A fundamental clarification needs to be made. The ESTA application is not a visa, but only a temporary electronic entry authorization to the USA issued by the US government for tourism or business purposes in order to shorten application times and automate the application process by travelers. Only a limited number of countries participate in the ESTA program, and travelers from these countries only have the opportunity to apply for ESTA if they fully meet the requirements for admission to the program. If the requirements are not met, you must apply for a regular US visa.
This may occur if, for example, you were denied ESTA for legal or health reasons, or you have recently traveled to countries on the US government blacklist (including Iran, Syria, etc.). You can also consider going with TN visa computer science if you are a computer engineer.
The obligation to apply for a normal visa does not only have to do with the rejection of an ESTA, but also depends on other requirements (read article Applying for ESTA in the case of a criminal record), especially the length of stay on American soil. ESTA allows a maximum stay of 90 consecutive days. If you plan to stay in the USA for longer than 3 months, you must apply for a normal USA visa.
You must apply for a normal visa if you want to stay in the USA for more than 90 days or if you want to do an internship, a course of study that lasts longer than three months and of course the US visa is essential if you are in the United States of America want to work.
USA visa entry from Germany: What is it and how can I apply for it?
The visa is an official document issued to travelers who wish to enter the USA for various reasons. It is approved by American consulates or embassies around the world and is issued only after several interviews with immigration officials and the presentation of various documents. Of course, if the purpose of the trip is tourism and you already know that the duration of the trip does not exceed 90 consecutive days, you can apply for an ESTA visa simply by filling out an online form and receive it in a short time.
You must apply for a US visa if you intend to:
- Staying in the USA for more than 3 months
- To work
- to enter the USA for other purposes not related to tourism or business or for health reasons.
- Using a carrier (air or sea) to enter the United States from one of the countries not included in the Visa Waiver Program.
However, the USA visa is still essential if:
- You have been in Iran, North Korea, Syria, Sudan, Yemen, Libya and Somalia since 2011 or you were and are a citizen of one of these countries.
- You are not authorized to enter the United States with any other documents under the Immigration and Nationality Act
- If you have been denied electronic ESTA authorization
Instead, you can apply for ESTA if your stay is limited to 90 days for tourist or business reasons. This counts as participation in meetings in general, meetings with customers or suppliers.
Which US visas can be applied for?
As with the ESTA, even obtaining a normal US visa does not provide absolute certainty of being able to enter American soil, as you may be refused entry to the United States by a customs officer upon your arrival in the United States.
As with any country, the USA has numerous types of visas, each with a specific purpose depending on what you want to do once you arrive in the USA.
These numerous visas are divided into two main categories: “nonimmigrant visas” and “immigrant visas.” Below we will explain to you what differences and types of visas exist in each category.
Nonimmigrant visas:
Nonimmigrant visas belong to this category, US visas issued when the purpose of the trip involves a limited stay in the United States for tourism, business, leisure or medical purposes, temporary jobs and study programs. The non-migrant visa category is again divided into subcategories by topic. Now let’s look at them in detail.
Category 1 – USA visas for tourism or business
US B-1 visa:
It is a temporary business travel visa that allows you to negotiate with business partners. You can also take part in congresses or conferences with an educational and leisure theme.
US B-2 visa:
It is the temporary visa for tourists. It allows you to vacation in the USA, visit friends and relatives who live there, undergo medical examinations, take part in sports or music betting events or recreational courses of various kinds.
There is also a combination of B-1 and B-2 visas, which allows you to do all activities (in B-1 and B-2).
Please note that B-1 and B-2 are the most requested visas after ESTA approval is denied for various reasons.
Category 2 – Work or study visa
We now list the US visas that are issued for study or work purposes in the USA.
Visa F: It is issued to foreign students attending full-time universities or recognized public and private institutions. The F visa offers the opportunity to bring relatives with you who can study on their own, but who do not work full-time and are not allowed to apply for a work permit.
Visa H: For foreigners who work in the USA on a temporary basis.
J visa: Cultural exchange visa, valid for workers and students, including professors, researchers, interns in companies or law firms. There is also the option to stay for 18 months, but the student must prove that they have the necessary funds for their entire stay in the USA.
Visa L: For employees at multinational companies with offices in the United States and abroad. To receive the L visa, the applicant must have been employed by the company for at least 1 year. This visa is valid for a maximum of 7 years. Close family members can also be included in the visa.
Visa M: Issued for students taking specialization courses. With this USA visa it is possible to bring close family members, spouses and children.