Primarily located in North America, the United States of America (USA) is one of the most preferred destinations for people who want to migrate to the country. For students or skilled workers from around the world, there are a plethora of opportunities available in the country. Such people, before starting the immigration journey, must consult one of the most prominent US visa consultants and understand the processes. A USA visa agent has great knowledge and experience to help you make your dream of living in this wonderful country a reality.

Types of US Visas

Before planning an immigration journey to the USA, you must know the different types of US visas. Below mentioned are some of the most common types of US visas, which include:

  • Student Visa: The USA is one of the most ideal destinations for students who want to study in this wonderful country and wish to make a career after graduation as US schools, colleges and universities have high education rankings worldwide. And, this is only possible if you have a US student visa. For this, you can get support from numerous USA study visa consultants available. They will help you with the student visa process for a smooth immigration journey in the USA.
  • Tourist Visa: The US tourist visa is designed for those who are planning to go on a short visit to the country, like for business purposes, family visits, work dependents and tourism. This visa is issued for the purpose of visiting. For more information about tourist visas, you can contact Western Overseas, one of the most renowned US visa consultants.   
  • H-1B Visa: The US H-1B Visa is designed for those who want to work in the USA. The visa allows an employer to employ graduate-level workers who hold at least a bachelor’s degree and are from fields such as IT, finance, engineering, mathematics, architecture, medicine and science. A USA visa agent can help you apply for this type of visa and understand its process.
  • Employment-based Visa: The Employment-based Visa allows foreign candidates to immigrate to the USA for work. This visa is classified into five different categories – EB-1, EB-2, EB-3, EB-4 and EB-5. The first four categories (i.e., EB-1, EB-2, EB-3 and EB-4) depend on the skills you have, whether a US employer will be required to sponsor your application or you will have to prove your abilities. However, the fifth category, EB-5, is designed for investors who want to spend between $500,000 and $1 million on jobs for Americans. To know more about these requirements, you can choose to consult a USA visa agent.      
  • Family-based Immigration: This type of visa is for those who are planning to live in the USA on a permanent basis. To be eligible for this visa, you must be sponsored by an immediate relative who is either a US citizen or a green card holder. The family members who are eligible to apply for this immigration include spouses, children, parents and siblings. There are two types of Family-based Immigration, which include:
  • Immediate Relative: This visa is for close family members of a US citizen, such as spouse, children and parents. The number of immigrations is not limited in this category each financial year.
  • Family Preference: This type of visa is designed for specific family members of a US citizen or green card holder. The number of immigrations is limited in this category each financial year.

US Visa Categories

The US visa is categorised into two types, which are:

  • Immigrant Visa: The Immigrant Visa allows foreign candidates to live or work in the USA permanently. In most cases, an employer or relative usually sponsors the individual by filing an application with U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS).
  • Non-immigrant Visa: The Non-immigration Visa is designed for foreign candidates who want to visit, study or work in the country on a temporary basis. This type of visa is related to travel purposes, such as for medical treatment, business, tourism and some specific temporary work.

Eligibility for US Immigration

The eligibility criteria for US immigration depends on the type of permit. However, the general requirements to migrate to the USA are listed below:

  • Age: The candidate’s age must be above 18 years.
  • Academic Qualification: The candidate must have a minimum educational qualification that is equivalent to higher than the secondary education in the US.
  • Language Proficiency: The applicant must have a minimum score of 6.0 in IELTS or TOEFL.
  • Work Experience: The candidate must have at least one year of professional experience in the desired field.
  • Employment Offer: A candidate is eligible for US immigration with or without an employment offer.

To know more about the eligibility criteria to migrate to the US, you can contact Western Overseas, a USA immigration consultant.

US Immigration Process

The immigration process may vary from country to country; so, here are some simple steps mentioned for the US immigration process.

Step 1: The first step is to check for your eligibility to apply for US immigration. There are different types of visas available to migrate to the USA, such as family-based visas, student visas and employee-based visas. Each visa has its own eligibility requirements, which include age, academic qualification, work experience and language proficiency.

Step 2: Next, you must file a petition with the United States Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS) to migrate to the United States. For family-based visas and employee-based visas, petitions are required. US citizens or green card holders should file a petition on behalf of a family member who is seeking to migrate to the country.

Step 3: Once the petition has been filed, you must wait for approval. The processing time depends upon the type of visa you have applied for.

Step 4: After the approval of the petition, you need to apply for an immigrant visa with the Department of State’s National Visa Center (NVC). Also, the application processing fee must be paid at that time.   

Step 5: Wait for the processing after filing the immigrant visa application.

Step 6: After the successful processing of the immigrant visa application, you will receive a letter with an interview schedule at the US Embassy.

Step 7: Wait for the decision on your visa application after the visa interview.

Step 8: If your application is approved, then you will obtain an immigrant visa which will be kept in your passport.

The Bottom Line

In order to get everything right while migrating to the USA, you should consult with Western Overseas, which is one of the best US visa consultants. Here, you will get expert guidance for your US immigration journey.