B-2 Tourist Visa--Intending Immigrant?
The B-2 Tourist Visa permits entry into the United States by a foreign national for a specific period of time. The most common uses of the tourist visa are for purposes of tourism, visiting relatives and friends and obtaining medical treatmnt. Other permitted uses are to attendconferences or conventions or participation in amateur sports competitions. Duration of the visa can be for no more than six months although an extension can be granted for up to one year. Once issued, the tourist visa can be valid for between three months and ten years. While in the United States on a tourist visa, one is not permitted to work or receive compensation of any kind for services, nor are they allowed to enroll in a full time course of study. Due to possible visa fraud implications, it is also not recommended that one marry in the United States after entry on a tourist visa as the F-1 Fiancee Visa is available for this purpose. The tourist visa can be for one single entry or multiple entries.
The B-2 Tourist Visa is a non-immigrant visa. The hurdle to obtaining a tourist visa is the legal presumption that everybody that applies for it is an intending immigrant who has made a conscious choice to live in the United States. That legal presumption must be overcome. It is ovecome by providing strong evidence indicating the intention of the foreign national applicant to return to their home country. That evidence is usually in the form of significant family, economic, residential and social ties to their home country. Copies of any deeds to poperty the applicant may own, bank statements, vehicle titles and employer's letter of the applicant's intention to return to their job can be submitted. The ability to support oneself while in the United States is also considered. If a person is unable to support himself while in the United States, he must provide proof that somebody in the United States can support him through an Affidavit of Support.
All visitors entering the United States are required to have a valid passport from their home country however, citizens of certain countries are exempt from the necessity of having a visa under he United States Visa Waiver Program (VWP). Currently, the following countries participate in the Visa Waiver Program: Andorra, Australia, Austria, Belgium, Brunei, Czeck Republic, Denmark, Estonia, Finland, France, Germany, Greece, Hungary, Iceland, Ireland, Italy, Japan, Latvia, Liechtenstein, Lithuania, Luxembourg, Malta, Monaco, Netherlands, New Zealand, Norway, Portugal, San Marino, Singapore, Slovakia, Slovenia, South Korea, Spain, Sweden, Switzerland, United Kingdom.
In seeking any visa for the United States, it is prudent to retain an experienced immigration attorney.
