The gathering of the necessary documents is a critical step in the application procedure for a visa to the United States. After you have determined the kind of visa for which you need to submit an application, the next step is to investigate the prerequisites and get started compiling the paperwork necessary for that visa.
No matter what form of visa a person wishes to receive from a US embassy or consulate, they will demand certain documentation from the applicant in order to process their application. When you go to turn in your application for a visa, you need to make sure that you have all of these documents with you.
US Visa Requirements
The following items are necessary to apply for a visa to the United States:
- A DS-160 application for nonimmigrant status can be filled out online. Here is where you may submit your DS-160 form.
- Your valid passport. It needs to be valid for at least one additional six-month period beyond the time you intend to spend in the United States. However, citizens of certain nations are free from this requirement and are just required to provide a passport that will remain valid during the entirety of their time spent in the United States. If you want to be able to attach a visa, your passport needs to contain at least one blank page.
- One picture in total. The necessity that you provide a photo for your US visa application is one of the primary requirements for any visa for which you apply. You will need to upload a photo of yourself when you apply online using the DS-160 form. In the event that the picture uploading failed, you will still be able to submit your passport-size photo on the day of the appointment. However, even if you submit the photo online, you should still carry it with you in case the interviewer requests to see it. This is something we strongly recommend you do.
- A receipt indicating payment of USD $160 was made for a visa application for nonimmigrants to the United States. If you want to get a visa to the United States, you have to pay the price before you can book an interview. This is in contrast to the regulation regarding European visas, which requires you to pay the fee on the day of your appointment. Remember that the price for your US visa is not refundable under any circumstances, including if your visa application is denied or if you choose to cancel the appointment.
- Social networking details. A list of the various social media platforms that you are active on, including the names of your accounts within each platform, together with your phone number, email address, and your social media activity over the course of the preceding five years.
If the document is not written in English or the official language of the country where the interview will take place should be translated into English or the local language of that country. A qualified translator must verify each translation before it may be used.
Form DS-160
If you wish to apply for a non-immigrant visa in the United States, you will need to fill out the DS-160 application form online. Through the Consular Electronic Application Center, you will be able to fill out the DS-160 form online.
Aside from the primary documents, there are other ones that you will need to provide in order to provide evidence that backs up the statements you made in your application form. These can include things like:
Previous USA Visas
If you have been to the United States before using an older passport, you are advised to bring that passport with you to the interview at the consulate or embassy on the day it is scheduled.
The immigration officials in the United States need that you have previously had visas and be able to establish that you have visited the country on previous occasions.
Check out this guide for getting a US visa for Latvian citizens.
Invitation letter
US visa invitation letters are letters written by US citizens or legal permanent residents stating that they are willing to host a foreign national with whom they have close personal ties, such as family or friends, and that they have adequate housing and financial resources to support the foreign national during their entire stay in the US.
The letter must be written by the individual who will be sponsoring the visitor for a visa and must be signed by a United States citizen or legal resident.
Itinerary for the Trip
You have to present your travel plan that outlines the activities that you intend to participate in while in the United States. Documents such as bought flight tickets that display the dates you intend to enter and leave the United States are included in this package.
It is also capable of displaying reservations for any necessary internal flights. You can also mention the top places to visit in the USA. Here you can check out the ideas for a perfect honeymoon in California.
You will also be required to provide some evidence that you have accommodation in US. It should indicate where you intend to stay while you are in the United States, such as a hotel, rental residence, the home of a friend or relative, etc.
On the other hand, it can only prove that you have sufficient financial resources to reserve a hotel room once you get to the United States.
Documents Attesting to Sponsorship
If you intend to travel to the United States on another person’s sponsorship who already resides in the country, then you will be required to provide evidence of that sponsorship. These documents need to be submitted by the sponsor:
- A Letter for Affidavit is a letter that proves the sponsor is able to financially assist you throughout your whole stay.
- Employment Letter: a document that verifies the sponsor has a job and specifies the amount of money he gets paid.
- Payslips – three or four payslips from the most recent pay period
- A letter from the bank that details the date the bank account was opened and the total money that was deposited over the course of the previous year, and the current balance of the account.
Documents Relating to Property
You need to provide evidence that you own property, whether it is in the nation in which you were born or somewhere else. When applying for a US visa as a nonimmigrant in the United States, having property demonstrates that you have a property in your country and that you do not want to permanently reside in the United States.
This is a significant plus. If you do, please bring proof with you to the appointment, including the following:
- The initial documentation of ownership
- images captured by that property’s camera
- Statement of personal knowledge relating to the property
Employment and Professional Activities
- Bring with you a letter from your company that outlines the specifics of your position, including your salary, length of work, allotted vacation time, and the purpose of your journey to the United States (if you are employed).
- If you are retired, your pension book.
- If you are self-employed, a certificate of company registration and facts about your income are required.
Family Documents
Documents like a marriage certificate, birth certificate, photographs of immediate family members, adoption or divorce certificate (if you are divorced or adopted child), divorce certificate, death certificate of a spouse, and the like are all acceptable forms of identification.
Physician Letter
You need to make an appointment with a licensed physician in the specific country where your interview will be conducted before you can proceed with the interview process.
You are required to conduct your medical and/or physical examination with a physician who is approved by the embassy. Examinations carried out by other medical professionals will not be accepted.
You need to show a medical letter or an invitation from a hospital to get an urgent emergency visa for US.
Requirements for Other US Visa Types
It is possible that you will need to provide additional documentation in order to obtain a visa for the United States, but this will depend on the visa type you apply for.
Eligibility Criteria for U.S. Student Visas
If you want to study in the United States or participate in an exchange program there, your consular officer may ask you to provide evidence that you have been accepted at an educational institution in the United States.
In order to participate in the Student Exchange Visitor Program, this educational institution needs to have such status (SEVP). In addition to the standard visa price, you will also be required to pay the SEVIS I-901 charge and present proof of payment when you go in for the interview.
The Prerequisites for Obtaining a Work Visa in the USA
You may be required to provide any or all of the following documents in order to obtain a work visa for the United States, depending on the visa type you apply for:
- Evidence that you fulfill the requirements (certifications and diplomas)
- Evidence of completion of a professional degree (i.e a Bachelor, Master, or a Doctorate degree)
- Offer of employment from a US-based firm
- Letters of recommendation or CVs from former employers
- State License
- A demonstration that you possess outstanding skills.
- Additional Fees, etc.
Fingerprints Data
All applicants seeking a visa to the United States are required to submit their fingerprints as part of the application process. You have to complete your biometric verification via fingerprints either just before the interview or just after the interview, but this will depend on the consulate or embassy that you visit.
Those individuals who are unable to give their fingerprints due to physical limitations or kids under 14 years of age and senior citizens of 79 or above are exempted.
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