Often, there are visa applications and renewal’s questions, some of these are frequently asked questions, while others need the experience of a South Dakota immigration lawyer. The questions that are generally asked include:

Question: What types of visas are available to enter the United States?

Answer: There are over 20 different nonimmigrant visas for travel into the United States temporarily and even more types of immigration visas to become a permanent resident in the U.S.

Question: How do I know what type of Visa to Apply for?

Answer: The type of visa to apply for will depend on the purpose of traveling to the United States, such as the fiancé of a U.S. citizen or the individual who is being seasonally employed. Everyone will require a different type of passport.

Question: Once the visa is approved it will allow me to enter the United States without any further process?

Answer: Having an approved visa does not guarantee being able to enter the U.S., it permits travel to a U.S. port of entry, where a Department of Homeland Security U.S. Customs and Border Protection immigration inspector will either authorize or deny admission into the United States.

Question: My visa is valid, but my passport has expired, do I need to renew it before traveling to the United States?

Answer: Yes, you will need a valid passport, along with your visa to enter the United States. The passport should be renewed prior to traveling to the U.S., or you will not be permitted to enter the country.

Question: How long will I be able to remain in the U.S.?

Answer: Having a visa does not ensure you will be permitted entry into the United States, but if you have been permitted into the U.S., then the amount of time that you will legally be able to remain in the country will depend on the type of visa you have applied for, with the nonimmigrant visa being for a shorter duration, than the permanent resident visa. The U.S. Department of Homeland Security, U.S. immigration inspector will provide you with a small white card, which is a Form I-94 Arrival-Departure Record in your passport. This contains a specific date, in which you must leave the United States by and shows your permission to be in the country.

Question: When a nonimmigrant visa is going to expire shortly, and I would like to renew it, will I have to go through the entire visa application process again?

Answer: The short answer is yes, any time you need to renew a visa. You will be required to go through the whole application process again. In some cases, it may not be required to go through the interview again, when renewing a visa.

These are some of the commonly asked questions and while this is information that can be found or requested from the USCIS officials, there are other immigration questions that are not as common. These questions can be answered by the South Dakota immigration lawyer; since this is the area of the law they have a complete knowledge of and can provide legal representation when necessary for more serious immigration issues. It is important to realize that the rules and regulations for visas can change. This is one of the areas the immigration attorney Montana stays informed and can answer this type immigration lawyer questions.