Living & Working in the Carolinas

All about visas

This page details the different kinds of visas you need to travel to and remain in the United States in a variety of circumstances.

Working

American immigration law assumes that all people who come to the United States will stay. That is, they are intending immigrants. If you want to qualify for a business visa, you must show the following:

• The purpose of your trip is for business

• You plan to stay for a specific, limited period of time

• You have social and economic ties outside the United States and you will return abroad at the end of your visit.

This is what you must do when you apply for a business visa:

• Complete and sign the required application forms
• Show your business-related work in the United States
• Bring evidence that your visit is temporary and that you will leave the United States after your legally authorized stay; and
• Undergo security clearance procedures

All visa applicants must have these things:

• Application Form DS-156

• Current, valid passport or travel document

• Photograph. Requirements are strict for photograph size, type and quality. Please check with your nearest consulate for specifications before you get your picture taken.

• Application fees. All applicants must pay the application fee. Some applicants, according to nationality and type of visa, must also pay an issuance fee.

• Evidence of funds to cover expenses in the United States

• Evidence of compelling social and economic ties abroad

• For men between 16 and 45 years of age: supplemental visa application Form DS-157

Contact your nearest U.S. embassy or consulate for specific information on:

• How to pay fees

• How to get an appointment for an interview

• How to get application forms

The latest information on visa requirements

u Swedish Consulate in Raleigh

u Swedish Embassy in Washington

u U.S. Embassy in Stockholm

u Consular Section of the U.S. Embassy, Stockholm

Consular officers do security checks for all visa applicants. They do special security clearances for some applicants as required by law. These clearances may take several weeks or longer. Please plan for the possibility of a delay in the issuance of a visa. Make your visa application well in advance of your intended travel.
Source: UnitedStatesVisas.gov. Doing Business and Working Temporarily in the United States.

Visiting

American immigration law assumes that all people who come to the United States will stay. That is, they are intending immigrants. If you want to qualify for a visitor visa, you must show the following:

• The purpose of your trip is for pleasure;

• You plan to stay for a specific, limited period of time; and

• You have strong social and economic connections outside the United States and you will return abroad at the end of your visit.

Under U.S. law, applicants for visitor visas must qualify on their own for visas to visit the United States. This is what applicants must do when they apply for visitor visas:

• Complete and sign the required application forms;

• Bring evidence that their visit is temporary and that they will leave the United States after their legally authorized stay; and

• Undergo security clearance procedures

All visa applicants, even babies in their parents' passports, must have these things:

• Application Form DS-156, completed and signed

• Current, valid passport or travel document

• Photograph. Requirements are strict for photograph size, type and quality. Please check with your nearest consulate for specifications before you get your picture taken.

• Application fees. All applicants must pay the application fee. Some applicants, according to nationality and type of visa, must also pay an issuance fee.

• Evidence of funds to cover your expenses in the United States

• Evidence of compelling social and economic ties abroad

For men between 16 and 45 years of age:

• Supplemental visa application Form DS-157

Contact your nearest U.S. embassy or consulate for specific information on:

• How to pay fees

• How to get an appointment for an interview

• How to get application forms

• The latest information on visa requirements

Consular officers do security checks for all visa applicants. They will make special security clearances for some applicants as required by law. These clearances may take several weeks or longer. Please plan for the possibility of a delay in the issuance of a visa. Make your visa application well in advance of your intended travel.

Studying

There are three types of student visas:

• Academic Studies (F visa) For people who want to study or conduct research at an accredited U.S. college or university.

• Academic Studies as an Exchange Visitor (J & Q Visas) For people who will be participating in an exchange visitor program in the U.S. The "J" visa is for educational and cultural exchange programs; the "Q" visa is for other international cultural exchange programs.

• Non-Academic or Vocational Studies (M Visa) For people who want to study or train at a non-academic institution in the U.S.
  

All student visa applicants must have these things:

• A certificate of eligibility which you must get from your sponsoring educational institution in the U.S.

• If you are a regular student (an F visa) you'll get Form I-20. If you are part of an approved exchange program (a J visa) you'll get Form DS-1920

• Application Form DS-156

• Form DS-158

• Current, valid passport or travel document

• Photograph. Requirements are strict for photograph size, type and quality. Please check with your nearest consulate for specifications before you get your picture taken.

• Application fees. All applicants must pay the application fee. Some applicants, according to nationality and type of visa, must also pay an issuance fee

• Evidence of funds to cover expenses in the United States

• Evidence of compelling social and economic ties abroad

For men between 16 and 45 years of age,

• Supplemental visa application Form DS-157

See EducationUSA for additional information. You may also want to contact your nearest U.S. embassy or consulate for specific information on:

• How to pay fees

• How to get an appointment for an interview

• How to get application forms

• The latest information on visa requirements

Coming Permanently 

There are three categories of immigrant visas:

• Family immigrant visas;
• Employment-based immigrant visas; and
• Diversity program immigrant visas

Learn more at the Department of State Bureau of Consular Affairs' Web site

Source: UnitedStatesVisas.gov - Coming Permanently to the U.S.