Visit the United States Legally: Ways to Plan Ahead
When it comes to any trip, planning ahead is a must. You never know what unexpected events may happen to delay your visit, so it’s important to have a good idea what kinds of things you must do before your trip is finalized. Today we are going to give you a few tips on how to make your travel to the United States as simple as possible.
Are You Coming From a Visa Waiver Program Country?
If you are coming from a country that is part of the Visa Waiver Program, then you will not need to apply for a visa. You qualify if you are coming for pleasure or are visiting for business purposes and are not going to stay more than 90 days. The only thing you will need if you do qualify to skip the visa application process is a valid passport.
How to Get a Visa for Temporary Stay
There are many different ways to get a visa and the reason for your travel changes how you go about getting a visa as well as which forms you need to fill out in order to qualify. Here are a few of the most common visas people apply for :
1) Business Related Visas
If you are coming to the United States on a business related trip then you would need to apply for a B-1 visa. This covers trips such as those where you are going to have a business meeting with your clients, are traveling to educate either those who are part of your company or those who may be interested in joining your company. In this case, there is nothing you must do prior to applying for a Visa.
2) Medical or Tourism Related Visas
Whether you are coming to the United States as a tourist just looking to get a feel for a new place and enjoy what another country has to offer or you or a family member requires medical attention, you would need to apply for a B-2 Visa.
3) Student Visas
Are you planning to go to the United States as a way to further your education? In this case, you would need to apply for a Student Visa. Student Visas are required if you are looking to take a course that is 18 weeks or longer and are going for the purpose to obtain credits for your time.
A Few Requirements You Should Know About
When coming to the United States as a visitor, you must have your trip planned and know exactly how long you will be staying. You will also be asked to prove that you have the money to accommodate the duration of your trip and have reason to return back to the country you came from. This includes but is not limited to bank account information, proof of employment abroad, residency or family information.
The application process begins at the U.S. Embassy. Once you have completed your application, an interview with an Embassy Representative will soon follow. In order to figure out how much the application process is going to cost you, simply go to the Fees for Visa Services page. Here you will find more information such as restrictions and reasons your fee may not be refunded. Even if you know someone who has completed the process recently, it is always a good idea to check out this page to verify how much your application is going to cost you because it can change without notice.
Be Prepared For Wait Times
Depending on your reason for coming to the United States, there is going to be a wait time before you have a chance to be interviewed to see if you quality to get your visa. Check out the Visa Wait Times page to get a better idea as to how long the whole process will take. This page is updated frequently to better help you plan your trip accordingly. Be sure to give yourself plenty of time to get through the Visa Application Process and still make your trip.
Have any Questions or Concerns?
If you aren’t sure which type of visa you qualify for or have any questions regarding your specific case, go to the Travel.State.Gov Website and you will find everything you need to know. There are so many rules and regulations and different requirements depending on your specific situation so the best thing you can do is check out their website or contact them in order to figure out exactly what you need to do and how long the process is going to take in your unique case. Anything and everything you need to know about getting your visa and making your trip on time is going to be readily available to you there.
