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Visas are the means by which foreign nationals
may be admitted into the United
States. In almost all cases, it is
necessary to obtain a visa from a U.S. Consulate or Embassy
abroad prior to entering the United States. In addition,
most visa categories require advance approval from the U.S. Citizenship
and Immigration Services (USCIS).
There are two main categories for visas: Immigrant and Non-Immigrant.
Non-Immigrant Visas are designed for temporary entry into the United States
and Immigrant Visas are designed for permanent residency in the United States,
which is called a "green card."
Being admitted into the United
States with an Immigrant Visa can take a
long time, sometimes years if the foreign national is on a waiting list.
Non-Immigrant Visas take less time to process and entry into the United States
is quicker.
Descriptions for the main types
of Non-Immigrant and Immigrant Visas can be viewed using the links to the
right.
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