The USA, a country located in North America, is a place that is renowned for its cosmopolitan culture as well as economic opportunities. Moreover, it flaunts modern cities like New York and iconic landmarks such as the Statue of Liberty. Adding to this the progressive values upheld by this nation give extra motivation for expats who wish to migrate here for a better living.
However, migrating to the USA may not be as easy as the excitement underlying this desire. Even though a visa application to the USA is a straightforward affair, it could take a considerable waiting period and adherence to strict requirements for a successful application. Relocation companies in USA often experience this as a major challenge in facilitating their clientele with a smooth relocation. In this context, the following sections dedicated to offering guidance for visa and immigration procedures in the USA could be helpful for aspiring candidates.
Types of US Visa
The most common visa offered in the USA is based on a sponsorship offered by an employer, or a family member with priority for close relations such as a spouse or unmarried children below 21 years of age. The other forms of US visa include the self-petition visa, non-immigrant work visa, student visa, and visitor visa.
Among these options, the visitor visas are designed for short-term visits predominantly for two purposes. These are Business (B1) and Tourism (B2). The maximum number of days permitted for such visas is up to 180 days and is entirely dependent on the discretion of the consular officer who interviews the candidate. The Self-petition visa and the non-immigrant work visa schemes are other options dedicated to exceptional people with remarkable achievements in specified areas and specialization in occupations respectively. In the case of a study visa, a candidate can either apply for university education or vocational training. Please note that there are separate application forms for these visa categories. It is better to work with international movers USA in case you find it confusing to deal with.
Immigration Pathways
As mentioned earlier sponsorship is the most common pathway to settle in the USA. A potential employer can apply at the United States Citizenship and Immigration Services and a family member can submit a petition on the candidate’s behalf with an I-130 form on similar lines. Upon successful approval of the petition, you may have to work with the consulate in your home country for further processing. International moving companies in USA often recommend this as the easiest pathway to obtain a US visa.
Visa Applications: A General Procedure
In scenarios other than sponsorship a candidate who has decided to apply for the visa and has decided the type of visa required can directly apply through the website of the US Consulate. The procedure is easy but tricky and time-consuming according to relocation companies in USA.
For example, in the case of a US non-immigrant visa, the candidate has to:
- Fill up the DS-160 application form through the consular electronic application center: This is an easy step requiring them to fill up personal details and criminal records in two sessions.
- Pay Visa Application Fee: This is a non-refundable fee that is to be paid after completing the application form. In some cases, depending on US relations with your home country, you may have to pay an additional visa issuance fee at the time of application. The overall costs can be in the range of hundreds of US dollars. Be prepared for payment.
- Schedule Appointment: Once the application has been submitted make sure to leave the website only after scheduling an appointment for the interview. This doesn’t mean that you will receive an appointment for the very next day. Relocation companies in USA often observe a waiting period ranging from weeks to months. It depends on the type of visa and the workload of consular departments.
Make sure to be ready with the requisite documents at the time of the interview. After a successful interview and verification of documents, which is yet another period of patient waiting, your application may or may not be approved.
Most of the time many people find this procedure as a headache. Moreover, the stringent nature of US visa processing could lead to the rejection of applications. A solution to relieve this stress and to leave no room for errors is offered by reputed international movers in USA. Since it is always better to choose the best, Helpxpat will be your best choice for assistance.