The United States is full of attractions! There is much to explore, from Disney to Malibu beach.
You can have a romantic trip, family fun, or a solo adventure: you can always find spots and activities to please everyone and make this trip remarkable. But to fully enjoy this experience, you will need a visa to secure entry into the US.
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These are common questions, and we will help you to figure out everything you need to know about visas to travel to the United States.
How To Get A US Visa
The documents you must submit are usually similar, but there are different ways to apply for a US visa. Do you prefer to go physically to an embassy or apply from the comfort of your home?
These are some aspects you should consider when choosing the best way to get your US visa.
Applying For A US Visa At The Embassy
The classic way is going to a US embassy or consulate. The problem is that usually, it involves long waiting times and lines, besides displacement.
Imagine that you do all that, and then you find out in front of the immigration officer that you forgot an essential document at home. It could turn into a nightmare.
Applying For A Us Visa On The Us Government Portal
For some visa types, you can apply online on the US Department of State portal. This will save you time since you don’t need to visit the embassy, and you can fill out the application from the comfort of your home.
The disadvantage is that the forms are lengthy and ambiguous, so you could have difficulty understanding and making mistakes in the application process.
Applying For A Us Visa With A Visa Agency
Another option is to apply through a visa agency, such as iVisa. It’s also 100% online, but you have short and straightforward application forms, so you save time as it only takes a few minutes to fill out and submit.
The website, the app, and the support team are multilingual, which can make your life easier.
You can count on a support team available 24/7 that can help you anytime during the process.
Additionally, the iVisa experts review all the documents to ensure that they won’t be rejected. For B1-B2 and Visa Laser, applicants have an iVisa Expert to guide them through the entire application from start to finish and a Didactic Guide Manual, with step-by-step application guidelines.
There are several options to pay the service and fees: credit card, debit card, Google/Apple pay, and multiple eWallets. This makes it the easiest application method for you.
US Visa Types
Travelers can choose from different US visa types for tourism. The document you have to apply for depends mainly on your nationality.
ESTA – Visa Waiver Program
The US Electronic System for Travel Authorization (ESTA) allows citizens to visit the United States for tourism or business purposes. It’s a travel authorization, so you don’t need to apply for a visa to travel once you are eligible. The application process is 100% online.
Visitors under the ESTA program may enter by air or sea under the Visa Waiver Program. It’s a Multiple-Entry document valid for 2 years after issue. It permits a maximum stay of 90 days per entry.
Here’s the list of the eligible countries to apply for the ESTA:
- Andorra
- Australia
- Austria
- Belgium
- Brunei
- Chile
- Croatia
- Czech Republic
- Denmark
- Estonia
- Finland
- France
- Germany
- Greece
- Hungary
- Iceland
- Ireland
- Italy
- Japan
- Korea
- Latvia
- Liechtenstein
- Lithuania
- Luxembourg
- Malta
- Netherlands
- New Zealand
- Norway
- Poland
- Portugal
- San Marino
- Singapore
- Slovakia
- Slovenia
- Spain
- Sweden
- Switzerland
- Taiwan
- United Kingdom
US B1-B2 Visa
The US B1/B2 visa is a temporary non-immigrant visa that allows the holder to travel to the United States for either business or tourism purposes. This visa covers almost all reasons for temporary travel except student trips.
It’s a Multiple-Entry visa valid for 10 years after being issued. You can stay in the US for up to 180 days Per Entry and must have a specific purpose.
Most nationalities can apply for it. The main requirement is to prove that the trip is temporary and that you have the ability to self-fund all costs of the trip. Additionally, you must prove that you have no intention of remaining in the United States beyond the permitted stay.
You can apply at the United States Embassy or consulate in your country. But be aware that the process can be complicated and confusing, so counting on iVisa services can be really helpful to apply for a B1/B2 visa.
iVisa will provide Entry Guide Services and help you get all the requirements for the process.
US Visa Laser (Mexico Border Crossing Card)
The US Visa Laser, also known as Mexico Border Crossing Card, is an entry permit exclusive to Mexicans. It works as a tourist visa, allowing them to travel to the US but only to visit the states that border Mexico, which are California, Arizona, New Mexico, and Texas.
This visa is designed to travel for tourism, pleasure, medical treatments, and business. The Visa Laser allows multiple entries in the US and is valid for 10 years after being issued. You can stay in the US for up to 30 days and for specific purposes.
DV Lottery
If you want more than just a fantastic trip, you can get the experience of living in the US! For that, you can apply for the US Electronic Diversity Visa Lottery (Green Card Lottery). This program allows up to 55.000 randomly selected people to obtain a Green Card or US permanent residency paper visa.
Citizens from countries that don’t usually send many immigrants to the United States are chosen to increase the diversity of immigrants in the United States. After the origin country, the main requirement is education.
You must have at least a high-school diploma or 2 years of work experience in the last 5 years.
It’s an easy way to get a resident visa for the US, but there are a lot of details in the application. Getting the iVisa services can make the difference for a hassle-free application and easily get your lottery number.
Final Thoughts On USA Visas
Now, you know everything about visas for the US and how to get them. It’s time to prepare the documents and your backpack! The Statue of Liberty is waiting for you.
Keen to learn more about iVisa? Read our iVisa review.
Traveling to the United States soon? Read one of the following guides:
