If you want to visit, study, or work temporarily in the United States, chances are you will need a visa. The process for applying for a nonimmigrant visa can vary depending on which one you need, but many of the essentials are the same. If you are looking into getting a temporary visa, here is an outline of what you need to know.

First off, a temporary visa will specify the amount of time you can stay in the country; you may be able to extend this date if necessary. The expiration date refers to the time that you are allowed to enter the country. How long you are allowed to stay is another matter. This date can be found on your Form I-94; this could be a white or green card if you came into the United States after April 2013. You can only use your visa to enter the country more than once if it is a "multiple entry" visa. The visa can also name restrictions on what you can do while in the United States. Take a student visa for instance. Someone with a student visa would not be allowed to work off campus in the U.S. without obtaining special permission.

So how do you apply for a temporary visa? First, you need to find the consulate that is closest to you, and it probably has to be one within your native country. You may be able to apply from another country if you can prove that you cannot apply from your own. This could be a situation where your home does not have a diplomatic relationship with the United States, for instance. Each consulate might have its own rules, such as whether or not you have to apply through the mail instead of in person, or whether or not you can apply there if you are from a different country.

How you apply for a visa can depend largely on which one you are applying for. With several visas, including the visitor visa, you have to fill out a few applications and attend an embassy or consulate interview. As part of any application process, you will need to demonstrate that you can support yourself financially for the duration of your stay. You will also have to show that there is a reason for you to return to your homeland. You also have to have a passport, and its expiration date has to be at least 6 months after the time you would leave the United States.

Before you can apply for a student visa however, the first thing to do is to be accepted by a school, and the school will have to send you an I-20 form. You will need this form to get an application at a U.S. consulate. If you need to apply for a work visa, there are even more steps to the process. The first thing is to have a U.S. employer who will be your sponsor. Next, that employer has to fill out forms for the U.S. Department of Labor and with the U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS). These documents are asking for you to be allowed to get a visa application. If the USCIS approves this, then you get to act. You should be able to obtain a visa application at a U.S. embassy or consulate.

These forms can be complicated enough, but with guidance, they may not be problematic. Often the biggest issue with your visa application is time. Once you have filled out your paperwork, you have to wait for an interview, and it can take weeks to go over your application, complete background checks, etc. You can learn more about the process of getting a visa, how long it will take, and other visa issues when you contact an immigration lawyer. He or she can assist you with information about the specific visa that you want to obtain.