Skip Global Navigation to Main Content
Skip Breadcrumb Navigation
What is a Visa?
 

Generally, a citizen of a foreign country who wishes to enter the United States must first obtain a visa -- either a nonimmigrant visa for temporary stay or an immigrant visa for permanent residence. The visitor visa is a nonimmigrant visa for persons desiring to enter the United States temporarily for business (B-1) or for pleasure or medical treatment (B-2). Persons planning to travel to the U.S. for a different purpose, such as students, temporary workers, crewmen, journalists, etc., must apply for a different visa in the appropriate category.

Qualifying for a Visa:

Applicants for visitor visas must show that they qualify under provisions of the Immigration and Nationality Act. The presumption in the law is that every visitor visa applicant is an intending immigrant. Therefore, applicants for visitor visas must overcome this presumption by demonstrating that:

  • The purpose of their trip is to enter the U.S. for business, pleasure, or medical treatment;
  • They plan to remain for a specific, limited period; and
  • They have a residence outside the U.S. as well as other binding ties which will ensure their return abroad at the end of the visit.

How to choose your visa type while you're filling your application (DS-160)

كيفية اختيار فئة التأشيرة عند قيامك بتعبئة نموذج التقديم (DS-160)

الغرض من الرحلة

Purpose of Travel

Visa type

التجارة، حضور المؤتمرات والتدريب لفترة قصيرة

Business, conference and training for short term

(B1)

السياحة والزيارات الشخصية والعلاج

Tourist, personal travel and medical treatment

(B2)

المتقدمين الذين الغرض الرئيسي لزيارة الولايات المتحدة في أوقات مختلفة تقع ضمن الفئتين B1 او B2

Applicants whose principal purpose for visiting the United States at various times falls within the B-1 or B-2 category

(B1,B2)

خاصة بالطلبة

Student or exchange scholar

(F,J,M,Q)

الدبلوماسيين المبعوثين الدائمين وكبار المسؤولين في الحكومة

Diplomats and senior foreign government officials

(A1)

المبعوثين لمهام رسمية لفترة مؤقتة

Foreign government official

(A2)

العبور

Transit

(C)

عضو في طاقم بحري أو جوي

Crewmember

(D)

للمنظمات الدولية (الأمم المتحدة، البنك الدولي)

International organization employee

(G)