Nonimmigrant visas allow a non-citizen to travel to the United States for a specific purpose, usually for a limited time. An individual who wishes to travel to the United States and requires a nonimmigrant visa must appear at a U.S. consular office abroad and formally request the issuance of a visa. Visa issuance is discretionary. This means that they may reject the visa application for any reason or no reason.
Nonimmigrant Visas
Nonimmigrant Visas
Visa Waivers
Citizens of certain countries are eligible for a visa waiver if they are only coming to the United States as a visitor for 90 days or less and meet certain other requirements. Also, Canadian citizens do not require visas to enter the United States. They must, however, show proof of eligibility for the nonimmigrant category in which they claim eligibility.
Visas That Require Petitions
Certain nonimmigrant visas require petition approval through the USCIS before a visa may be issued. An applicant for a visa in any of these categories must have a qualified petitioner successfully file a petition with the USCIS before any further action may be taken. Unless and until the petition is approved, the individual may not apply for any of these specified visas.
There are certain rules and procedures that are common to all types of nonimmigrant visa applications, irrespective of the geographic location of the office where the application will be made.
Automatic Visa Revalidation
For some travel, a new visa may not be necessary. If an individual is planning to go to Canada, Mexico, or certain adjacent islands only, for 30 days or less, then they may be able to travel there and return using their valid nonimmigrant status. This process is known as “automatic visa revalidation.” To be sure, there are significant limits imposed on the use of this process, but for those who qualify, it can mean the difference between an easy, casual trip or a complicated visit that includes several days dealing with a U.S. visa office abroad