Country Visa

What is a Visa?

A Visa Is a Permit to Apply to Enter the U.S.

If you are a citizen of a foreign country who wishes to enter the United States, you are generally required to obtain a visa, which will allow you to present yourself to an immigration official at the U.S. border for entry into the U.S. A visa is normally obtained at a U.S. Consulate outside the United States. It classifies the visit as business, tourism, etc. and is usually valid for multiple visits to the United States during a specified period of time.

A visa does not guarantee entry into the United States. A visa is issued by a Department of State Consular Office abroad, but a separate U.S. agency, the U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS), has authority to deny admission at the port of entry. Also, the period for which you are authorized to remain in the U.S. is determined by the USCIS, not the Department of State Consular Office. At the port of entry, an USCIS official must authorize your admission to the U.S.


There are two major types of visas:

An immigrant visa is given to someone who intends to live and work permanently in the United States. In most cases, your relative or employer sends an application to the USCIS for you (the beneficiary) to become an immigrant. (Certain applicants such as investors, workers with extraordinary ability, and certain special immigrants can petition on their own behalf.)

A nonimmigrant visa is given to someone who lives in another country and wishes to come temporarily to the United States for a specific purpose. Nonimmigrant visas are given to people such as tourists, business people, students, temporary workers, and diplomats.