At their broadest, no matter the type, US visa applications are applications that give you the authority to visit the US. There are many types of United States Visas. Some specifically allow your partner to enter the US to marry you, while others allow you to visit the US as a performer, athlete, entrepreneur, investor, or for some other reason. US visas are entered into your passport at a point of entry (such as an airport) or at any embassy or consulate.
In order to apply for US visas, you must first determine which visas you qualify for. The USCIS website — USCIS.gov – contains detailed information about each type of US visa, including eligibly requirements and application instructions. This is a good place to start to determine whether you can enter the US with a visa.
It is important to apply for a visa as soon as you realize you will be traveling to the US. It can take some weeks to apply for a visa (depending on the type of US visa you are applying for) and you may need to submit documentation as well as application forms, which can take some time to gather. As well, any mistakes or errors on your application can delay your application as well. If there are many people applying for visas, you may face increased delays and processing times. As well, some United States visas have certain limits on them, which means that only a specific amount of these visas are available. If you are waiting for such a visa, you may need to wait until a visa becomes available.
Your visa will contain specific information, such as why you are being admitted to the US and how long your visa is valid for. It is important to always obey your visa. That is, it is important to never exceed your visa limits or your length of stay without getting proper authorization. If you have a visitor’s visa, for example, you may not work in the US. You must leave or renew your visa before your visa expires. Failure to do this can result in deportation and can affect future applications for visas or for green cards.
If you hope to immigrate to the US, you will generally receive a visa first, then apply for a green card to establish permanent residency. Your visa will allow you to establish residency in the US, which will help you qualify for a green card, and, eventually, US citizenship, if you wish.
