What is a US visa?

 Understand What is a US visa?

A citizen of a foreign country seeking to enter the United States must generally first obtain a U.S. visa, which is placed in the traveler's passport, a travel document issued by the traveler's country of citizenship.

Some international travellers may be eligible to travel to the US without a visa if they meet the requirements for visa-free travel. The Visa section of this website is dedicated to US visas for foreign citizens wishing to travel to the United States.

(Note: U.S. citizens do not need a U.S. visa to travel, but when planning a trip abroad, they may need a visa issued by the embassy of the country they wish to visit. In this situation, when planning a trip abroad, find out about the visa requirements in the country, see Country Specific Travel Information in the Passport section of this website).

Understand How do I use a visa to enter the United States?

Having a U.S. visa allows you to go to a port of entry, airport, or land border crossing, and request clearance from the Department of Homeland Security (DHS), Customs and Border Protection (CBP) to enter the United States. Although having a visa does not guarantee entry into the United States, it indicates that a consular officer at a U.S. embassy or consulate abroad has determined that you are eligible to apply for entry for that specific purpose. DHS/CBP inspectors, the nation's border guards, are responsible for admitting travellers to the United States for a specified status and period of time. The DHS is also responsible for immigration matters while you are in the United States.

Understand What types of visas are there?

The type of visa you need to obtain is defined by US immigration law and relates to the purpose of your trip. There are two main categories of US visas:

Non-immigrant visas - For travel to the US on a temporary basis. 

Immigrant Visas - For travel to live permanently in the United States. E