Application for the United States visa looks a tough one but can turn out not to be so serious after all. Do you want to apply for a US visa? This post looks to provide guides and information on how to go about this.

It is important to note that there are types of US visas and they all have their requirements needed as well as documents. The immigrant and non-immigrant visa are basically the two types of visas.

The US visa application comes with a fee; though this is dependent on the type of visa being applied for. First, you would need to fill out the application form online. 

The necessary procedures on how how apply for a US visa is discussed below.

Applying for a US Visa

As usual, the first step to take in this process is to fill out the online form, the guide below shows how to do so;

  • Visit the immigration website of your country (using Nigeria as an instance) – portal.immigration.gov.ng
  • Select Entry visa/visa-free zone.
  • Choose the ‘processing country’ option, select the United States.
  • You can now proceed with the Application. If you have an existing account, proceed to login. However, create a new account if you don’t have an account. This application is available on Innovate 1 service website. 
  • Start the application using the registered account..
  • Select the processing office as Washington DC.
  • Complete the application form and proceed to print.
  • You will get an Application ID and reference ID after completing the form.

Types of US Visa

There are different types of visas available depending on your purpose of travel. As earlier stated, there are majorly two types of visas; immigrant and non-immigrant.

The immigrant visa is meant for people who are looking to obtain a permanent residency in the United States.
The common types of US visas are:

  • Student Visa: perhaps the most common type of visa for students from around the world. The US student visa is divided into two; the F-1 Visa and F-2 visa, for normal and vocational studies respectfully.
  • Tourist/Business Visa: This visa type is for those who wish to travel for business(B-1 visa) or for tourism purposes(B-2 visa).
  • Work visa: people who have jobs offers in the United States get this. You can make an application for the work permit visa but must have a letter from your employer approved by the United States Immigration.

Requirements

Business Visa:

  • Recent valid passport
  • A completed application form
  • Two passport photographs
  • Your payment acknowledgement slip
  • Letter of invitation showing financial responsibilities as well as the duration and purpose of visit.
  • For Non-holders of US passports, they must show evidence of residency such as work permit, green card or resident visa.

Student visa:

As mentioned earlier, the student visa is classified into two; The F-1 for academic studies and F-2 for non-academics in the United states. The requirements for application process are;

  • A valid passport of at least 6 months
  • Payment and acknowledgement slip
  • A letter of approval for the US school program
  • An application form
  • A passport photograph (2″ x 2″)

 

Upon completion of the application, an interview is carried out by the Embassy processing office. The documents above are needed for the interview and biometrics.

Work visa:

This type of visa requires eligibility and qualifications. Additionally, you will require a proof of job offer of your Degree qualification or above in the United States. The documents needed are;

  • Payment and acknowledgement slip
  • The visa application form.
  • An approved petition by your employer in the United States with a receipt number on your approved petition.
  • A passport photograph(2″ x “2)
  • A valid travel passport with at least 6 months of validity.

Read More: Affordable Institutions in the UK for International Students

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