What is a U.S. Visa?
A citizen of a foreign country who seeks to enter the United States generally must first obtain a U.S. visa, which is placed in the traveler’s passport—a travel document issued by the traveler’s country of citizenship.
Certain international travelers may be eligible to travel to the United States without a visa if they meet the requirements for visa-free travel.
U.S. citizens don’t need a U.S. visa for travel, but when planning travel abroad may need a visa issued by the embassy of the country they wish to visit. When planning travel abroad, travelers should become familiar with that country’s visa requirements.
To learn about visa requirements by country, see the country-specific travel information on the U.S. Department of State website:
https://travel.state.gov/content/travel/en/international-travel/International-Travel-Country-Information-Pages.html
The information here addresses U.S. visas for foreign citizens to travel to the United States.
How Can I Use a Visa to Enter the United States?
Having a U.S. visa allows you to travel to a port of entry, airport, or land border crossing and request permission of the Department of Homeland Security (DHS) Customs and Border Protection (CBP) inspector to enter the United States. While having a visa does not guarantee entry to the United States, it does indicate a consular officer at a U.S. Embassy or Consulate abroad has determined you are eligible to seek entry for that specific purpose.
DHS/CBP inspectors are responsible for admission of travelers to the United States for a specified status and period of time. DHS also has responsibility for immigration matters while you are present in the United States.
What Types of Visas are There?
The type of visa you must obtain is defined by U.S. immigration law and relates to the purpose of your travel. There are two main categories of U.S. visas:
• Nonimmigrant visas—for travel to the United States on a temporary basis.
• Immigrant visas—for travel to live permanently in the United States.
A U.S. visa is an endorsement on a passport indicating that the holder is allowed to enter, leave, or stay for a specified period of time in the United States. In Texas, as in all other states, the process and regulations for obtaining a U.S. visa are governed by federal law, not state law. Nonimmigrant visas are for individuals intending to stay temporarily, while immigrant visas are for those planning to reside permanently in the U.S. To enter the U.S., a visa holder must arrive at a port of entry and seek permission from the Department of Homeland Security's Customs and Border Protection (CBP) inspectors. Possession of a visa does not guarantee entry but confirms that a U.S. consular officer has deemed the individual eligible to seek entry for a particular purpose. For visa-free travel, certain international travelers may qualify under programs such as the Visa Waiver Program if they meet specific requirements. U.S. citizens do not require a U.S. visa for domestic travel but may need visas to visit other countries. Detailed visa requirements for different countries can be found on the U.S. Department of State website.
