Applicants still must complete all of the various application forms, passport checks, and submit photographs, application fees and other kinds of documentation as they did before.

Applicants also still need to demonstrate their intent to return home rather than stay permanently in the United States.

The more complex a person's circumstances, the more forms and documentation will be required. Individual experience in obtaining a visa can therefore range from relatively fast and simple to relatively complex and time consuming.

There is no entitlement to a visa. You will not be granted a visa if, in the judgment of the consular officer, you have not met all of the necessary criteria.

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What's Different about U.S. Visa Policy?

In addition to being satisfied that the applicant intends to honor the terms of the visa by returning home, the consular officer must evaluate the security risk presented by the applicant. We carefully examine all applications. Visa applications take longer to process. This affects both tourist and business nonimmigrant visas.

A registration requirement also has been added. For some time, U.S. law has required that officials verify that visitors comply with the terms of their visas - that is, that they actually do what they've said they intend to do. This requirement, which many countries follow, is now being enforced in the United States.

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