Typically, foreigners will need to use a visa to enter the United States. They can acquire one from the United States Department of State. The type of visa needed will vary and is based on the type of travel that will be done. Regardless, all visas from the United States will have a visa number.
Finding A U.S. Visa Number
If a person has a visa that has been recently issued, it will have the number printed near the bottom right area. These numbers are eight digits long and printed in red ink. The sequence of the number may be alphanumeric, which means that it contains both letters and numbers. If an individual has a visa that’s older, the visa number will be printed near the top center area.
When Will A Person Need A Visa Number?
Even though a person may be holding a visa to the United States, that does not grant them permission to enter. In order to gain entry, a foreigner must also have a passport in their possession. The passport will be from the country where they are a citizen. The U.S. Visa number will be used to verify the reason why a person is entering the United States. This number will also be required if a foreigner is beginning work or school in the U.S.
No Visa Required To Enter
Foreigners are not always required to have a visa when entering the United States. Citizens from some countries are allowed to enter with just their passport. These individuals are part of the Visa Waiver Program. Some of the countries where this is allowed include Australia, Germany, Japan and France. The full list includes about 40 different countries.
However, citizens from these countries will still need to meet certain guidelines given by the Department of Homeland Security, and they must also obtain a return ticket within 90 days after arriving in the U.S.
Non-Visa Waiver Program Countries
Due to its close proximity to Canada and strong relationship with the country, Canada is not part of the Visa Waiver Program. Canadian citizens are able to just use a passport when they want to enter the United States. The country of Bermuda is also not part of the Visa Waiver program. However, if a foreigner from either of these two countries is coming into the U.S. to study in an educational program, they will need to obtain a visa or permanently relocate to the country.
Jim Treebold is a North Carolina based writer. He lives by the mantra of “Learn 1 new thing each day”! Jim loves to write, read, pedal around on his electric bike and dream of big things. Drop him a line if you like his writing, he loves hearing from his readers!