Visas
are generally issued
for the purpose of
tourism, visiting
friends or relatives,
health reasons, to participate in
conferences, musical
or sporting events
and other purposes
that is not employment related.
The visas are usually
granted for six months
even if the period
of stay is less than six months. However
under new regulations
the period will become
30 days unless the visitor can show
a reason for a longer
stay. The applicant
must show a foreign residence
with no intent of
abandoning it, a
foreign job, significant
ties abroad, and sufficient means
of support. Nationals
of countries that
participate in the
Visa Waiver Pilot Program may be eligible
to
come to the U.S.
without a Visa but
for a period
not to exceed 90
days.
APPLYING FOR A VISITOR VISA
Applicants
for
visitor visas should generally
apply at the American Embassy or
Consulate
with jurisdiction over
their
place of permanent residence. Although
visa applicants may apply
at
any U.S. consular office abroad,
it
may be more difficult to qualify
for
the visa outside the country of
permanent residence.
Required
Documentation
Each applicant
for a visitor
visa must
pay a nonrefundable
application
fee and submit:
- An
application
Form DS-156, completed
and signed. Blank forms
are available without charge
at
all U.S. consular
offices;
- A passport
valid
for travel to
the
United States and
with
a validity date at least six months
beyond
the applicant's
intended
period of
stay
in the United States. If more than
one
person is included
in
the passport, each person desiring
a
visa must
make
an application;
-
Two
photographs
1
and½ inches square (37x37
mm) for each applicant, showing
full face, without
head covering, against a light
background.
Applicants
must
demonstrate
that they are
properly
classifiable as visitors under
U.S. law.
Evidence which
shows the
purpose of the trip, intent to
depart
the United
States, and
arrangements
made to cover the costs of the trip
may
be
provided.
It is impossible
to
specify the
exact form the evidence should
take since
applicants' circumstances
vary greatly.
Persons
traveling
to the U.S.
on business
can present
a letter
from the
U.S. business
firm indicating the purpose
of
the trip,
the bearer's
intended
length of
stay and
the firm's
intent to
defray
travel costs.
Persons
traveling
to the U.S.
for pleasure
may use letters
from relatives
or friends
in
the U.S.
whom the
applicant
plans to
visit or
confirmation
of participation
in a planned
tour. Persons
traveling
to the U.S.
for medical
treatment
should have
a statement from a doctor
or institution
concerning
proposed
medical
treatment.
Those
applicants
who do not have
sufficient
funds to support
themselves
while in the
U.S. must
present convincing
evidence
that an
interested
person will provide
support.
Visitors
are not permitted
to accept
employment
during their
stay in the U.S.
Depending
on individual
circumstances,
applicants
may provide
other evidence
substantiating the trip's
purpose and specifying the nature
of binding obligations,
such as family ties
or employment, which would compel
their return abroad.
U.S. PORT OF ENTRY
Applicants
should
be aware that a visa does not guarantee
entry into the United
States.
The U.S. Bureau of Citizenship
and Immigration Services (USCIS)
has
authority to deny admission.
Also,
the period for which the bearer
of a visitor visa is authorized
to
remain in the United States
is
determined by the USCIS, not the
consular officer. At the port
of
entry, an USCIS official must authorize
the traveler's admission
to
the U.S. At that time the USCIS
Form I-94, Record of Arrival-Departure,
which
notes the length of stay
permitted,
is validated. Those visitors who
wish to stay beyond
the
time indicated on their Form I-94
must contact the USCIS to request
an
application to extend status.
The
decision to grant or deny a request
for extension of stay is
made
solely by the USCIS.
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