Visa Applications

There are various types of visas. The non-immigrant visa is temporary and does not allow this type of visa holder to live in the United States permanently. It is utilized for specific purposes, such as medical reasons, work, education, or business purposes for a specific amount of time with a clear departure date. For example, the B-2 (Tourist Visa) is for short tourism visits or medical treatment; F-1 (Student Visa) educational studies; H-1B (Work Visa) for individuals employed in specialized fields; B-1 (Business Visa) for business-related activities such as meetings, or conferences; and E-2 (Investor Visa) for foreign nationals who come to the United States for the purpose of investing funds in a new or existing business. The immigrant visa is more challenging to obtain and this type of visa allows the holder to live in the United States more permanently as it is part of the process for getting a green card. In order to obtain the immigrant visa, the holder must be sponsored by either a family member who has U.S. citizenship or is a green card holder; an employer, or is selected in the annual diversity visa lottery program.

The Green Card, which is officially known as a Lawful Permanent Resident Card (I-551), grants the holder the right to live and work in the United States indefinitely. It must be renewed every 10 years. Green Card holders can apply for U.S. Citizenship after meeting residency requirements. They have rights to government benefits and protection under U.S. law. The visa application can be a lengthy process.