, you can petition your spouse, married and unmarried children, parents, and siblings. But you can only sponsor your spouse and unmarried children if you have LPR or green card status.

Seek Legal Advice from an Immigration Lawyer

Learning about the requirements and steps when applying for a U.S. visa is challenging. There are U.S. immigration laws that apply differently in each case. That's why it's best to seek help from an immigration attorney.

Immigration attorneys have the knowledge and experience to guide you through acquiring an immigrant or nonimmigrant visa. They also handle various legal services related to immigration laws that may apply to your case. For instance, they can help with immigrant petitions, employment-based immigration, or naturalization as U.S. citizens. They can also help you with adjustment of status or help you prepare your immigrant visa application.

To give yourself the best chance of achieving a successful visa application, contact an immigration attorney near you.