| What
is a Visa?
If you’re a citizen of a foreign
country, in most cases you’ll need a visa to enter the United
States.
A visa doesn’t permit entry to the
U.S. However, a visa simply indicates that a U.S. consular officer at
an American Embassy or consulate has reviewed your application and
that the officer has determined you’re eligible to enter the country
for a specific purpose. Consular affairs are the responsibility of the
U.S. Department of State.
A visa allows you to travel to the
United States as far as the port of entry (airport or land border
crossing) and ask the immigration officer to allow you to enter the
country. Only the immigration officer has the authority to permit you
to enter the United States. He or she decides how long you can stay
for any particular visit. Immigration matters are the responsibility
of the U.S. Department of Homeland Security.
There are two categories of U.S.
visas: immigrant and nonimmigrant.
Immigrant visas are for people who
intend to live permanently in the U.S. Nonimmigrant visas are for
people with permanent residence outside the U.S. but who wish to be in
the U.S. on a temporary basis – for tourism, medical treatment,
business, temporary work or study.
Please click on your type of
Visa for more Info:
Phone
Call Policy
General
public, congressional and Visa Office inquiries are received at any
Monday through Thursday during working hours on 251-1-24-24-24.
If you're calling for a non-immigrant visa appointment, you need to
call between 8:00am - 12:00pm. If you are inquiring about
immigrant, Diversity and Asylum/Refugee visa process, please call in
the afternoon between 1:00pm - 5:00pm.
If
you are an American citizen inquiring about citizen services (except
visa matters) you can call 251-1-24-24-24 working hours and for
emergency 251-1-17-40-00 after working hours and ask for duty officer.
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