Visit the US

There are two types of nonimmigrant visas available for people who want to visit the United States.

· Visitor for business (B-1)
· Visitor for pleasure (B-2)

The B-1 visa is for individuals who wish to visit the United States temporarily for business purposes, (e.g. conferences) or for medical treatment, or to accompany a family member who is requires medical treatment.

The B-2 visa is for individuals who wish to visit the United States temporarily or to visit family or friends.

If you are planning to visit the United States, you should be prepared to demonstrate the following:

· Your visit will be temporary
· You will depart at the end of your authorized stay or any extension granted by USCIS
· You are in possession of a valid passport
· You maintain a foreign residence that you have no intention of abandoning
· You are able to support yourself financially while in the United States
· You are admissible to the United States or have obtained a waiver for any ground of inadmissibility. For more information on this topic, see section 212(a) of the Immigration and Nationality Act (INA) in the link to the right.

Generally, if you want to visit the United States you must first obtain a nonimmigrant visitor visa. Travelers from certain countries may be exempt from this requirement. For more information about visa requirements and procedures, see the U.S. Department of State and Customs and Border Protection (CBP) links to the right.

If you want to travel to the United States for reasons other than business or pleasure, you must apply for a visa in the appropriate category. This includes if you want to study, work as a crew member or journalist, etc., You can get help determining which visa you need by selecting the appropriate categories in the “Where to Start” menu on our home page

Passing through a U.S. Port of Entry

You should be aware that a visa does not guarantee admission into the United States. CBP may deny your admission, and also limit the period of time you are authorized to remain in the United States. For more information about the requirements for visiting the United States, go to the CBP link to the right.

If CBP authorizes your admission to the United Statesat the designated port of entry, you will receive a stamped Form I-94, Record of Arrival-Departure. If you wish to stay beyond the time indicated on the Form I-94, you may apply for an extension by filing Form I-539, Application to Extend/Change Nonimmigrant Status, with USCIS.

If you lose your Form I-94, you may apply for a replacement by filing a Form I-102, Application for Replacement/Initial Nonimmigrant Arrival/Departure Record.

Related Links >>

· Extend My Stay
· Change My Nonimmigrant Status
　　

Change My Nonimmigrant Status

If you want to change the purpose of your visit while in the United States, you (or in some cases your employer) must file a request with USCIS on the appropriate form before your authorized stay expires. For instance, if you arrived here as a tourist but want to become a student, you must submit an application to change your status. We recommend that you apply as soon as you determine that you need to change to a different nonimmigrant category.

Until you receive approval from USCIS, do not assume the status has been approved, and do not change your activity in the United States. For example, if you are currently a nonimmigrant tourist, do not begin attending school as a student until you have received authorization from USCIS to change your status. If you fail to maintain your nonimmigrant status, you may be barred from returning to and/or removed (deported) from the United States. Your authorized status and the date your status expires can be found in the lower right-hand corner of your Form I-94, Arrival-Departure Record.

In general, you may apply to change your nonimmigrant status if you were lawfully admitted to the United States with a nonimmigrant visa, your nonimmigrant status remains valid, you have not violated the conditions of your status, and you have not committed any crimes that would make you ineligible.

You do not need to apply to change your nonimmigrant status if you were admitted into the United States for business reasons (B-1 visa category ) and you wish to remain in the United States for pleasure before your authorized stay expires.

You do not need to apply to change your nonimmigrant status if you wish to attend school in the United States, and you are the spouse or child of someone who is currently in the United States in any of the following nonimmigrant visa categories:

· Diplomatic and other government officials, and employees (A visa category)
· International trade and investors (E visa )
· Representatives to international organizations and their employees (G visa )
· Temporary workers (H visa)
· Representatives of foreign media (I visa)
· Exchange visitors (J visa)
· Intracompany transferees (L visa)
· Academic (F visa) or vocational (M visa) students (you may attend elementary, middle or high school only: if you want to attend post-secondary school full-time you must apply for a change of status).

You may not apply to change your nonimmigrant status if you were admitted to the United States in the following categories:

· Visa Waiver Program· Crew member (D nonimmigrant visa)
· In transit through the United States (C nonimmigrant visa)
· In transit through the United States without a visa (TWOV)
· Fiancé of a U.S. citizen or dependent of a fiancé (K nonimmigrant visa)
· Informant (and accompanying family) on terrorism or organized crime (S nonimmigrant visa)

If you are a vocational student (M-1), you may not apply to change your status to a(n):

· Academic student (F-1)
· Any H status (Temporary worker), if the training you received as a vocational student in the United States provided the qualifications for the temporary worker position you seek.

If you are an international exchange visitor (J-1), you may not change your nonimmigrant status if:

· You were admitted to the United States to receive graduate medical training, unless you receive a special waiver.
· You are an exchange visitor and are required to meet the foreign residence requirement, unless you receive a waiver.
　　 · If you do not receive a waiver, you may only apply to change to a diplomatic and other government officials (A visa) or representatives to international organizations (G visa)

For information on how to apply, see the “How Do I Apply” link to the left.

Extend My Stay

If you want to extend your stay in the United States, you must file a request with U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS) on the Form I-539, Application to Extend/Change Nonimmigrant Status before your authorized stay expires. If you remain in the United States longer than authorized, you may be barred from returning and/or you may be removed (deported) from the United States. Check the date in the lower right-hand corner of your Form I-94, Arrival-Departure Record, to determine the date your authorized stay expires. We recommend that you apply to extend your stay at least 45 days before your authorized stay expires.

You may apply to extend your stay if:

· You were lawfully admitted into the United States with a nonimmigrant visa
· Your nonimmigrant visa status remains valid
· You have not committed any crimes that make you ineligible for a visa
· You have not violated the conditions of your admission
· Your passport is valid and will remain valid for the duration of your stay

You may not apply to extend your stay if you were admitted to the United States in the following categories:

· Visa Waiver Program
· Crew member (D nonimmigrant visa)
· In transit through the United States (C nonimmigrant visa)
· In transit through the United States without a visa (TWOV)
· Fiancé of a U.S. citizen or dependent of a fiancé (K nonimmigrant visa)
· Informant (and accompanying family) on terrorism or organized crime (S nonimmigrant visa)

For information on how to apply, see the “How Do I Apply” link to the left.