A US visa will grant a foreign national the ability to travel to a US port of entry and if you seek to travel to America, it is mandatory to know how to apply for a US visa. There are two categories of US visas and immigrant visas are for the foreign nationals who look forward to permanently live in America and non-immigrant visas are for temporary visitors. Hence, you need to know what type of visa is required. Prior to applying for a US visa, you need to make sure that your passport is valid and that there are empty pages within your passport. Following are few common types of non-immigrant visas.
B-1 visas – For citizens of foreign countries who seek to travel to the United States for business.
B-2 visas – For people who seek to travel to America for pleasure, medical treatment, etc
F-1 visas – For foreign students who wish to study in America.
O visas – For foreign nationals of extraordinary ability in sciences, education, arts or athletics.
U visas – For victims of criminal activities such as domestic violence, human trafficking, etc
The process of applying for a non-immigrant visa is fairly simple and to apply for a non-immigrant visa, you will have to file DS-160:Online Non-immigrant Visa Application and this form must be filed online. Information that you provide, will be used by the Consular officers to process your visa application. However, a visa will be issued to you only after you appear for the visa interview. K visa applicants must not file Form DS:160 and they need to file Form DS-156, Non-immigrant Visa Application, to obtain visas.
Soon after you file Form DS:160, you will be directed to a confirmation page and you will have to print that page and keep it with you. You must also submit a digital photograph of yourself while filing your application. After successfully filing your application, you must contact the US Embassy or Consulate in your home country and schedule an interview. If an interview is required, you will be issued a visa only after you appear for the in person interview. To establish your eligibility, you may be required to submit few documents during your interview and you may be required to submit your travel plans, medical records, evidence of threats to personal safety in your home country, etc. You must pay the visa application fee, online and remember that, you will have to pay the fee again, if you do not appear for the visa interview within one year from the date of paying the application fee. If the Consular officer finds that you are eligible for a US visa, you will be issued a visa after the interview and your passport along with the visa will be send to you by courier or you can collect it from the office.