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Foreign national who do not hold citizenship of the United States are generally required to obtain an appropriate visa before they are eligible to enter and stay in the United States. Non-Immigrant Visa are granted to individuals wishing to enter the United States for temporary stay; these individuals will leave the United States once their permitted stay is over. Immigrant Visa are granted to individuals who wish to enter and stay in the United States and intent to stay as permanent residents. Different visa are granted to different categories of individuals, depending on the purpose of the visit.
|
Visa Category
|
Visa Type |
|
Intent for business (consulting, attending conferences, settling estates, and/or negotiating a contract)
|
B-1 |
|
Intent for tourism (tourism, vacations, visiting friends and/or relatives, receiving medical treatments, participating in social events organised by a relative organisation, participating in sporting or music events such where the actors and performers are not being paid and the show is not being performed in front of a paying audience, enrolling in a temporary educational facility such where the enrolment does not provide any credit towards a degree) |
B-2 |
Certain activities cannot be done with a visitor visa, including;
Studying in any educational institution which grants credits towards a degree
Working for a U.S employer
Performing before an audience that pay for the act, or for any professional performance for which the actors and performers will be paid
Arriving in the United States as a crew member of a ship or an aircraft
Working in foreign press, radio, films, journalism, and other types of information media
Intending to stay as a permanent resident in the United Sates
There are various ways you can use to apply for a Visitor Visa. However, the steps to be carried out and the order in which they should be carried out can vary depending on the consulate or embassy you will apply at. Instead, you should first consult the website of the United States consulate or Embassy, in which you will submit your application, at for the steps and procedures outlined in their respective order before you apply
You must complete an online non-immigration visa application forms, namely Form DS-160; after completing the online application you should print the application form confirmation which you should bring along with you during the interview.
Along with completing the appropriate form, you will also be required to upload and submit a valid and recent photo of yourself. The requirements which the photo must meet are included below:
The photo must be in colour
The photo must be sized such that your head in the photo is between 22mm to 35mm
It must be no older than 6 months; this is to have a record of your current appearance
The background of the photo must be plain and white
Both eye should be opening the photo along with a neutral expressions with no emotions
Do not wear uniforms in your photo, except for the purpose of religious clothing which you wear daily
Do not wear a hat or head scarf, unless where you wear it for religious purposes. Make sure the hat or head scarf does not hide your hairline nor does it cast any shadows on your face.
Do not wear headphones, whether wired or wireless. Your ears must be completely visible.
Dark glasses or glasses with tint are not acceptable. Everyday prescription glasses can be worn but make sure it does not cause a glare.
The following table enlists applicants, in regards with their age, whether or not they are required to present themselves before an immigration officer for an interview evaluation
| Age Range | Requirements for interview |
| 13 or younger | Generally not required |
| Between ages 14 and 79 | Required (with some exceptions for those renewing their existing visa) |
| 80 or above | Generally not required |
You must schedule an appointment for an interview at the US embassy or consulate in the country where you reside. You are permitted to attend an interview in any US embassy or consulate; however, it is highly recommended you do so only in the country of your permanent residence. Wait time for an interview varies depending on the location of office, the season, the type of visa, and the number of applicants. Typical wait times for Canadian cities are:
| City | Wait time in days |
| Ottawa | 4 calendar days |
| Toronto | 15 calendar days |
| Vancouver | 7 calendar days |
| Montreal | 11 calendar days |
The fee for your interview and application is $160 in American dollars
You must have a valid passport to use for travel to the United States; the passport must be valid for six months beyond your authorized period of stay. Each person in your travel group that needs a visa for entry must submit a separate application
You should bring the Non-immigration Visa Application confirmation page
The receipt of the payment of application
A valid photo that meets the digital photo requirement
The officer conducting your interview may request for additional documents if he/she feels the provided document are insufficient for your application and needs further proof. Such evidence and documentation that could be requested of you include:
Providing adequate information of the purpose of your visit
Providing beyond any reasonable doubt that you will leave the United States once your authorized period of stay is over
You must be able prove that you have more than sufficient funds to finance your entire trip and your stay in the US
Obtaining the visa does not guarantee you access into the United Sates. The US Department of Homeland Security and Border Control can deny you entry into the United States.
Obtaining and providing the correct information for a successful visitor visa application can be challenging task. Contact us at Akrami and Associate Immigration Law to determine the best method of conducting your application.
With Akrami and Associates there is always a way!!
