Acquiring a U.S. visa for foreign nationals who intend to enter and stay in the country for good is quite a lengthy procedure. There are a lot of things to consider. Even though it is a complicated process, it’s not like a far-fetched idea; it is attainable.
Many websites are explicitly designed for foreign nationals who want to know more about different visa types. Get more information about the different ways you can attain a visa by reading this article.
Petition for yourself
We always hear about an employer filing a petition for its employee, but filing a petition for yourself is possible. If you are considered the cream of the crop on your area of expertise, you can easily petition yourself.
With the EB1A visa, you won’t need to look for an employer before entering the United States. This visa is reserved only for the people whose abilities are considered exceptional. If you have spent your life honing your skills and looking forward to continuing it in the United States, you can easily do that.
You may not need an offer from a U.S company or a Labor Certification, but you need to prove that you have extreme abilities by providing significant achievements. Medals and certifications are pieces of evidence that can help you determine your skills.
Have your U.S. employer petition for you
If you want to work in the United States, make sure you know the job posting available for a foreign national like you. You can check for websites that list different job openings. You may also opt to visit your local Labor Department to ask them if there is any job opening that offers a permanent position.
Your U.S. citizen employer may file your petition. Make sure you prepare the needed documents. You need to have a Labor Certification to qualify for the visa.
You also have to provide pieces of evidence to make sure your application will be approved. Reading about acquiring a visa may seem tiring already, but you always have to remind yourself that everything is worth it.
Invest in a commercial business in the United States
If you are a foreign investor and want to permanently live in the United States, you can apply for the EB5 visa. This type of visa is reserved for foreign investors.
There is a catch, though; you have to provide a significant amount of money. You must invest at least $900,000 to $1,800,000 to qualify. With your investment in the new commercial business, the company will be able to provide ten jobs.
If you are an investor, you won’t need to get a Labor Certification. You are required to file Form I-526 and have it approved by the USCIS.
Have your family member petition for you
If you have a lawful family member in the United States, you can ask them to file a petition for you. People who entered the U.S. through employment-based visas can easily petition for their families.
If you are an immediate family, meaning you are either the U.S. citizen’s children, parent, or spouse, you can apply for the IR visas. Those are reserved only for close family members.
However, if you are a distant relative, you may opt to apply for Family Preference categories. There are no limitations as to how many immigrants can qualify for this, unlike the IR visas.
To qualify for either type of family-based visas, you have to provide the necessary documents. Make sure the materials you are going to submit are not forged. If you submit fake documents, an immigration officer can permanently ban you.
Prepare your documents
Whether an employee or family-based visa, make sure that you prepared everything. You don’t want to waste time and effort going back and forth to the immigration office because of missing documents.
Gather pieces of evidence to increase your chances of getting approved. Being over-prepared is much better than being under-prepared. If you are missing even just one document, the officer won’t accept your application.
Just like what we said before, do not forge documents. Everything should be factual because the embassy is very strict in verifying your documents. If it is proven that you faked papers, you might need to say goodbye to your goal of entering the U.S. for the rest of your life.
Always remember that you are going to spend a lot of money, so you have to be prepared. Do not waste your money on things you can easily avoid.
Study for your interview
Once you submit your documents, the interview is another step. Study for the interview to make sure you know what you are going to encounter. You will be able to answer the questions raised by the officer.
If you are going to the interview, make sure that you are wearing proper attire. Wear something smart casual. Avoid wearing shorts and sleeveless shirts; slippers are also not allowed.
Make sure you have a good night’s sleep. Eat before your interview; this will help your brain process the information you’re receiving, and you can precisely answer the questions.
Aside from the ways mentioned above, there is still a whole of ways you can obtain a U.S. visa, the methods specified in this article are the commonly known ones. We advise you to do further research. Carefully look into the details of each type. There are a lot of sources available on the internet. Easy to comprehend information is available for you, and if you want, you can always hire a professional to help you understand how visas work.
Assess your current situation. Ask yourself, “What visa type fits me the most?” if you know the answer to that question, it will make the whole process easier. You know what type of visa you’re going to apply to, and you know the requirements you have to provide to have your visa approved.
