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US
Immigration Information
Visa Information ~ Citizenship Information
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. Travelers from certain
eligible countries may also be able to visit the U.S.
without a visa, through the Visa Waiver Program. The
Visa Waiver Program (VWP) enables citizens of certain
countries to travel to the United States for tourism
or business for 90 days or less without obtaining a
visa. Not all countries participate in the VWP.
Machine-readable
passports (MRP) - The Secretary of State has granted
a postponement until October 26, 2004, as the deadline
whereby visa waiver program travelers from 21 VWP countries
must present a machine-readable passport (MRP) at the
U.S. port of entry to enter the U.S. without a visa,
otherwise a U.S visa is required. Starting October 26,
2004, visa waiver travelers from ALL 27 Visa Waiver
Program countries must present either a machine-readable
passport or a U.S. visa.
Travelers
from countries granted the postponement can continue
to travel, as they have in the past, without a machine-readable
passport. On October 26, 2004 a machine-readable passport
or U.S. visa will be required at the port of entry,
to enter the U.S. without a visa. Countries with the
machine-readable passport postponement until October
26, 2004 are: Australia, Austria, Denmark, Finland,
France, Germany, Iceland, Ireland, Italy, Japan, Luxembourg,
Monaco, Netherlands, New Zealand, Norway, Portugal,
San Marino, Singapore, Spain, Sweden, Switzerland, and
the United Kingdom.
B-1
Business Visa
General
Information: Foreigners working for a foreign entity
are allowed to visit the United States under B-1 visas.
These visas are more advantageous than ³visa waivers²
for various technical reasons depending on the circumstances.
Eligibility
Requirements: Foreign nationals interested in visiting
the United States for exploratory business purposes
that do not involve receiving salary or payment in cash,
are eligible to apply for the U.S. B-1 visa.
H-1B
Work Visa
General
Information: The H-1B visa enables professionals in
"specialty occupations" to make a valuable contribution
to the American economy. A maximum of 65,000 H-1B visas
are issued every year. The H-1B visa is issued for up
to three years but may be extended. This provides a
maximum stay of six years. The H1-B visa holder can
apply for a Green Card if a company wants to sponsor
his/her application.
Eligibility
Requirements: The H-1B non-immigrant visa may be issued
to applicants seeking temporary entry in a "specialty
occupation" which needs a special professional skills.
"Specialty Occupations" includes e.g. accounting, computer
analysts, programmers, database administrators, web
designers, engineers, financial analysts, doctors, nurses,
scientists, architects and lawyers. The petitions are
submitted by employers based on their need for the non-U.S.-resident
employee. The applicant may possess a bachelor's degree
or requisite experience to make up for the lack of a
master¹s degree.
H-2B
Work Visa
General
Information: The H-2B work visa was created to allow
people to come to the United States temporarily, mainly
for non-agricultural jobs for in which the U.S. workers
are in short supply. Up to 66,000 H-2B visas are issued
every year. The annual quota has not yet been exceeded
and prospects are good that H-2B visas will remain easily
available in the future.
Eligibility
Requirements: You qualify for an H-2B visa if you are
coming to the United States to accept a temporary or
seasonal non-agricultural job from an U.S. employer.
If you have the correct background, skills or natural
abilities needed by the employer, you may apply. H-2B
visas are aimed at skilled and unskilled workers. Note
that H-2B are not to be confused with H-1B visa, which
is intended for college-educated workers. Canadian and
Mexican citizens are also eligible to apply for a TN
Work Visa.
K-1
Fiance Visa
General
Information: If your fiancé(e) is not a U.S. citizen
but you plan to get married in the United States, you
must file a petition with the USCIS on behalf of your
fiancé(e). After the petition is approved, your fiancé(e)
must obtain a visa issued at a U.S. embassy or consulate
abroad. The marriage must take place within 90 days
of your fiancé(e) entering the United States.
Eligibility
Requirements: Until the actual marriage takes place,
your fiancé(e) is considered a non-immigrant. A non-immigrant
is a foreign national seeking to temporarily enter the
United States for a specific purpose, e.g. tourism.
A fiancé(e) may not obtain an extension of the 90-day
original non-immigrant admission.
US
Citizenship Information
A
U.S. citizenship is one step above a U.S. permanent
resident. It is one step beyond a Green Card holder.
A Citizenship gives you the maximum rights available
in the United States. US citizens may also find it advantageous
to use a U.S. passport when traveling abroad. US
Citizenship Test Information
If
you are not a U.S. citizen by birth, or did not acquire
U.S. citizenship automatically after birth, you may
still be eligible to become a citizen through the normal
naturalization process. People who are 18 years and
older use the "Application for Naturalization" (Form
N-400) to become naturalized. Persons who acquired citizenship
from parent(s) while under 18 years of age, use the
"Application for a Certificate of Citizenship" (Form
N-600) to document their naturalization . Adopted children
who acquired citizenship from parent(s) use the "Application
for a Certificate of Citizenship on Behalf of an Adopted
Child", (Form N-643) to document their naturalization.
For further information on application procedures, how
to prepare for the naturalization test, it is recommended
that you order
the U.S. Citizenship Information and Application Kit.
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