The American Visa for your Trip to United States
Applying for an American visa is necessary if you are travelling on vacation trip or to visit a family or residing in United States or on a work trip.
Generally, you can apply for the necessary American visa online/ at the nearest American consulate in the country of your residence.
The American visa for your trip to United States
It is advisable to check the American visa requirements, before applying for your visa to United States.
A brief list of the most important requirements and conditions when getting the visa for United States:
- You do not expect to carry out volunteer work that can otherwise be undertaken by a paid employee in United States.
- You do not mean to enter into an employment relationship in United States.
- You do not plan to give services to American organisations (this is allowed with a American work visa or business visa).
- You do not intend to offer or market product or services to consumers in United States.
- You and your relative are not in debt to the United States Government.
- You do not pose a threat to the health or safety and security of the people of United States.
- You are able to show that you have adequate financial resources to cover your stay and return from United States.
Do I require an American visa?
It depends upon your citizenship and also the type of travel document you are using to travel to United States.Please visit here to check if you require an American visa.
Who exactly can apply for an American visa?
Any person hoping to go on vacation to United States can apply for an American visa.
There are several kinds of visa for United States which you can use as a traveller to United States. If you are unsure which kind of American visa you need to apply, please get in touch with the nearest American visa office to get more information as aim of this page is to provide you basic overview when obtaining American visa.
What type of American visa do I need?
This depends on 3 factors:
- The nationality according to your passport – If the nationality according to the passport is from a country that is on visa free travel to United States or eligible to make an application for a visa on arrival in United States, then you may not require to obtain an American visa prior to leaving from your home country. Please go here to confirm if you need an American visa.
- The length of your trip in United States – If you wish to remain in United States for a shorter period no more than 90 days, then you can obtain the American visa. If you wish to stay much longer, then contact the nearest American visa office to secure the appropriate visa for your travel.
- The activities you like to carry out in United States – If your sole reason of travelling is for tourism, then you can make an application for all kinds of American visas mentioned on this page.
General Visa Application Requirements to Apply for American Traveller Visa
- Visitor visa application form for United States – Completed American visa Form.
- Original and signed passport – The passport needs to be valid for a minimum of 6 months prior to going into United States and three months after departing United States. It needs to have at least 2 extra visa web pages and can not be older than 10 years.
- Passport type photo – Photo should be no older than six months and need to be 35 x 40mm in size.
- Previous passport – Supply a previous passport if you had any.
- Previous visas– Copies of previous American visas details if you had any.
- Flight tickets to United States – Reservation of return or round trip flight tickets. In some circumstances the American visa office may ask for pre-paid flight tickets to United States.
- Travel insurance policy – Evidence of travel insurance policy with a minimum cover set by the American consular office provided with the Certificate of Insurance policy and the table of benefits. The travel insurance need to cover the expense of repatriation for medical reasons and the Certificate of Currency must be issued by an insurer. If you are thinking about utilizing your credit card travel insurance for your travel to United States, please get in touch with American embassy for more details and travel insurance requirements for the American visa.
- Original financial institution statements – Original financial institution statements for the last 3 months revealing enough funds to cover your trip in United States. If statements are printed online then it needs to be Verified (marked) by the bank officials.
- Hotel Reservations in United States – Copy of confirmed hotel reservations including name of the applicant, name and address of the hotel, time-span of stay. In the majority of situations, only bookings which are partially or completely pre-paid can be accepted.
- Work letter – This letter needs to be: original and signed letter from employer written on company letter head paper, verifying your ongoing employment, the status of employment, monthly salary and annual leave. Also, please supply your three latest pay slips. If you are self-employed: offer certified copies of business registration, income tax return.
- For students. Please offer the following:
- Evidence of present student status: Certificate of Enrollment.
- Original and signed letter from university written on university letter head paper, confirming ongoing enrolment, confirming the payment of tuition fees or any type of scholarships, and confirming term break.
- Insurance coverage from Organisation/University– Offer a letter from the University stating the purpose, duration of travel and confirmation that you will be covered by the insurance policy for the entire journey in addition to the Certificate of Currency and summary of benefits.
In general, visa applications for American visa must be sent for a maximum of 6 months, and no later than 15 days, before the trip.