Applying for Visa to the US, here is the step-by-step process to get it

If you need to go to the USA then you need a Visa to go to the United States. The reason for going to the US differ from just visits for tourism, business or working in the USA, studying there, or permanently moving there to get settled. The United States attracts people of different ranges of masses who have different goals and have voracious to achieve their American dream. There are some steps that you need to follow in a straightforward application procedure and steps. For many people all around the world, going to the US means they need a visa.

Getting US visa is not a hard nut to crack if you follow basic steps which I have compiled in this article.  People get visas on different grounds like education, business or tourist or working and permanently setting there. Therefore a lot of people are attracted to US, though their goals might be different.

Step-by-step process to apply for US Visa

Check if you need a visa

Citizens of nearly 40 countries do not require for applying for a non Immigrant visa to visit the United States. You can search out the need for applying for a visa by visiting the website of the USA immigration department.

Choose the visa type

The second step of applying for a US visa is to choose the type of US visa that you need. As there is a difference that depends on the type of US visa you want to get, you must pay more attention while choosing the suitable visa for which you want to apply for.

Non-Immigrant Visa Application form DS-160 filling

Form DS-160 or online Nonimmigrant Visa Application is the US visa application form that you must fill out if you want to apply for a US nonimmigrant visa. This form can be found online on the website of the US consulate for which you are applying. This form can be filled out online through yourself by Consular Electronic Application Center or with the assistance of a third-party company like Visa express.

Details to be filled in Form DS- 160-

The application form DS-160 consists of two parts. One of the first parts involves answering questions regarding personal information like -

Full name

Marital Status

Nationality

Date & Place of Birth

Address

Country

Mobile number

Email

Passport number

Passport book number

Family information

Education

Work, etc.

The second part of the online application contains questions based on security and background checks like

Do you have a history of being arrested or convicted of an offense or crime?

Has your name been engaged in a conspiracy to violate any law relating to controlled substances?

Have you ever had involvement in money Laundering?

Have you ever ordered, incited, committed, assisted, or anyhow participated in genocide, etc?

Pay your US visa application fee

The next step involves paying the US visa application fee

The different categories under which the visa application fees are charged consists-

MRV Fee- $160

Petition-Based Applicants- H, L, O, P, Q, and R - $160.

E-1, E-2, and E-3 visa applicants are charged- $205

This has to be bear in mind that this visa fee is non –refundable if at a stage of approval your visa application stands canceled. Apart from US Visa application fees, you might be asked to pay US visa issuance fees.  Visa Issuance fee generally means the relationship US has with your native country.  This implies that some applicants have to pay this fee and some do not have to pay. This amount varies from country to country. While proceeding with the application for a visa you must have to pay all necessary fees and retain the receipts as proof.

Program a US visa Interview

All US nonimmigrant visa applicants aged between 14 to 79 years are required to undergo a US visa interview. To go through this compulsory interview, you must schedule an appointment with the US embassy in the country you are applying from. Since the embassy might have a high workload and waiting time may reach from days to weeks or months, therefore you must ensure to schedule your interview as soon as possible. If your application fulfills certain norms then you can get an emergency US visa appointment. The moment or day on which you submit your DS-160 form then you should make an appointment for your interview. Then you will receive an interview confirmation letter which you have to bring on the day of your interview.

Compile the document file

In addition to the application form or Form -160, you must submit documents necessarily required for your US visa application which directly means approval from the US consulate which meets the requirements for the nonimmigrant visa you are applying to.

Attend the Visa Interview

The final step in the US visa application process is the United States visa interview. You must reach on time at the time of the interview with all the supporting documents. During the interview, the officials will ask you questions about your background and other relevant details based on the visa type you have applied to. If you are going to work in the US then the interview might be longer than if you are going just for a visit.

Processing time wait

After the visa interview, you have to wait for the application to be processed. Processing time depends on the type of US visa for which you have applied but they can range from a few days to a few months. When your visa is processed, then you will have to find out whether your application is approved or denied. You must take travel arrangements after your visa is approved and not to run on the risk of making expenses in the case it is denied.

Conclusion- The United States offer different visa facilities to all the people across the globe, there are many people who wants to go United States on Visa. This article tells the step wise process to avail visa for US. The process is simple and can take few days to months getting visa approval.

How to apply for Visa to United States a step wise guide