Can
an Iraqi "M" or "N" series
passport holder travel to the
U.S. with this passport?
What
types of visas are available
for people to come to the United
States?
There
are more than
20 nonimmigrant
visa types
for people
traveling
to the United
States temporarily.
There are
many more
types of
immigrant
visas for
those coming
to live permanently
in the U.S. The
type of Visa
you need
is determined
by the purpose
of your
intended
travel.
After
I have my visa, I will be able
to enter the U.S., correct?
A visa does not guarantee entry into the U.S. A visa allows a foreign
citizen to travel to the U.S. port-of-entry, and the Department of
Homeland Security U.S. immigration inspector authorizes or denies
admission to the U.S.
How
do I know whether to contact
the Department of State or Department
of Homeland Security about my
issue?
Contact the Department of State, Embassy or Consulate abroad with
questions about U.S. visas, including application, the status of
visa processing, and for inquiries relating to visa denial.
Once in the United States, the traveler falls under the jurisdiction
of Department of Homeland Security. The Department of Homeland Security,
U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS) is responsible
for the approval of all petitions, the authorization of permission
to work in the U.S., the issuance of extensions of stay, and change
or adjustment of an applicant's status while the applicant is in
the U.S.
My
visa expires in 5 years, what
does this mean?
A visa must be valid at the time a traveler seeks admission to the
U.S., but the expiration date of the visa (validity period/length
of time the visa can be used) has no relation to the length of time
a temporary visitor may be authorized by the Department of Homeland
Security to remain in the United States. Persons holding visas valid
for multiple entries may make repeated trips to the U.S., for travel
for the same purpose, as long as the visa has not expired, and the
traveler has done nothing to become ineligible to enter the U.S.,
at port of entry.
How
can I find out how long I am
authorized to stay in the U.S?
At the port of
entry, upon
entering the
U.S.,
the
Department
of Homeland
Security,
US immigration
inspector, provides
you a small
white
card,
Form I-94, Arrival-Departure
Record
in
your passport.
Visa Waiver
Program
travelers receive
Form
1-94W.
On
this form, the
U.S.
immigration
inspector
records either
a date
or "D/S" (duration
of status).
If your I-94
contains a
specific
date, then
that is
the date
by
which you
must leave
the United
States. Your
Form I-94, or
I-94W
is a
very important
document to
keep
in your
passport,
since it
shows your
permission
to
be in
the U.S.
What
are indefinite validity visas
(Burroughs visas) and are they
still valid?
Indefinite
validity
visas
(Burroughs
Visas)
are
tourist/business
visas
manually
stamped
into
a
traveler’s
passport
which
were
valid
for
ten
years.
Effective
April
1,
2004,
all
indefinite
validity
Burroughs
visas
became
void.
Therefore,
if
you
have
an
indefinite
validity
visa
you
must
apply
for
a
new
visa
for
travel
to
the
U.S.
I
hold an Iraqi "S" series passport;
can I travel to the U.S. with
this passport?
If you hold an Iraqi "S" series passport, effective January
8, 2007, the "S" series passports became no longer valid for travel
to the U.S. due to its failure to meet international security standards.
Holders of the "S" series passport cannot apply for a U.S. visa,
and Department of Homeland Security, Customs and Border Protection
will not admit travelers on U.S. visas issued in "S" series
passports.
Travelers
with
existing
valid
U.S.
visas
in
the "S" series passports
must obtain a new visa as well as a new passport. In order to apply
for a U.S. visa and travel to the U.S., Iraqi citizens must have
a "G" series passport. The "G" series
Iraqi
passport
has
effective
security
features
and
can
be
used
for
visas
or
travel
to
the
U.S.
Can
an Iraqi "M" or "N" series passport
holder travel to the U.S. with
this passport?
If
you
hold
an
Iraqi "M" or "N" series passport, effective January
2007, both the "M" and "N" series passports are no longer valid for
travel to the U.S. The Department of Homeland Security, Customs
and Border Protection will not admit travelers on "M" or "N" series
passports.
If
you
have
a
valid
U.S.
visa
in
the "M" or "N" series passport,
you will need to obtain a new "G" series
passport,
but
need
not
obtain
a
new
U.S.
visa.
.
