Visas
Rhode Island and Massachusetts Visa Attorney
Most foreign nationals seeking to travel to the United States need to obtain a visa. Certain individuals may be eligible to travel without a visa to the United States if all requirements for visa-free travels are met.
The purpose of an individual’s intended travel and other factors will determine what type of visa is required to travel under U.S. immigration law. A visa applicant needs to demonstrate that all visa eligibility requirements are met for the specific visa that he or she is applying for. When applying at a U.S embassy or consulate, a consular officer will decide based on applicable immigration laws, whether the applicant meets the requirements to receive a visa, and if so, which visa category is appropriate.
While there are about 185 different types of visas, there are two main categories of U.S. visas:
- Nonimmigrant visas are for temporary visits such as for tourism, business, work, visiting family, or studying. If you come to the U.S. with a nonimmigrant visa, you will need to depart the U.S. by the date of your visa expiration (unless you apply for an extension of your visa).
- Immigrant visas are for people to immigrate to the United States. If you come to the U.S. with an immigrant visa, you will receive your green card soon after your U.S. entry.
A valid U.S. visa allows the holder to travel to the U.S. 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 indicates that a U.S. Embassy or Consulate abroad has deemed the holder eligible to seek entry for that specific purpose.
If you’re ready to discuss your visa options, contact our experienced Rhode Island and Massachusetts immigration lawyer at the The Law Office of Saikon Gbehan, LLC. to learn more about our services.
Contact us to schedule a consultation today.
