If you’re a citizen of somewhere other than the United States, and you’d like to visit the U.S., you’ll need to get a visa. It’s safe to assume that most travelers and people are at least semi-familiar with this process.
But how does it all work?
In some cases, it’s easy. In other situations, things tend to look a little more complicated.
Whether you’re curious about a friend visiting from another country or you’re thinking of obtaining a visa yourself to go abroad, here is some key information from onlinevisa.com, a private website and Global Travel Service agency.
The company, for what it’s worth, wanted to create one go-to site for travelers, offering helpful information about visa requirements for every country in the world, all in one place: “We are committed to helping travelers with their online application process," the website reads.
So if you’re exploring the idea of traveling, just entering a new country briefly or remaining somewhere for a longer period of time, here are some takeaways and facts, provided by the site.
Did you know ...
- The United States immigration policy is the same for all 50 states, and might be similar for U.S. territories such as Puerto Rico and the U.S. Virgin Islands.
- But different visa regulations apply to the territories of Guam, the Northern Mariana Islands and American Samoa.
- Travelers of a few nationalities, including Canada, do not require either a visa or travel authorization to enter the country, some for a limited period and others for an indefinite stay.
- Citizens of 39 additional countries around the world do not need a visa for the United States to stay for short periods in the country, but they are required to pre-register for an electronic authorization (ESTA) and receive approval before departure.
Did you have any idea there was so much to think about? And this is just the tip of the iceberg.
Want to know more about the ESTA situation, and find a complete list of all the countries for which an ESTA is needed to visit the U.S.? The site has a link for that.
Want to know what country would require an embassy or consular visa -- or learn more about what exactly that means? The site has a link for that.
And again, where can you travel that you DON’T need a visa? You got it. The site has a link for that.
You can even select your passport nationality and then pick a country you’d be traveling to, click “Get Visa Info” and the experts will fill you in on what you’d need.
Very convenient.
Learn more about the visa policy in the U.S.
And for any other visa-related questions, now you know where to turn.