The C-3 visa is reserved for Government officials traveling on official business through the United States to a foreign destination. If the foreign national is traveling with a family/party, each member of the party, regardless of their age, needs to ply for the C-3 Visa. The Immigration officer at the port of entry will determine the length of stay with 29 days being the maximum. The beneficiary must have sufficient funds to reach their final destination and must have permission to enter the destination country.
The C-3 Visa is a very convenient visa as it allows individuals who may have long layovers in the United States to leave the airport and go shopping, visit friends, or take a tour of the city.
The C-2 non-immigrant visa is reserved for foreign nationals traveling to and from United Nations or United Nations officials traveling to another country with a layover in the United States. The immigration officer will determine the length of stay with the maximum stay being 29 days. The individual must leave the United States on or before the allocated date.
The C-1 non-immigrant visa is reserved for foreign nationals who are passing through the United States on their journey to their final destination outside the United States. If the foreign national is traveling with a family/party, each member of the party, regardless of their age, needs to apply for a C-1 Visa. The Immigration officer at the US port of entry will determine the length of stay with 29 days being the maximum. The beneficiary must have sufficient funds to reach their final destination and must have permission to enter the destination country.
The C-1 Visa is a very convenient visa as it allows individuals who may have a long layover in the United States to leave the airport and go shopping, visit friends, or take a tour of the city.
There are a number of options available to individuals to enter the United States depending on the nature of your stay in the United States:
Visitor Visas. If you are a foreign national from a country which is not part of the Visa Waiver Program then you can apply for a B-1 (Business visa) or B-2 (Visitor visa) depending on the nature of your visit to the United States. Please click here to see an up to date list of countries which are part of the Visa Waiver Program.
Student Visa. If you are planning on attending a US educational institution for a course of study, you will need you will need to apply for an F-1 Student Visa. If you are planning on attending vocational program in the United States, you can apply for an M-1 Student visa. If you are planning on working while in the United States under a Student Visa, please see here for more information on working as a student.
Diversity Program. If you are a foreign national from country with as low immigration to the United States, you can enter a Green Card lottery administered by the US Department of State. There are 50, 000 visa available annually.
In addition to the above mentioned options available to individuals, there are also other options available to individuals under the umbrella of Business Immigration. See here for further information.
How can our Immigration Lawyers from Boston help….
The Law Offices of Trupti N Patel & Associates has filed numerous visas on behalf of students with the USCIS. If you are a student and are looking for your immigration options and would like a consultation, please call us at (617) 367-6750 or click on here to request a consultation regarding Student Visas with one of our Immigration Lawyers in Boston, Massachusetts.
If you plan on attending a consultation with one of our immigration attorneys, in person, please see the Directions to our Office
Consular Processing
There are two paths to permanent residency (or as it is commonly referred to – the Green Card). These are:
- Consular Processing. This is the process that is used by immigrants that reside outside the United States or those who are ineligible to adjust their status in the United States. This process is typically used by family members who become eligible for a Green card because of a petition that was filed by one of their family members or an employer. A person with an approved immigration petition and an Immigration number can apply for an immigrant visa at a US Consulate abroad in order to travel to the United States and be admitted as a permanent resident.
- Adjustment of Status. This process is typically used by an eligible person who is currently residing in the United States to become a permanent resident without having to travel to their home country to complete the process.
Consular Processing Steps
The steps below show the typical steps that are followed during consular Processing:
- Consular Processing for Business-related Immigration. For Employment-based, the employer is required to file an I-140 petition on your behalf. If you intend to invest significant amounts of capital into a business venture in the United States, then you will need to file an Immigrant Petition by Alien Entrepreneur.
- Consular Processing for Family-based immigration. If you are a relative of a US Citizen or a permanent resident (see family immigration for further information on attaining a Green card through family) then they should have filed an I-130 petition on your behalf.
- Once your petition has been filed, wait for USCIS to make a decision on your application by the USCIS. If your application is denied, you will be notified along with your rights to appeal. If your application has been approved but decide to apply for a visa abroad your application will be sent to the National Visa Center (NVC) until an immigrant visa number is available.
- The NVC will notify both the petitioner and the beneficiary when it has received the application from USCIS as well as when the visa number is available and when the processing fees and the supporting documents are due.
- Once the visa is granted, the consular officer will give you a packet which you must deliver to the immigration officer at the port of entry.
Law Offices of Trupti N Patel & Associates
One Boston Place
201 Washington St #2600
Boston, MA 02108
