Types of U.S. Visas and Effective Ways to Check Your Visa Status

Types of U.S. Visas and Effective Ways to Check Your Visa Status

The United States is one of the countries with the most complex visa systems in the world, offering many different types of visas, each serving a specific purpose. Understanding U.S. visa categories and knowing how to check your visa status is essential for anyone planning to travel, study, work, or settle in the U.S. Quoc Tich Thu Hai will provide you with detailed information here.

The most common types of U.S. visas today

1. Non-immigrant visa

A non-immigrant visa is issued to individuals who intend to visit the United States temporarily for specific purposes and will return to their home country after completing those purposes.

Có các loại visa Mỹ đa dạng theo từng nhu cầu

Various types of U.S. visas to meet different needs

Tourist and visitor visa (B-1/B-2)

  • B-1: For individuals traveling to the U.S. for business purposes, conferences, or seminars.

  • B-2: For individuals traveling to the U.S. for tourism, visiting relatives, or medical treatment.

Validity: Typically 10 years (for Vietnamese citizens), allowing a maximum stay of up to 6 months per entry.

Student visa (F and M)

  • F-1: For students enrolling in academic programs at universities and colleges.

  • M-1: For students pursuing vocational training programs.

Validity: Depends on the length of the study program.

Exchange visitor visa (J-1)

For individuals participating in cultural exchange, research, or training programs sponsored by the U.S. government.

Temporary work visas

  • H-1B: For individuals with specialized skills.

  • H-2A: For seasonal agricultural workers.

  • H-2B: For temporary non-agricultural workers.

  • L-1: For employees transferred within the same company.

  • O-1: For individuals with extraordinary abilities.

2. Immigrant visa

Immigrant visas are granted to individuals intending to live permanently in the United States, with the possibility of eventually becoming U.S. citizens.

Visa định cư được cấp cho những người có ý định sinh sống lâu dài tại Mỹ

Immigrant visas are issued to individuals intending to live permanently in the United States

Family reunification visas

  • IR-1/CR-1: For spouses of U.S. citizens.

  • IR-2/CR-2: For unmarried children under 21 years old of U.S. citizens.

  • IR-5: For parents of U.S. citizens (the sponsoring citizen must be at least 21 years old).

  • F1 to F4: For other family members of U.S. citizens and lawful permanent residents.

Employment-based visas

  • EB-1: For individuals with extraordinary ability, outstanding professors and researchers, and multinational managers or executives.

  • EB-2: For individuals with advanced degrees or exceptional ability.

  • EB-3: For skilled workers and professionals.

  • EB-4: For certain special immigrants (such as religious workers).

  • EB-5: For investors (minimum investment of USD 800,000 or USD 1,050,000 depending on the region).

Diversity visa (DV program)

A U.S. visa lottery program for citizens of countries with low immigration rates to the United States. Each year, the U.S. government issues about 55,000 green cards through this program.

How to check your U.S. visa status accurately and quickly

After submitting a visa application, tracking the processing status is something many applicants are concerned about. Below are the most effective methods to check your U.S. visa status:

Hãy check tình trạng visa Mỹ sau khi nộp đơn

Check your U.S. visa status after submitting your application

1. Check via the CEAC website (Consular Electronic Application Center)

CEAC is the official system of the U.S. Department of State for checking visa status.

Steps:

  1. Visit: https://ceac.state.gov/CEACStatTracker/Status.aspx

  2. Select the type of visa you applied for (Immigrant Visa or Non-immigrant Visa)

  3. Enter your visa case number (usually beginning with AA or other letters depending on the application location)

  4. Enter the confirmation code and click "Submit"

The system will display one of the following statuses:

  • At NVC (National Visa Center): Case is being processed at the NVC.

  • In Transit: Case is being transferred to the Embassy/Consulate.

  • Ready: Case is ready for the interview.

  • Administrative Processing: Case is undergoing additional administrative review.

  • Issued: Visa has been granted.

  • Refused: Visa application has been denied.

2. Check via the National Visa Center (NVC)

For immigrant visas, you can check your status through the NVC by:

  1. Calling +1-603-334-0700

  2. Sending an email to NVCINQUIRY@state.gov with your case details

Note: When contacting the NVC, you will need to provide:

  • NVC case number

  • Name and date of birth of the beneficiary

  • Name and date of birth of the petitioner

3. Check through the U.S. Embassy or Consulate

Each U.S. Embassy or Consulate has its own website with visa processing information. You can visit their site or contact them directly for updates.

Example: For Vietnam, visit https://vn.usembassy.gov/

4. Use Quoc Tich Thu Hai’s visa checking service

Quoc Tich Thu Hai offers assistance in checking U.S. visa status and providing guidance on the next steps. With an experienced team of experts, we can help answer your questions and advise you on how to handle delays or requests for additional information.

Common U.S. visa statuses and their meanings

  • Issued: Visa has been granted, and you will soon receive your passport with the visa.

  • Administrative Processing: Case requires further review and may take additional time, ranging from a few days to several months.

  • Refused: Visa application has been denied. In this case, you will receive a notice explaining the reason for refusal and guidance on whether you may reapply.

  • Pending: Case is still being processed, and no final decision has been made yet.

Hãy hiểu rõ về các loại visa Mỹ và kiểm tra tình trạng visa

Understand U.S. visa types and check your visa status

Having a clear understanding of U.S. visa categories and how to check your visa status is crucial to ensuring a smooth application process. Being well-informed will help you prepare better and increase your chances of obtaining a visa.

If you are looking for more detailed information about the U.S. visa application process or need assistance in checking your visa status, don’t hesitate to contact Quoc Tich Thu Hai. With years of experience in U.S. immigration, we are committed to providing professional consultation and dedicated support to accompany you on your journey to the United States.

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