American Visa Application and Immigration Requirements for 2023

This article contains information on the American Visa Application and Immigration Requirements for 2023. The United States of America is a country consisting of 50 independent states in the northern part of America, sixteen territories, and the District of Columbia (Washington, D.C.). It is the world’s third-most populous country after China and India and the world’s fourth largest country by land area after Canada, and China.

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Yearly, many people travel to the United States for numerous reasons either for tourism, business, study, visit or immigration. Depending on the purpose of the trip to the United States, there are different types of visas that apply to the occasion.

So before applying for the United States visa, it is necessary to know the United States visa requirements and which of the visa category that you are eligible for.

There are various USA Visa and Immigration requirement. They are stated below:

• United States Permanent Visa
• United States Visit Visa
• United States Study Visa
• United States Working Visa
• United States Working Holiday Visa
• United States Business Visa

USA PERMANENT VISA

There are many Categories under the immigrant visa

• Immediate Relative and Family Sponsored
  • Family Immigration
  • Marriage to a Foreign National
    • Spouse or Fiancé (e) of U.S. Citizen
    • Spouse of Lawful Permanent Resident (LPR) in U.S
• Employment-Based
  • Employment Visas
  • Investor Visas
• Special Immigrants
  • Employment: Iraqi or Afghan Translators/Interpreters
  • Employment: Iraqis – Worked for/on behalf of U.S. Government
  • Employment: Afghans – Worked for/on behalf of U.S. Government

Family Visa

American family migration is a scheme to unite immediate and extended family members with their eligible relatives in the US. Family migration allows family members to live and work permanently in the USA with their relatives who are either lawful permanent residents or citizens of the country.

In order to apply for the family immigration following criteria must be met:-

• Sponsor must be a lawful permanent resident or citizen of the USA.
• Sponsor should be at least 21 years of age to file petitions for siblings or parents. However, a U.S. citizen or lawful permanent resident (LPR) must be at least 18 years of age and have a residence (domicile) in the U.S. before he or she can sign an Affidavit of Support, Form I-864 or I-864-EZ.
• Sponsor must have sufficient funds and assets to support family intending to migrate and must maintain principal residence (also called domicile) in the U.S.
• Sponsor must be ready to sign an affidavit of support for the family intending to migrate.
• Sponsor should get approval of immigrant visa petition, I-130 (Petition for Alien Relative) from USCIS.

Family based immigration visas have been classified into two groups under the provisions of United States immigration law:-

A) Immediate Relative Immigrant Visas:-

This includes the immediate relatives of the US citizens or permanent residents .The number of immigrants in these categories is not limited each fiscal year. Immediate relative visa types include:-

IR-1: Spouse of a U.S. Citizen – Learn More
IR-2: Unmarried Child Under 21 Years of Age of a U.S. Citizen
IR-3: Orphan adopted abroad by a U.S. Citizen – Learn More
IR-4: Orphan to be adopted in the U.S. by a U.S. citizen – Learn More
IR-5: Parent of a U.S. Citizen who is at least 21 years old.

B) Family Preference Immigrant Visas:–

This includes the specific, more distant, family relationships of US citizens or permanent residents. The number of immigrants in these categories is not limited each fiscal year. Immediate relative visa types include:-

• Family First Preference (F1):-Unmarried sons and daughters of U.S. citizens, and their minor children, if any. (23,400).
• Family Second Preference (F2): -Spouses, minor children, and unmarried sons and daughters (age 21 and over) of LPRs. At least seventy-seven percent of all visas available for this category will go to spouses and children; the remainder is allocated to unmarried sons and daughters. (114,200)
  Family Third Preference (F3): Married sons and daughters of U.S. citizens, and their spouses and minor children. (23,400).
• Family Fourth Preference (F4):-Brothers and sisters of U.S. citizens, and their spouses and minor children, provided the U.S. citizens are at least 21 years of age. (65,000)

Note: Grandparents, aunts, uncles, in-laws, and cousins cannot sponsor a relative for immigration.

Fees:-

• Filing an Immigrant Petition for Alien Relative, Form I-130 (this fee is charged by USCIS). -420 USD
• Immigrant Visa Application Processing Fees for Immediate relative and family preference applications (processed on the basis of an approved I-130, I-600 or I-800 petition)-$230
• Medical examination and required vaccinations (costs vary)
• Other costs may include: translations; photocopying charges; fees for obtaining the documents you need for the immigrant visa application (such as passport, police certificates, birth certificates, etc.); and expenses for travel to the U.S. embassy or consulate for your visa interview.
• Costs vary from country to country and case to case.

Spouse

If you are an American citizen, you can sponsor your spouse (husband or wife) in two different ways to stay with you in the United States of America. They are:-

1) Immigrant visa for a Spouse of a U.S. Citizen (IR1 or CR1)-Form 130 is required.

You can call your spouse if you are legally married to your foreign spouse or in cases of polygamy, only the first spouse may qualify as a spouse for immigration. Common-law spouses may qualify as spouses for immigration purposes depending on the laws of the country where the common-law marriage occurs.

Eligibility to sponsor your foreign spouse:-

• Sponsor must be a lawful citizen of the USA.
• Sponsor should be at least 21 years of age to file petitions for siblings or parents. However, a U.S. citizen or lawful permanent resident (LPR) must be at least 18 years of age and have a residence (domicile) in the U.S. before he or she can sign an Affidavit of Support, Form I-864 or I-864-EZ.
• Sponsor must have sufficient funds and assets to support Spouse intending to migrate and must maintain principal residence (also called domicile) in the U.S
• Sponsor must be ready to sign an affidavit of support for the family intending to migrate.
• Sponsor should get approval of immigrant visa petition, I-130 (Petition for Alien Relative) from USCIS.

Fees:-

• Filing an Immigrant Petition for Alien Relative, Form I-130 (this fee is charged by USCIS). -420 USD
• Immigrant Visa Application Processing Fees for Immediate relative and family preference applications (processed on the basis of an approved I-130, I-600 or I-800 petition)-$230
• Medical examination and required vaccinations (costs vary)
• Other costs may include: translations; photocopying charges; fees for obtaining the documents you need for the immigrant visa application (such as passport, police certificates, birth certificates, etc.); and expenses for travel to the U.S. embassy or consulate for your visa interview. Costs vary from country to country and case to case.

2) Non-immigrant visa for spouse (K-3) who married a U.S. citizen-It must be filed and the visa must be issued in the country where the marriage took place-Once the visa is issued the spouse can come to USA while the immigrant visa IR1 or CR1 is being processed- Petition for Alien Relative, Form I-130; and Petition for Alien Fiancé (e), Form I-129F is required

Non immigrant visas can further be categorized into two. They are:-

Non-immigrant Visa for a Spouse (K-3)

• K3 visa is a nonimmigrant visa designed for the spouses of a US citizen to shorten the physical separation between the US citizen spouse and the foreign spouse. A foreign spouse can file the visa application in the country where the marriage took place and come to USA to live with their American spouse while waiting for their I-130 (immigrant visa petition) to be approved.
  Fees:-
  • Filing a Petition for Alien Relative, Form I-130- $420
  • Filing an Alien Fiancé (e) Petition, Form I-129F- $340.
  • Medical examination (required for each K visa applicant; costs vary from post to post)
  • Other costs may include translation and photocopying charges, fees for getting the documents required for the visa application (such as passport, police certificates, birth certificates, etc.), and travel expenses to the U.S. Embassy or Consulate for an interview. Costs vary from country to country and case to case.
    Filing Form I-485, Application to Register Permanent Residence or to Adjust Status- $1070,

  Non-immigrant Visa for a Fiancé (e) (K-1)

  • K1 Visa helps foreign fiancé of US citizens to come and marry them in USA within 90 days of their arrival.
    In order to apply for K1 visa the following conditions must be met:-
  • Both the U.S. citizen and the K-1 visa applicant must have been legally free to marry at the time the petition was filed and must have remained so thereafter.
  • The marriage must be legally possible as per the US laws of the state where marriage is going to take place.
  • Foreign fiancé and US sponsor must have met each other within the past 2 years before filing the petition, however there can be exception in certain cases.
    
    Fees:-
    Filing an Alien Fiancé (e) Petition, Form I-129F-$340.
    • Medical examination (required for each K visa applicant; costs vary from post to post)
    • Other costs may include translation and photocopying charges, fees for getting the documents required for the visa application (such as passport, police certificates, birth certificates, etc.), and travel expenses to the U.S. Embassy or Consulate for an interview. Costs vary from country to country and case to case.
    • Filing Form I-485, Application to Register Permanent Residence or to Adjust Status-$1070.

Permanent Workers (EB1-EB5)

Every year, a lack of qualified and skilled applicants reach the US on employment based immigration visas under the provisions of U.S. immigration law. These can be classified into 5 different categories depending upon the skills, areas of specialization and labor market needs.

They are:

Employment First Preference (EB1): Priority Workers

Priority workers do not require Labor certification and are beneficiaries of an approved Immigrant Petition for Foreign Worker, Form I-140, filed with USCIS.

There are three subcategories under this. They are:-

1. Persons with extraordinary ability in the sciences, arts, education, business, or athletics. These applicants must have extensive documents to demonstrate national or international acclaim and recognition in their fields of expertise. They do not require to have a job offer letter before entering the US to work in their area of expertise and therefore can file their own Immigrant Petitions for Alien Worker, Form I-140, with the USCIS.
2. Outstanding professors and researchers who are internationally recognized and have at least 3 years of working experience in teaching.
3. Multinational managers or executives who have been employed for at least one of the three preceding years by the overseas affiliate, parent, subsidiary, or branch of the U.S. employer.

Employment Second Preference (EB2): Professionals Holding Advanced Degrees and Persons of Exceptional Ability

These are second preference applicants who require labor certification to file a petition for immigration. They can be classified into the following categories:-

1.  Professionals holding an advanced degree –Must possess a baccalaureate or higher degree and at least five years progressive experience in the profession.
2. Persons with exceptional ability. Must possess degrees of expertise significantly above that ordinarily encountered in the sciences, arts, or business.

Employment Third Preference (EB3): Skilled Workers, Professionals, and Unskilled Workers (Other Workers)

 These are third preference applicants who require labor certification to file a petition for immigration. They can be classified into the following categories:-

Employment Fourth Preference (EB4): Certain Special Immigrants

These are fourth preference employment-based visas, which do not require labor certification or a job offer to enter the US and are for a special category of immigrants. They are:-

1. Employees of International Broadcasting Bureau of the Broadcasting Board of Governors or similar organizations.
2. Ministers of Religion
3. Current or Former Employees of the U.S. Government Abroad, Panama Canal Company or Canal Zone Government
4. Iraqi/Afghan Translator who have assisted in US army.
5. Physician
6. Member of the Armed Forces
7. Retired NATO-6 employee
8. Spouse or child of deceased NATO-6 employee

Employment Fifth Preference (EB5): Immigrant Investors

Fees:-

1. Filing of Immigrant Petition for Alien Worker, Form I-140($405), or Petition for American, Widow (er), or Special Immigrant,                   Form I-360 (this fee is charged by USCIS)( $220
2. Medical examination and required vaccinations (costs vary)

Other costs may include: translations; photocopying charges; fees for obtaining the documents you need for the immigrant visa application (such as passport, police certificates, birth certificates, etc.); and expenses for travel to the U.S. embassy or consulate for your visa interview. Costs vary from country to country and case to case.

USA Investor Visa

Investor visas are designed to make people settle in the USA by investing a large sum of money without borrowing, the following qualifying capital dollar amounts in a qualifying commercial enterprise:

• $1,000,000 (U.S.); or
• $500,000 (U.S.) in a high-unemployment or rural area, considered a targeted employment area.

The investor must create full-time jobs for at least 10 U.S. citizens, lawful permanent residents, or other immigrants authorized to work in the United States, not including the investor and the investor’s spouse, sons, or daughters.

There are four Immigrant investor visa categories. They are:

• Employment creation outside a targeted area – C5
• Employment creation in a targeted rural/high unemployment area – T5
• Investor Pilot Program not in a targeted area – R5
• Investor Pilot Program in a targeted area – I5

• Filing of Form I-526, Immigrant Petition by Alien Entrepreneur (this fee is charged by USCIS)- $1,500
• Medical examination and required vaccinations (costs vary)
• Other costs may include: translations; photocopying charges; fees for obtaining the documents you need for the immigrant visa application (such as passport, police certificates, birth certificates, etc.); and expenses for travel to the U.S. embassy or consulate for your visa interview. Costs vary from country to country and case to case.

USA VISIT VISA

Why is America a top tourist destination in the world?

• The USA attracts the second-highest number of tourists in the world after France.
• The USA is a complete tourism package in itself including a variety of tourist attractions, i.e.. iconic landmarks, mesmerizing landscape scenery, amazing wildlife, incredible nightlife, and breathtaking adventures, etc.
• All major US cities, i.e. New York, Chicago, Boston, Philadelphia, Washington, D.C., and San Francisco, attract and invite large numbers of tourists every year.
• Times Square in Manhattan, New York City alone attracts millions of visitors every year.
• Tourism is either the first, second or third largest employer in the USA.
• The USA offers something or other to tourists of different interests and hobbies, i.e. amusement parks, festivals, gambling, golf courses, historical buildings, hotels, museums, galleries, outdoor recreation, spas, restaurants, and sports.
• The US national parks are world famous.
• Hollywood in America is world famous as the home of the entertainment industry and many historic studios.

Activities permitted on B1 Visa are:-

• Consult with business associates
• Attend a scientific, educational, professional, or business convention or conference
• Settle an estate
• Negotiate a contract
• Activities permitted on B2 Visa are:-
• Tourism
• Vacation (holiday)
• Visit with friends or relatives
• Medical treatment
• Participation in social events hosted by fraternal, social, or service organizations
• Participation by amateurs in musical, sports, or similar events or contests, if not being paid for participating
• Enrollment in a short, recreational course of study, not for credit toward a degree (for example, a two-day cooking class while on vacation).

Activities not permitted on B1/B2 Visa are:-
• Study
• Employment
• Paid performances or any professional performance before a paying audience
• Arrival as a crew member on a ship or aircraft
• Work as foreign press, radio, film, journalists, and other information media
• Permanent residence in the U.S.

Fee

The visa fee for applying the non-immigrant tourist Visa is 160 USD

Processing Time

Processing time varies from the country of application and the number of applications in queue.

USA STUDY VISA

What are the various categories of US Student Visa?

Students can come to the USA on the following non-immigrant visas:-

• F1 Visa– The visa is for international students who want to study full-time at an accredited high school, college, university, or other academic institution.
• M Visa- Visa is for the international students who want to study full-time at any vocational or other recognized non-academic institution, other than a language training program.
• J1 Visa-This Visa is for the international students with which USA has agreements with who want to study short term courses for 12 months.

USA F1/M1 Visa

F1/M Visa is for the international students who want to study full-time at an accredited high school, college, university, or other academic institution. Students who want to study short term English courses can also apply for F1 visa.

Selection of course and the type of school you want to attend determine whether you need to apply for F1 or M1.
To enter the United States to attend you need the following visa category:

F Visa

•  University or college
•  High School
•  Private elementary school
•  Seminary
•  Conservatory
•  Another academic institution, including a language training program

For M Visa

Vocational or other recognized non-academic institution, other than a language training program

To be eligible to apply as student visa aspirant must:-

1. Be enrolled in a fulltime academic or language education program at an approved school or academic institution in the US.
2. Have good health and moral conduct.
3. Have sufficient funds to support themselves and accompanying family members during their stay in US.
4. Demonstrate the Visa Officer ties in their home country and thereby their intention to return after the completion of their study.

F1/M1 visa allows you to stay in USA for the duration of their course.F1/M1 visa also entitles you to be engaged in limited authorized employment while in the US subject to certain restrictions.
Spouse and dependent unmarried children less than 21 years of age can join the primary applicant on F2 visa. F2 visa does not allow then to study or work in USA without having an appropriate study or work visa, however the kids are entitled to attend primary and secondary school in the US.

Government Fees and Processing Times

• Application Fee US$200/US$160
• Partner Application Fee US$160
• Dependents Application Fee US$160
• SEVIS FEE US$200 and above.
• Processing Time 2-12 days

J Exchange Visitor/Working Holiday

Why USA is Perfect Place for Working Holiday?

• The USA is an advanced nation with spectacular cities, facilities, and environment that suits the worldwide migrants coming here every year in huge numbers.
• Top business firms, International Agencies, Technologically advanced institutions in USA offers a lot to the individuals coming here with different aims of work, research, study, teach, and practice, etc.
• Wonderful communities in USA with cultural diversity and communal multiplicity, welcomes the new comers here and makes them easy to get settled and interact.
• Contact Immigration Specialists at Visas Avenue today to know about the various student visas categories, so the individuals coming here get the opportunity to explore advanced technologies and various interesting fields of research.
• USA employs a few of world’s most talented and skillful employees in the top business firms and international agencies in this part of the world.

What are the various categories of US Working Holiday Visa?

J Visa is a non-immigrant visa which needs to be applied by the people who have been approved under various foreign countries participating programs with USA.

The various participating programs are:-

Au pair and Edu Care	Physician
Short-term Scholar	Professor and Research Scholar
Camp Counselor	Student, college/university
Government Visitor	Student, secondary
Intern	Teacher
International Visitor (Dept. of State use)	Trainee
Summer Work Travel	Specialist

Exchange visitor Pilot Program:-

• Summer work/travel: Australians
• Summer work/travel: New Zealanders
• Intern work/travel: Irish
• Work/English Study/Travel: South Koreans

How to apply

• In order to apply under this visa category the applicant should first be accepted into an exchange visitor program through a designated sponsoring organization.
• When you are accepted into the exchange visitor program you plan to participate in, you will be enrolled in the Student and Exchange Visitor Information System (SEVIS).
• For most of the exchange programs you need to pay the SEVIS fee, however it would not be applicable for your dependents if they are allowed or plan to join you.
• You should be given Form DS-2019 from your sponsor to attend the visa interview for all the family members.

Processing Time:-

Processing time varies with the country or origin, residence, season and queue of applications.

Fees:-

• Non-immigrant Visa fee-160 USD
• SEVIS fee-180 USD.

USA WORKING VISA

The USA is one of the most powerful countries in the world. With a strong economy, higher GDP, high standards of living, diverse communities, fantastic landscape beauty, and iconic monuments, it attracts millions of migrants every year. The world’s top business firms in the USA employ thousands of talented immigrants from overseas countries. America is the land of opportunity-People come to America in search of better employment opportunities and quality of life. People across the globe want to migrate to America to leave poverty behind and have a better way of life and more freedom of expression.

Why is America a favorite Immigration Destination for worldwide workers?

• The USA every year welcomes artists, researchers, IT specialists, scientists, athletes, nurses, agricultural workers, and others.
• The USA offers scope and opportunities for career growth and employment for talented and skilled migrants of every class, category, or community from overseas.
• US has the top business firms in the world especially in computers and in medical, aerospace, and military equipments
• The US has the one of the most technically powerful economies in the world
• The high living standards and quality of life in the USA is one thing that attracts millions of immigrants to this part of the world.
• The USA leads the world in Internet innovations, movies & entertainment, biotech and several other technological fields that require inventive thinking.
• America is home to many internationally recognized brands and industries, i.e. Apple, Microsoft, DreamWorks Studios, Amazon, Zynga, are the world leaders in their respective domains.

What are the Visa Options and Categories for Foreign Workers?

Foreign workers require a visa to enter and work temporarily in the USA, which gives them the permission and authorization to work. Foreign workers with a temporary offer to work in the US may be able to apply for a temporary non-immigrant work visa, while those with a permanent offer to work in the US may be able to apply for a Green Card.

There are various types of working Visas which are immigrant and non-immigrant in nature. They are:-

• EB1 Green Card
• EB2 Green Card
• EB3 Green Card
• EB4 Green Card
• EB5 Green Card
• H1B Visa
• L1 Visa
• H2A Work Visa
• H2B Work Visa
• O1 Work Visa
• E3 Work Visa
• I Work Visa
• H1B1 Chile Work Visa
• H1B1 Singapore Work Visa
• R1 Work Visa
• TN Work Visa
• P2 Work Visa
• P3 Work Visa
• P1 Work Visa
• Q1 Work Visa

USA WORKING HOLIDAY VISA

Why USA is Perfect Place for Working Holiday?

• The USA is an advanced nation with spectacular cities, facilities, and environment that suits the worldwide migrants coming here every year in huge numbers.
• Top business firms, International Agencies, Technologically advanced institutions in USA offers a lot to the individuals coming here with different aims of work, research, study, teach, and practice, etc.
• Wonderful communities in USA with cultural diversity and communal multiplicity, welcomes the new comers here and makes them easy to get settled and interact.
• Contact Immigration Specialists at Visas Avenue today to know about the various student visas categories, so the individuals coming here get the opportunity to explore advanced technologies and various interesting fields of research.
• USA employs a few of the world’s most talented and skillful employees in the top business firms and international agencies in this part of the world.

What are the various categories of US Working Holiday Visa?

J Visa is a non-immigrant visa which needs to be applied by the people who have been approved under various foreign countries participating programs with USA.

The various participating programs are:-

Au pair and Edu Care	Physician
Short-term Scholar	Professor and Research Scholar
Camp Counselor	Student, college/university
Government Visitor	Student, secondary
Intern	Teacher
International Visitor (Dept. of State use)	Trainee
Summer Work Travel	Specialist

Exchange visitor Pilot Program:-

• Summer work/travel: Australians
• Summer work/travel: New Zealanders
• Intern work/travel: Irish
• Work/English Study/Travel: South Koreans

How to apply

• In order to apply under this visa category the applicant should first be accepted into an exchange visitor program through a designated sponsoring organization.
• When you are accepted into the exchange visitor program you plan to participate in, you will be enrolled in the Student and Exchange Visitor Information System (SEVIS).
• For most of the exchange programs you need to pay the SEVIS fee, however it would not be applicable for your dependents if they are allowed or plan to join you.
• You should be given Form DS-2019 from your sponsor to attend the visa interview for all the family members.

Processing Time:-

Processing time varies with the country or origin, Residence, season and queue of applications.

Fees:-

• Non-immigrant Visa fee-160 USD
• SEVIS fee-180 USD.

USA BUSINESS VISA

Please consult the American Embassy in your country for the updated American Visa requirements!