What is a Non-Immigrant Visa?

A nonimmigrant visa is most frequently a tourist, business, student, or work visa that will permit the applicant to stay for a particular period of time in the United States to accomplish a specific purpose, such as visiting, studying, or working.

Visa Validity

A visa's validity is the time period that a visa may be used to apply for admission to the U.S. For instance, a parent who receives a 10 year multiple entry visa has a 10 year period during which he or she may apply for admission to the U.S. It does not mean one can go to the U.S. and live there for 10 years. Upon arrival in the U.S., an immigration officer will 1)actually decide whether to authorize the traveler's admission to the United States and 2) determine the period of authorized stay.

Port of Entry

Applicants should be aware that a visa does not guarantee entry to the United States. At the port of entry, an immigration officer may deny entry to the holder of a valid visa if the traveler's activities do not appear to agree with the specified visa category.

If you require any further clarifications, you may contact the Customer Service Unit at the Consulate.