The documents you need for a US visa

Are you dying to go to the USA? We don’t blame you! It is truly the land of opportunity, making every person’s dream come true. People from all over the world try their best to migrate to the USA, dreaming of a better life and a prosperous future for themselves and their families.

But since not everyone wishes to migrate to the US, the rest of us can contend with a trip to the US to take in the sights and culture. It is one of the largest countries in the world, and it will take one several lifetimes to see it entirely and understand its ethos. Before you make your first trip to the US – or the first of several – let us guide you through the US visa process:

·         Choose the type of American visa on the basis of your purpose of visit and the duration of stay. There are many types of US visas available, so choose the correct category. Tourists wishing to visit the US on a short trip for tourism purposes should opt for the Non Immigrant Visa (NIV). The NIV is valid for tourists and holidayers, students, those visiting the US for office work assignments for a period less than 90 days, and athletes or representatives of Government-registered NGOs going to the US for sports, cultural, educational meets, etc.

·         Tourists can apply for a B-2 US visa. It is meant specifically for tourism only, and cannot be used for work or business purposes.

·         You must apply for a B-1 US visa if you are travelling to the US for work or business purposes.

·         You can choose to apply for the NIV online as well. But you must be careful about the application, because it cannot be retracted if you make a mistake in filling it out. Follow these guidelines when filling this form. If your visa is denied to you for furnishing wrong information, you must fill a new form.

·         On filling the application form, you will be assigned a number by the visa centre. You must keep this number carefully because you will need it to book your visa interview appointment.

·         Pay your visa fees on the basis of the American visa you have applied for. Once you pay the fees, you will be given a receipt number. This number is to be quoted for the US visa interview appointment as well.

·         Use the two numbers – fee receipt number and form application number – and use them to fix an interview date. You will be explained the process from now on in detail: it begins with a time and date for your visa interviews. You have two interviews to pass; one at the Consulate and the other at the visa application centre.

·         The Consulate interview takes place first, followed by the interview at the visa application centre. At both interviews, you must provide your passport details and the two numbers allotted previously. Your photograph may be clicked at the visa centre in the specified format, or you will be told the format for the picture. A second interview at the Consulate will take place, wherein you must submit the confirmation letter stamped at the visa application centre, current passport, and all documents required to support the visa application.

·         Your US visa status can be confirmed only after the second Consulate interview.