Applying For A U.S. Immigration Visa
Choosing to immigrate to the United States to live permanently is an important life decision. Immigration to the U.S. also can be intimidating and confusing, with many steps and factors to consider, such as:
visa application, sponsor requirements, visa requirements and other legal considerations.
While there are many universal regulations relating to immigration law and visa requirements, circumstances and regulations vary from person to person and from country to country. It is important to familiarize yourself with your local U.S. embassy or consulate and their requirements for immigration visa applications.
Since immigration law is complicated, it is important to speak with an
immigration attorney who specializes in USA immigration and naturalization laws before applying for an immigration visa.
Whether you are a student, professional, or a potential immigrant, Whocanisue.com can help you find an experienced
immigration attorney to help you in the process of obtaining the correct travel, study, immigration or work visa.
Immigration Visas and National Security
The United States is a nation founded by the hard work of immigrants. The national character is greatly enhanced by the intellectual, cultural and tangible contributions of its foreign-born, permanent citizens.
While the United States welcomes legal immigrants, the U.S. Department of State says: “In addition to open doors, we also believe in secure borders to keep us all safe.” As such, there are strict requirements about who can acquire an immigrant visa and under what circumstances a visa can be obtained.
Immigration Visa Eligibility
If you intend to immigrate to the United States, the U.S. government will expect to see evidence that you have an explicit reason to move here. They will also want to know you have a means of support once you arrive in the country.
In general, this means that any foreign citizen seeking an immigrant visa must have a sponsor. You cannot apply for an immigration visa without a successful petition of sponsorship from a U.S. citizen.
Here are the most commonly recognized types of acceptable U.S. sponsors:
Immigrant Categories
The nature of your relationship to your sponsor will help to determine the course of your immigration visa application. There also may be special considerations for your visa requirements that are dependant upon the country from which you will be leaving.
Determine which immigrant category under which you qualify and familiarize yourself with that set of visa requirements and processes, by doing so it will help you further educate yourself on the US visa application process.
Here are some of the common immigrant categories:
- Joining an immediate member of the family
- Marriage of a foreign national to a United States citizen
- Adoption of a foreign national by a U.S. citizen
- Employer-sponsored immigration visa, of which there is a fixed annual number
Special employer immigration visa requirements exist for Iraqi and Afghan citizens who are interpreters or have worked for the U.S. government, as well as for some religious workers.