What is a U.S. Visa?

A citizen of a foreign country who seeks to enter the United States generally must first obtain a U.S. visa, which is placed in the traveler’s passport—a travel document issued by the traveler’s country of citizenship.

Certain international travelers may be eligible to travel to the United States without a visa if they meet the requirements for visa-free travel.

U.S. citizens don’t need a U.S. visa for travel, but when planning travel abroad may need a visa issued by the embassy of the country they wish to visit. When planning travel abroad, travelers should become familiar with that country’s visa requirements.

To learn about visa requirements by country, see the country-specific travel information on the U.S. Department of State website:

https://travel.state.gov/content/travel/en/international-travel/International-Travel-Country-Information-Pages.html

The information here addresses U.S. visas for foreign citizens to travel to the United States.

How Can I Use a Visa to Enter the United States?

Having a U.S. visa allows you to travel to a port of entry, airport, or land border crossing and request permission of the Department of Homeland Security (DHS) Customs and Border Protection (CBP) inspector to enter the United States. While having a visa does not guarantee entry to the United States, it does indicate a consular officer at a U.S. Embassy or Consulate abroad has determined you are eligible to seek entry for that specific purpose.

DHS/CBP inspectors are responsible for admission of travelers to the United States for a specified status and period of time. DHS also has responsibility for immigration matters while you are present in the United States.

What Types of Visas are There?

The type of visa you must obtain is defined by U.S. immigration law and relates to the purpose of your travel. There are two main categories of U.S. visas:

• Nonimmigrant visas—for travel to the United States on a temporary basis.

• Immigrant visas—for travel to live permanently in the United States.

A U.S. visa is an endorsement on a passport indicating that the holder is allowed to enter, leave, or stay for a specified period of time in the United States. In West Virginia, as in all other U.S. states, the process and regulations for obtaining a U.S. visa are governed by federal law and administered by the U.S. Department of State. Non-U.S. citizens must obtain a visa before traveling to the U.S., with certain exceptions for travelers from countries that participate in the Visa Waiver Program, which allows visa-free travel under specific conditions. There are two primary categories of U.S. visas: nonimmigrant visas for temporary visits such as tourism, business, or education, and immigrant visas for those intending to live permanently in the United States. Possession of a visa allows the holder to travel to a U.S. port of entry and request permission from the Department of Homeland Security's Customs and Border Protection to enter the country. However, having a visa does not guarantee entry. The specific type of visa required depends on the purpose of the individual's travel, and the requirements for each type of visa can be found on the U.S. Department of State's website.