What do non-immigrant visas do?

International visitors add greatly to a nation's cultural, education and economic life. A visa shows custom officials that you are authorized to enter a nation. There are many kinds of non-immigrant visas, each with different restrictions on:

• How long you can stay
• Whether you can work during your stay
• Whether you can leave and re-enter the country.

For example, non-immigrant visas for U.S. are for international travelers (citizens of other countries), coming to the U.S. temporarily. The visa, placed in your passport when issued, allows you to travel to a U.S. port-of-entry (airport, for example) and request permission of the Department of Homeland Security (DHS), Customs and Border Protection immigration officer to enter the U.S. A visa does not guarantee entry into the U.S.

Watch this video: Attending a Non-immigrant Visa Interview

What to expect when you attend the Embassy for a non-immigrant visa?


Non-immigrant visas: The issues and the facts (Philippine-American relations series)