Visas
General Information
Every day, the United States welcomes thousands of visitors and immigrants from all over the world. The Consular Section's Visa Unit can help you sort through whether or not you need a visa, what kind of visa you need, and what you need to do to apply for a visa.
Please select from the choices on the left hand side of the screen:
- If you wish to move permamently to the United States, then please select Immigrant Visas.
-
If you wish to come to the United States for a short period, then please first select
Visa Waiver Program to see if you are eligible to travel visa-free. If your trip does meet the requirements of the Visa Waiver Program, then please select
Nonimmigrant Visas.
Other services and information related to visas, immigration, and travel to the United States are contained in the choices on the left hand side of the screen.
As of January 12, 2009, Visa Waiver Program (VWP) travelers are required to obtain a travel authorization via the Electronic System for Travel Authorization (ESTA) prior to boarding a carrier to travel by air or sea to the U.S.
The ESTA registration is free of charge.
Please note that persons entering the United States on a visa and lawful permanent resident aliens (Green Card holders) do not need an ESTA registration.
If you are not able to find the information you seek, then please contact us using any of the means listed in the Key Information box.
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