The United States or American visa is an administrative authorization issued by US consular offices. This seal aims to facilitate and regulate the entry of non-American citizens into the country. It is a mandatory procedure that all those people who, for one reason or another, have decided to travel to the E.E. U.U must manage.
Therefore, if you want to process an American visa for the first time, you must know, in advance, what is the regulatory documentation for it. Likewise, you must follow the legal process mindfully so that your application is a complete success. If you want to know more about it, you have come to the right place. Below, you will find a comprehensive guide to help you in the process.
United States visa examples
The Immigration and Nationality Law annually grants different categories of United States visas exclusively for immigrants. Non-US citizens can apply to any of them, depending on the purpose of their trip. Here are the most common.
- Visa A: It is exclusive for representatives of foreign governments, diplomats, officers, or active members of NATO.
- Visa B1: for travelers who enter the country for business in any professional sector. Professional or amateur athletes with a contract can also request it.
- Visa B2: It is ideal for tourists and leisure travelers. It applies to vacationers whose destination is to go to any American city or those travelers who need medical treatment. It applies to those who wish to visit a relative or friend in the US.
- Visa E1: Suitable for merchants.
- Visa E2: It is the right one for investors.
- Visa F: Intended for students or people with university paperwork and purposes.
- Visa F1: Academic or English language students.
- Visa F2: Dependent relatives of students.
- Visa J: Exchange visitors.
- Visa P: It is exclusive for high-performance athletes and artists in the entertainment industry.
In addition, there are other exclusive visa services for qualified personnel in specific areas, such as doctors or nurses. Likewise, visas are granted to professionals benefiting from the Free Trade Agreement from different countries.
The safe and correct way to apply for a US visa
Obtaining a US visa can be somewhat complicated if you do not have accurate information. Therefore, if you are a temporary visitor to this country and are about to travel soon, you must complete a process (simple but decisive) that consists of two phases.
The first is a telematic procedure, which happens online. Here you need to fill out a questionnaire (called DS-160) to enter the Electronic System for Travel Authorization. This requirement can be established in just 90 minutes approximately, as long as you have the information ready.
Next, you must complete the second part of this legal action. In this step, you must go personally to the United States embassy or consulate in your country of origin. Keep in mind that this part of the process may include a face-to-face interview.
Step by step to apply for a visa
Any immigrant or foreigner who decides to apply for a United States visa must demonstrate their intention to travel, that is, the reason for which they will travel to this country. In the same way, you need to check that you have the appropriate money to cover the travel expenses.
If you do not meet these requirements, you can be financed or supported by a legally constituted American. It is very relevant to verify and prove that you have social and family ties in your native country.
In this way, you guarantee that you have reasons to return to your nation after the travel permit ends. Taking this into account, you must perform the following steps:
- Fill out the legal questionnaire called DS-160. This due diligence is elementary. Here you must enter the personal data of the applicant. They are mandatory and necessary. Name, date of birth, telephone, mail, records, data from previous trips, family information, and more.
- Have the statement of your travel itinerary, purpose, date of travel, and the information of your local contact in the United States always available.
- Complete the application and proof of security.
- Declare information regarding the visa category you will apply.
- Print the sheet of the request made. As long as the regulatory bodies confirm it. Make sure the corresponding barcode appears.
- Pay the fee for registering the request.
- Schedule an appointment at the Applicant Service Center at the American embassy or consulate. In some countries, such as Mexico or other nations in South America, you can schedule a visit to the embassy via the internet or by phone. Make sure the service is available first.
- Go personally to the consular appointment on the scheduled day.
Once you have completed these steps, all that remains is to trust that they approve the requested visa. The waiting time is approximately four weeks, and they will notify you via messaging.
Requirements to process and successfully obtain a United States visa
The regulatory and mandatory documentation that you must have on hand to process the American visa are the following:
- Passport: issued by one of the eligible countries and is also legally valid.
- Previous visa: It applies to cases in which a permit was previously issued for work or tourism. In addition, it is a requirement if you want to renew your expired permission.
- Receipt of payment of the issued request. Or some method of payment: Credit and debit cards are accepted.
- A digital photograph that meets the requirements established by the American embassy. Passport size and on a white background.
- Additional documents: sometimes, travel insurance and bank receipts are requested.
American visa Price
The established price to process a visa for travelers and tourists is about $160, 3,210 Mexican pesos. And the subsidized cost for children under 15 is $15 (300 Mexican pesos). And the best of all is that it lasts 10 years in any of the cases.
Final indications
When making the application for such a critical immigration procedure, you must take into account that the passport should be valid from the moment the legal process begins. Expired passports are not accepted. This document must have at least six months (or more) of validity from the date of entry to the US.
