For a variety of reasons, the United States is a popular destination for international candidates. They have the stronger infrastructure, a diverse society, and are simpler to visit than other European countries.
As a result, students, employees, and potential immigrants flock to the United States in search of better living conditions and an enriching experience.
Which are the top five US visas?
The United States provides a variety of visas to meet the needs of all foreign nationals. The visa categories listed below will help you understand the most common visa kinds in terms of issuance, application, and, most importantly, purpose.
Immigrant Visa: This visa is intended for potential immigrants visiting the United States in quest of permanent status. They could want to work there or live with a spouse or family member. The US Citizenship and Immigration Services have accepted this visa. The top two visa kinds in this category that we will cover are:
- Immigration visas for family members
- Visa for Employment-Based Immigration
Non-Immigrant Visa: This visa category includes the most often used visas. This visa category includes business visas, labour visas, student visas, and exchange visitor visas. These visas are provided to those who want to visit the United States for a brief length of time. Each visa in this category is very distinct from the others. A student visa, for example, is valid for far longer than a tourist visa, while a tourist visa requires far less documents than a student visa. The main three visa kinds that we shall cover here are:
- H-1B Visa
- Student Visa
- Tourist Visa
Immigration Based on Family
Potential immigrants who have close links to a relative who is a US citizen or permanent resident are eligible for these visas.
If the following conditions are met, your relative may be able to assist you in immigrating to the United States:
- Relative is over the age of 21.
- Relative is either a US citizen or a permanent resident of the United States.
- A relative is someone who is close to you, such as a spouse, parent, kid, or brother.
- If you are asking for family preference, your relative might be a distant relative; nonetheless, the number of visas awarded in this category is extremely limited.
Immigration Based on Employment
This visa class grants the holder permission to work in the United States. This enables the person to apply for permanent residence in the United States. The visa applicant may apply for US citizenship after 5 years of permanent stay.
The many categories of employment-based immigration visas are as follows:
| Visa Type | Qualifying Workers |
| EB-1A | Workers with extraordinary ability |
| EB-1B | Outstanding foreign researchers or professors |
| EB-1C | Managers and executives from multinational corporations |
| EB-2 | Professionals with an advanced degree with a U.S. job |
| Workers with exceptional abilities as well as a U.S. job offer | |
| EB-3 | Professional workers |
| Skilled workers | |
| Unskilled workers | |
| EB-4 | Special immigrants |
| EB-5 | Immigrant investors |
H-1B Visa
The H-1B Visa is a popular choice among Indians. They are intended for applicants who work in specialised vocations. This mostly refers to applicants with highly specialised degrees who work in unusual occupations and have a lot to offer the American economy.
The following occupations are included:
- Fashion Models
- Graphic Designers
- Fashion Designers
- Accounting
- Architecture
- Engineering
- Law
An ideal candidate has a bachelor’s degree and, preferably, advanced study in specialised disciplines. The education obtained does not have to be from a US university, as long as it is comparable to US norms.
The applicant’s degree must be required for the job he or she is applying for. The employment circumstances must be the same as those given to US citizens, and the pay must be equivalent.
Following Trump’s restriction on the H-1B visa, there was concern that Indians would lose access to the most popular route of entering the US, particularly in the IT sector. Because the ban has been lifted, you are now eligible to apply for this visa.
Visa for Students
The student visa is a broad visa that allows foreign people to enter the country for various sorts and levels of study. Before applying for a student visa, the candidate must be approved by the desired institute. Some of the paperwork that you will be required to give when submitting your application will be provided by the institute.
Student visas are classified into two types:
F-1 Visa: This is the most frequent type of visa, and it is valid for any stage of academic studies in the United States. You may be applying to a school, university, private school, or English language course. This is the primary requirement for obtaining an F-1 visa. Another requirement that qualifies you is if your course meets for more than 18 hours per week.
The F-1 Visa is only available to students entering grades 9 and higher. Any lower grade contains solely publicly financed universities and is not available to international nationals.
The M-1 visa is intended for non-academic training. This mostly refers to vocational education or training.
Visa for Tourists
Applicants may require a tourist visa for a variety of reasons.
These are their names:
Business Tourism Purposes that will take a short span of time
For the following reasons, you may not apply for a tourist visa:
- Studies
- Work/employment
- Any type of compensated performance
- Being a flight crew member
- Work in the media
- Residency for life
Immigrant Visa Application Procedure
The petitioner and the applicant are both involved in the immigrant visa procedure. For example, if you apply for employment-based immigration to the United States, both your company and you will be participating in the application process. Please keep in mind that employment-based immigration is not synonymous with a temporary work visa.
Step 1: The first step includes just the petitioner, which is the US citizen or permanent resident who will be sponsoring your immigration to the US. Form I-30, Petition for Alien Relative, must be filed. This may be accomplished by e-mail or snail mail.
Step 2: In the second step, both you and the petitioner are involved. If the petition is improved, your case will be sent to be recorded with the National Visa Center. After completing this level, you will get a welcome letter.
There will be login information supplied in this letter, which you may use to access your case in the Consular Electronic Application Center. You may remain up to date by logging in to your account on this platform. At this time, you must give the fees and accompanying documentation.
Step 3: At this stage, there are two types of processing costs that must be paid:
Affidavit of Support Fee Immigrant Visa Application Processing Fee
You will need your petitioner to be involved at this phase, as the funds need to be made from a US savings account.
Step 4: Only the petitioner is involved in this step. He or she will be required to sign an Affidavit of Support and assume financial responsibility for the application. He/she is also called the sponsor. In the event that income is insufficient, a joint sponsor may be involved.
The sponsor is legally liable for the applicant’s finances and expenditures in the United States until he or she becomes a US citizen.
Step 5: The petitioner must acquire evidence of their personal financial situation as well as other required papers.
Phase 6: Only the applicant is involved in this step. He or she must fill out the online application form and pay the costs. After successfully paying the costs and submitting the form, you must make a copy of the printout and present for your visa interview.
Step 7: At this point, you must gather the relevant civil papers to support your application. This must be issued by your country’s issuing authorities. Documents that are not written in English must be accompanied by certified translations.
Step 8: In this step, both sides are involved. Documents must be stored for future reference. Accepted file types include.pdf,.jpg, and.jpeg.
Step 9: At this point, you must submit your scanned papers.
Step 10: You will be notified through email of the essential interview dates and locations. You must complete the following before you attend for your interview:
- A medical examination
- Document gathering
Step 11: Attend your interview.
Time required for processing
A US immigrant visa takes 3 to 5 weeks to complete.
A non-immigrant visa to the United States normally takes 7-10 days to complete. Because this varies, candidates are recommended to apply three months in advance.
Conclusion
Visa classifications are divided into two categories: immigration and non-immigration. You must consider the following factors regardless of the type of visa you are seeking for:
- Documents
- Medical evaluation
- Fee for processing
- Visa processing time Visa interview
CHECK YOUR ELIGIBITY FOR THE UNITED STATES
FAQS
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How long will your US visa be valid?
This is determined on the type of visa you have filed for. Visas such as employment-based immigration visas, student and work visas will have a much longer validity period than tourist/visitor visas.
What questions will you be asked during your visa interview?
You will be asked to explain your marital status, if you want to travel with another person, the specifics of your bank statement, any scholarships you may have received, and the general purpose of your trip.
How much money do you have to produce as evidence of funds?
If your I-20 form indicates $ 40,000, your bank statement should show roughly $ 80,000. The type of evidence of finances required varies on the visa you are seeking for.
Why are visas denied?
This occurs for a variety of reasons. If you are applying for a non-immigrant visa, you must demonstrate that you intend to return to your home country and that you have a particular reason for visiting the United States.
If you fail to persuade the visa officer of this, your visa may be denied.
Can I receive a visa if I don’t show up for my interview?
Anyone between the ages of 14 and 79 can apply for a visa waiver.
What are some ideas to improve your application?
You may display the following:
- Personal assets in your home country
- Employment
- Family ties
Which visa is the simplest to obtain?
In comparison to other visas, the visiting visa is quite simple to get.
