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USA - UNITED STATES OF AMERICA EMIGRATION REQUIREMENTS
IMMIGRATION INFORMATION
| One of the most important things for any travellers and yet forgotten by thousands of ardent travellers every year your passport is one thing you simply can’t leave home without. As well as remembering to take it with you, however, you also need to ensure that your current passport is valid for at least six months beyond the date of your return to your home country. You should also take at least two photocopies of the pages containing your photo and any other important information. Carry one on your person and one somewhere safe or if you’re really clever you could e-mail a copy to yourself or save it onto a floppy disk so you can access it at any time.
Furthermore, in order to get into many countries on the stay abroad you will require a visa of some type, even if you are just visiting. This is usually an insert, stamp or sticker which is placed in your passport and the duration of its validity varies from place to place. If you do intend to work or study in the country to which you are traveling, however, you should organize your visa even further in advance as this can take longer to process.
As well as your passport you should ensure that you have at least one other form of identification with you. This may be a driver’s license, birth certificate or any other form of ID which is acceptable worldwide. As with passports, bring at least two copies of all forms of identification in case of loss or theft.
You should also find out where your embassy is in the country to which you are travelling as this will come in very handy for genuine emergencies. For example if you need to return home urgently or lose important documents or passports, your embassy should be able to help you out pretty quickly. 
| VISA APPLICATIONS AND PASSPORTS | | | | | Restricted entry | | The following are not eligible to travel visa free under the Visa Waiver Program and must apply for visas before travelling:
(a) people afflicted with certain serious communicable diseases;
(b) anyone with a criminal record;
(c) narcotics addicts or abusers and drug traffickers;
(d) anyone who has been deported from or denied admission to the USA within the previous 5 years. | | | Passports | | Valid passport required by all. | | | Note | | (a) For nationals of countries under the Visa Waiver Program, passports must be valid for at least 90 days from date of entry (except for nationals of Andorra, Brunei and San Marino, who must hold passports valid for at least 6 months from date of departure). (b) For all other nationals, passports must be valid for 6 months from date of entry. | | | Visas | | Required by all except the following:
(a)citizens of countries under the Visa Waiver Program (see 2. below);
(b) 1. nationals of Bermuda (including other nationals resident in Bermuda) and Canada, providing holding valid passports;
(c) nationals of Mexico, provided holding a valid passport and a US Border Crossing Card (form I-186 or I-586);
(d) transit passengers continuing their journey by the same or first connecting aircraft provided holding valid onward or return documentaion and not leaving the airport. However, the following nationals are not eligible to transit without a visa:
Afghanistan, Angola, Bangladesh, Belarus, Bosnia & Herzegovina, Burundi, Central African Republic, China (PR), Columbia, Congo (Dem. Rep. of), Cuba, Iran, Iraq, Korea (Dem. Rep. of), Libya, Nigeria, Pakistan, Serbia, Sierra Leone, Somalia, Sri Lanka, Sudan. | | | Visa Waiver Program | | (a) 2. The following nationals do not require a visa under the Visa Waiver Program:
Andorra, Australia, Brunei, EU countries (except nationals of Greece, who do require a visa), Iceland, Japan, Liechtenstein, Monaco, New Zealand, Norway, San Marino, Singapore, Slovenia, Switzerland and Uruguay.
To qualify for visa-free travel under the Visa Waiver Pilot Program, nationals must travel on a valid passport for holiday, transit or business purposes only and for a stay not exceeding 90 days; hold a return or onward ticket (if onward tickets terminate in Mexico, Canada, Bermuda or the Caribbean Islands travellers must be legal permanent residents of those countries); if entering the USA by air or sea, hold a completed form I-94W and enter aboard an air or sea carrier participating in the Visa Waiver Program (lists of participating air or sea carriers are available from most travel agents or the carriers themselves); if entering the USA by land from Canada or Mexico, hold a completed I-94W issued by Immigration at the port of entry and a US$6 fee.
(b) 3. Holders of UK passports with the endorsement British Subject, British Dependent Territories Citizen, British Protected Person, British Overseas Citizen or British National (Overseas) Citizen do not qualify for the Visa Waiver Program. Persons unsure about visa requirements (including those defined in 'Restricted Entry' above) should write to the US Consulate General or the Visa Department of the US Embassy (see Address section). | | | Types of visa and cost | | Non-immigrant and Immigrant. Non-immigrant visas are subdivided into a number of different visa types, including Business, Student (participating in academic or exchange programmes), Journalist, Temporary worker, providing stays are for no more than 90 daysand Transit. For details on other types of non-immigrant visas and application requirements, contact the Consulate (or Consular section at Embassy) or visit the US Embassy website (http://usembassy.org.uk/). Recorded visa information is also available (tel: 09068) 200 290; calls are charged at the rate of 60 pence per minute).
Each visa costs £32, regardless of whether the visa is denied or issued and regardless of the duration of the visa or entries required. The embassy will provide a paying-in slip, which is attached to the application form DS-156. The fee must be paid in cash at a bank prior to submitting a visa application to the US Embassy, and the bank will endorse the DS-156 as receipt of payment. Some nationals may also have to pay a reciprocal visa issuance fee - details can be found on the State Department's website (http://travel.state.gov/). | | | Validity | | Visas may be used for travel to the USA until the date it expires, or if marked 'valid indefinitely' for up to 10 years. Some visas are valid for multiple entries. The length of stay in the USA is determined by US immigration officials at the time of entry, but is generally 6 months. For extensions and further information, apply to the US Immigration & Naturalisation Service when in the USA. | | | Note | | (a) The embassy no longer issues visas valid indefinitely. Any new B-1/B-2 visa issued will be valid for a maximum of 10 years. (b) A visa does not expire with the expiry of the holder's passport. An unexpired visa in an expired passport may be presented for entry into the USA as long as the visa itself has not been cancelled, is undamaged, is less than 10 years old and is presented with a valid non-expired passport, provided that both passports are for the same nationality. | | | Application to | | Visa branches at Consulates General. Visas can also be applied for by mail or through an authorised travel agent who has an agreement with the Embassy to lodge passports. Only applicants requested by the Embassy to appear in person for an interview will be required to schedule a personal appointment. | | | Application requirements | | Postal applications: (a) Completed visa application form DS-156. As of 1 January 2002, all male applicants aged between 16-45 must also complete an additional form DS-157. All application forms must be endorsed by a bank to demonstrate payment of visa fee. (b) Valid passport. (c) 1 passport-size colour photo. (Nationals of China, Cuba, Russia and Vietnam require 2 passport-size photos and 2 application forms). (d) Supporting documents. (e) Stamped, self-addressed envelope if applying by post. Applications through travel agent: (a)-(e), but applicants should contact the travel agent for details on paying the visa fee. Further documentation may be required to substantiate details such as the purpose of visit plus proof of intention to return to country of residence. | | | Note | | Nationals of China, Cuba, North Cyprus, Iran, Iraq, Libya, Russia, Somalia, Sudan and Vietnam also require an administrative processing questionnaire form. Please note that this list is subject to change at short notice and any applicant should check with the US Embassy (website: http://usembassy.org.uk/). | | | Working days required | | Routine applications will normally take 2-5 days. However, due to the terrorist attacks of 11 September 2001 applications take up to several weeks. Passports will be posted back in the stamped, self-addressed envelope or handed back to the travel agent. It is important to allow sufficient time for processing the visa, and final travel plans should not be made until a visa has been issued. Applications lodged during the peak travel season may take longer. | | | Temporary residence | | The law in the USA is complex for those wishing to take up residence. More information may be obtained from the Embassy. | | | Addresses | | International Trade Administration, Tourism Industries | | US Department of Commerce, 14th and Constitution Avenue NW, Room 7025, Washington, DC 20230
Tel: (202) 482 4029 or 482 0140. Fax: (202) 482 2887.
Website: http://tinet.ita.doc.gov/ | | | | Travel Industry Association of America | | 1100 New York Avenue NW, Suite 450, Washington, DC 20005-3925
Tel: (202) 408 8422. Fax: (202) 408 1255.
Website: http://tia.org/ | | |
| | | Help to Visa Application Forms.
How to find the right one(s)? Understand that we cannot provide forms, since this specific topic is too complex for a implementation in our websites.
Each country uses its own specific application formulars for tourists, residents and/or workers.
There are no general or multipurpose formulars for each country.
Anyway you may search the needed forms in the Internet by using the search engines like,
Altavista, Yahoo, Google, DMOZ, AOL, MSN, Lycos, Teoma.
Search examples:
Type your query and set - of course - for 'COUNTRY' the real country name you are looking for ...
... and good luck! Important remark: the [ + ] and [ " ] will reduce the number of the search results anyway.
Type exactly like examples below or you copy and paste the search strings: If your search was successful, visit the consulate's, governments' or embassies' websites first.
As per our investigation experiences most of the downloadable form sheets you'll find are built in PDF for Adobe's Acrobat™ Reader.
PASSPORT APPLICATIONS, RENEWALS Applying for a Passport You should apply for your passport several months in advance of your planned departure, making sure you fill in the dates of your upcoming trip in the appropriate place on the application. If you'll need visas from foreign embassies (find out by checking foreign entry requirements for the country you'll visit, allow more time. (It's very important to check those requirements. Imagine how disappointed you'd be if you were turned back on the day of your departure because your passport expires in three months and the country you're visiting requires it to be valid at least six months AFTER you return home! Also check on immunization requirements -- you may need to be inoculated before you can enter a country!) As a rule, it takes about 25 business days to process your passport application and get the document sent to you. Something to think about: Lines are longest at passport agencies from January to July, resulting in longer waiting times for applicants. You might want to avoid the crowds by applying through a nearby clerk of court or post office that accepts passport applications. Lost or Stolen Passport Losing your passport -- especially if you're in a foreign country -- can be scary. It's the most important item you carry with you, so it's best to keep it someplace secure (like in a money pouch you wear under your clothes). Another safety measure you can take is to make two photocopies of the photo ID page of your passport. Leave one at home with family or friends and keep the other in a different place from your passport, perhaps buried in the bottom of checked luggage. This could make all the difference in getting you on your flight home in the event that your passport is lost or stolen. It also makes getting it replaced much easier. Can I Have My Old Passport Back?
Yes! Most people view their passports as important memorabilia and are eager to get them back. That's why your previous passport, marked "canceled," will be returned to you with your new one. | | | | Holidays and Observances 2006 | | Jan 1 | New Year's Day | | Jan 2 | Last day of Chanukah (Jewish) | | Jan 2 | 'New Year's Day' observed | | Jan 10 | Eid-al-Adha (Islamic) | | Jan 16 | Martin Luther King Day | | Jan 31 | Muharramn/New Year (Islamic) | | Feb 14 | Valentine's Day | | Feb 20 | President's Day | | Apr 11 | Prophet's Birthday (Islamic) | | Apr 13 | First day of Passover (Jewish) | | Apr 14 | Good Friday (Christian) | | Apr 16 | Easter Sunday (Christian) | | Apr 17 | Easter Monday (Christian) | | Apr 20 | Last day of Passover (Jewish) | | May 14 | Mother's Day | | May 29 | Memorial Day | | Jun 18 | Father's Day | | | | | Jul 4 | Independence Day | | Sep 4 | Labor Day | | Sep 23 | Rosh Hashana (Jewish) | | Sep 24 | Ramadan begins (Islamic) | | Oct 2 | Yom Kippur (Jewish) | | Oct 9 | Columbus Day | | Oct 13 | Last day of Sukkot (Jewish) | | Oct 19 | Lailat Ul Qadr (Islamic) | | Oct 24 | Eid-al-Fitr (Islamic) | | Oct 31 | Halloween | | Nov 10 | 'Veterans Day' observed | | Nov 11 | Veterans Day | | Nov 23 | Thanksgiving Day | | Dec 16 | First day of Chanukah (Jewish) | | Dec 23 | Last day of Chanukah (Jewish) | | Dec 25 | Christmas Day (Christian) | | Dec 31 | Eid-al-Adha (Islamic) | | | | | Holidays and Observances 2007 | | Jan 1 | New Year's Day | | Jan 15 | Martin Luther King Day | | Jan 20 | Muharramn/New Year (Islamic) | | Feb 14 | Valentine's Day | | Feb 19 | President's Day | | Mar 31 | Prophet's Birthday (Islamic) | | Apr 3 | First day of Passover (Jewish) | | Apr 6 | Good Friday (Christian) | | Apr 8 | Easter Sunday (Christian) | | Apr 9 | Easter Monday (Christian) | | Apr 10 | Last day of Passover (Jewish) | | May 13 | Mother's Day | | May 28 | Memorial Day | | Jun 17 | Father's Day | | Jul 4 | Independence Day | | Sep 3 | Labor Day | | | | | Sep 13 | Rosh Hashana (Jewish) | | Sep 13 | Ramadan begins (Islamic) | | Sep 22 | Yom Kippur (Jewish) | | Oct 3 | Last day of Sukkot (Jewish) | | Oct 8 | Lailat Ul Qadr (Islamic) | | Oct 8 | Columbus Day | | Oct 13 | Eid-al-Fitr (Islamic) | | Oct 31 | Halloween | | Nov 11 | Veterans Day | | Nov 12 | 'Veterans Day' observed | | Nov 22 | Thanksgiving Day | | Dec 5 | First day of Chanukah (Jewish) | | Dec 12 | Last day of Chanukah (Jewish) | | Dec 20 | Eid-al-Adha (Islamic) | | Dec 25 | Christmas Day (Christian) | | | | |  More Resources | | | | Forums |  | Expats Travel Forums
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This is a forum which gives people the opportunity to exchange information about travelling, as well as discuss various topics of interest. | | Health | | Travel Health Care Plans - Travel safely to your favourite Destination. | | Driving Directions | | General Driving Rules - Driving Information, Restrictions and Safety. | | External Links | | Internet Cafe Directory | | Travel Resources - Provided by our visitors. | | Hotel Reservations | | Tour Bookings | | More useful Tips for Travellers | | Make sure you have a signed, valid passport and visa, if required. Also, before you go, fill in the emergency information page of your passport! Read the Consular Information Sheets (and Public Announcements or Travel Warnings, if applicable) for the countries you plan to visit. Leave copies of your itinerary, passport data page and visas with family or friends at home, so that you can be contacted in case of an emergency. Make sure you have insurance, which will cover your emergency medical needs, while you are overseas. Familiarize yourself with local laws and customs of the countries to which you are traveling. Remember, while in a foreign country, you are subject to its laws! Do not leave your luggage unattended in public areas and never accept packages from strangers. While abroad, avoid using illicit drugs or drinking excessive amounts of alcoholic beverages, and associating with people who do. Do not become a target for thieves by wearing conspicuous clothing and expensive jewelry and do not carry excessive amounts of cash or unnecessary credit cards. Deal only with authorized agents when you exchange money or purchase art or antiques in order to avoid violating local laws. When overseas, avoid demonstrations and other situations that may become unruly. |  | | Travel-Island.com 2004, 2008 . Weather Channel | | |
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