General Questions
You may pay fees with bank drafts, cashier's checks, certified checks, personal checks, and money orders that are drawn on U.S. financial institutions and payable in U.S. funds.
Get a digital photograph of each applicant.
Complete US visa application form DS160.
Pay the US visa application fee.
Schedule a US visa interview.
US Visa Fingerprinting at Visa Application Center (VAC).
Go for visa interview at designated US consulate.
The Visa Bulletin, issued every month by the U.S. Department of State, shows which green card applications can move forward, based on when the I-130 petition that starts the green card process was originally filed. The visa bulletin exists because Congress caps the number of green cards that can be issued each year in certain categories, which has created several backlogs.
For students willing to study in the US, parents and relatives can very well be accommodated as sponsors. Applicants can also look for education loans to sponsor their study in the US. In some cases employers can also sponsor F-1 visa provided they are ready to employ applicants post their study abroad.
USCIS issues refugee travel documents to people with refugee or asylum status and to lawful permanent residents who obtained their Green Cards based on their refugee or asylee status.
You must have a refugee travel document to return to the United States if you:
Have refugee or asylee status but are not a lawful permanent resident (Green Card holder); or
Are a derivative asylee or refugee.
If you do not obtain a refugee travel document before you leave the U.S., you may be unable to re-enter the United States or you may be placed in removal proceedings before an immigration judge.
For information on how to apply for a refugee travel document, go to our Form I-131, for more information USCIS Application for Travel Document page.
PR & Migration Visa
A PR visa, or Permanent Resident Visa, allows you to travel to a nation, stay for a period of time, and then seek for citizenship. In some countries, obtaining a PR visa eventually leads to citizenship.
It is the fastest immigration program for a PR Visa. An ideal application takes 6 to 8 months to process. This time includes the time taken to submit your biometrics.
Family member of a lawful permanent resident, meaning you are the: Spouse of a lawful permanent resident. Unmarried child under the age of 21 of a lawful permanent resident. Unmarried son or daughter of a lawful permanent resident 21 years old or older.
A permanent resident (called lawful permanent resident or LPR) or conditional resident (CR) who has remained outside the United States for longer than one year, or beyond the validity period of a Re-entry Permit, will require a new immigrant visa to enter the United States and resume permanent residence.
Lawful permanent residents can lose their status if they commit a crime or immigration fraud, or even fail to advise USCIS of their changes of address. By Ilona Bray, J.D. If you are a U.S. lawful permanent resident, be aware that your ability to stay in the United States might not be so permanent after all.
Tourist & Visitor Visa
Visitor Visa (also known as Tourist Visa or B2 Visa) is a non-immigrant visa issued to people entering U.S. temporarily for pleasure, tourism, or medical treatment.
A foreign national traveling to the United States for tourism needs a visitor visa (B-2) unless qualifying for entry under the Visa Waiver Program. Tourism is a short visit for vacation, for visiting family and friends, or for medical treatment.
The B1/B2 Visa is valid for 10 years, but for each entry, you are allowed to stay in the United States of American only for 180 days or 6 months (at most).
The application fee for the most common nonimmigrant visa types is US$160. This includes tourist, business, student, and exchange visas. Most petition-based visas, such as work and religious visas, are US$190. K visas cost US$265 and the fee amount for E visas is US$205.
Working Visa
An H-1B visa is required if you are coming to the United States to perform services in a pre-arranged professional job. To qualify, you must hold a bachelor's or higher degree (or an equivalent degree) in the specific specialty for which you seek employment.
Under U.S. law, a foreign worker with an H-1B visa can stay in the U.S. for a maximum of six years (plus extensions in certain circumstances, discussed below). The H-1B visa and status is initially valid for three years and can then be extended for another three years.
A short answer is No. Unfortunately, you can't apply for a work visa without a job offer. Your prospective employer must be willing to sponsor you for the visa and petition on your behalf.
In order to be eligible for the H1B visa, you will need: A job offer from a U.S. employer for a role that requires specialty knowledge. Proof of a bachelor's degree or equivalent in that field. Your employer must show that there is a lack of qualified U.S. applicants for the role.
For the $60,000 wage to be determined, the nonimmigrant has to receive an annual salary or hourly wages that in total make at least $60,000, whether the worker has a full-time or part-time job. At the same time, the salary has to be paid “cash in hand” and “free and clear”, as well as paid when due.
An individual on a visitor visa (B1/B2) is not permitted to accept employment or work in the United States. There is no guarantee you will be issued a visa. Do not make final travel plans or buy tickets until you have a visa. A valid U.S. visa in an expired passport is still valid.
Consultations for prospective immigrants
To determine if you qualify for a free consultation, please provide detailed information regarding your immigration matter and include your employer information (if applicable), a description of your case, and any other important facts.
Get Consultation