Types Of US Visas & How To Apply For Them – Anyone who wishes to travel to the US needs visa to be allowed entry into the country. The United States of is the number 1 world super power. It offers a lot of opportunities for all citizens of the world. Perhaps you have been planning to travel to the US, but you don’t know the type of Visa you can apply for. This is why we have brought this post on the types of US Visa and how to apply for them.

Let it be known that you can enter the US without a Visa. This is actually part of the Visa waiver program. Citizens of qualified countries can use this opportunity. However, for those who aren’t part of the deal, you will need to know about the types of US visas.

Also See: US B1/B2 Visa Review, Requirements, Costs And Application

A visa does not guarantee entry to the United States. A visa simply indicates that a U.S. consular officer has determined that you are eligible to apply for entry to the United States for a specific purpose.

Types Of US Visas & How To Apply For Them

There are two major types of US Visas. They are the nonimmigrant & the immigrant visa.

Nonimmigrant Visas

A nonimmigrant visa is used by tourists, business people, students, or specialty workers who wish to stay for a particular period of time in the United States to accomplish specific purposes. According to U.S. visa laws and regulations, most nonimmigrant visa applicants must demonstrate to the consular officer that they have strong ties to their country of residence and must show that they intend to depart the United States after their temporary stay.

How To Apply

In Nigeria, you can apply for a nonimmigrant visa at the U.S. Embassy in Abuja and the U.S. Consulate General in Lagos.

Also See: 2019 Diversity Visa Lottery Program Entrant Status Checker Page

Types Of Nonimmigrant Visas

The following are the types of the nonimmigrant visa we have.

a). Business/Tourist Visa (B1/B2 Visa)

We have explained all about the B1/B2 visa here. Click for a detailed read on that.

b). Work Visa

This work visa is primarily for those going to work in the US.

c). Student Visa

This is a visa for those going to the US to study.

d). Exchange Visitor Visa

The United States welcomes foreign citizens who come to the U.S. to participate in exchange programs. Before applying for a visa, all exchange visitor applicants are required to be accepted and approved by an authorized program sponsor. When accepted, the applicant will receive from the educational institution or program sponsors the necessary approval documentation to be submitted when applying for a visa.

e). Transit/Ship Crew Visa

A citizen of a foreign country traveling in immediate and continuous transit through the United States enroute to a foreign destination requires a valid transit visa

f). Domestic Employee Visa

Personal or domestic servants who are accompanying or following an employer to the United States may be eligible for B-1 visas. This category of domestic employees includes, but is not limited to, cooks, butlers, chauffeurs, housemaids, valets, footmen, nannies, au pairs, mothers’ helpers, gardeners, and paid companions.

g). Journalist and Media Visa

The media (I) visa is a nonimmigrant visa for representatives of the foreign media temporarily traveling to the United States to engage in their profession while having their home office in a foreign country.

Also See: American Diversity Visa – DV 2014 Entrant Status Checker

Immigrant Visas

Immigrant visas are for persons who plan to live permanently in the United States. The immigrant visa permits an application for admission to the United States as a Legal Permanent Resident and is a potential step toward acquiring U.S. citizenship.

How To Apply

>>> Most immigrant visa applications begin when a qualified family member who is a U.S. citizen or legal permanent resident submits a petition on behalf of the intending immigrant to the U. S. Citizenship & Immigration Services (USCIS) in the United States or at a U.S. Embassy abroad.

>>> It is also possible for a U.S. employer to file a petition for a foreign national whom the employer wishes to hire for an eligible permanent position. In Nigeria, the U.S. Embassy in Abuja does not process immigrant visa applicants. Applicants from across Nigeria apply for immigrant visas at the U.S. Consulate General in Lagos.

If you have any questions regarding the immigrant visa process, please write to the U.S Consulate General in Lagos at lagosiv@state.gov.

Any question you have about the Types of US Visas and all comments will be attended to below.