Non Immigrant Visas- What's The Law Say
by
Robert Earl Slatus on Feb. 13, 2017
Summary: Entering the United States requires permission from the government authority. This permission is known as a Visa. The visa allows people to enter into a foreign country for a specific purpose and a specific time.
Entering the United States requires permission from the government authority. This permission is known as a Visa. The visa allows people to enter into a foreign country for a specific purpose and a specific time. Generally, these must be approved in advance, but different rules apply to different countries. As can be seen in the name, these visas are not for immigration or paths to citizenship and are for a temporary time period.
Tourist
A tourist visa is the most common and most used form of entry. Millions of dollars are spent in the tourist industry to attract these visitors, because it generates a lot of money. The tourist visa allows the visitors to come legally. A tourist visa is called a B-2 Visa, and can allow visitors to stay up to a 90 day period. In order to apply for a tourist visa, the individual must apply in advance with their personal information, travel itinerary and a verification of the flight. Under this visa type the visa holder is not allowed to work or to study. Also in this category falls two other types of travelers. First is the medical tourist, to receive treatment in the US, and second is the business traveler, who is attending a conference, or settling a business contract.
Student
Students studying in the US are also required to have a special visa, and it a very popular visa type. F-1 Visas are the most common and apply to most international students. Under this status, the student is allowed to study in an US institution and if it is a university then they may only work on the university campus. They also must prove financial support through their studies, since they are unable to work outside jobs legally.
A second type of student visa is J-1 and this is for a more targeted group of students that will attend a specific program or course. For this visa even work on the campus is not allowed, so they must show an even greater level of financial support.
Work
Working visas are a third popular choice for nonimmigrant visas. H1 visas are for foreign college graduates who are skilled workers. They have permission to enter for a 3 year period for a specific industry or company that requires their skills. H2 are visas are for unskilled laborers and for positions that tend to be seasonal and hard to fill. This can be agriculture workers or works in resorts or hotels.
Obtaining a visa can be tiring, bureaucratic and sometimes expensive. A good immigration law organization will be your best bet at obtaining what you want. There are many more specialized visas than the ones listed above and knowing which one is best for your situation requires a well thought out plan and sometimes assistance from a professional.
Slatus & Slatus Immigration Law Firm of NYC 225 West 34th Street New York, NY 10122 (212) 465-0537
