general visa information

Who Must Apply for a United States Visa? 

red button you must apply for a United States visa if you...
red button United States Visa Waiver Program...
red button which visa category might be right for me?

You must apply for a United States visa if you...

red button intend to accept paid or unpaid employment in the USA (also applies to au-pairs and interns);
red button wish to travel to the United States for more than 90 days in order to attend secondary school or university;
red button have been denied entry on a previous occasion or have been expelled from the USA during the last five years;
red button have a criminal record or suffer from a serious transmittable disease or mental disorder;
red button are a drug addict, drug trafficker, or were involved in Nazi persecutions, and if you were or still are a member of a subversive or terrorist organization.


You are eligible for the United States Visa Waiver Program and do not have to apply for a United States Visa if you:

red button are a citizen of Andorra, Australia, Austria, Belgium, Brunei, Denmark, Germany, Finland, France, Great Britain, Ireland, Iceland, Italy, Japan, Liechtenstein, Luxembourg, Monaco, New Zealand, the Netherlands, Norway, Portugal, San Marino, Singapore, Slovenia, Sweden, Switzerland, Spain or Uruguay, and
red button are staying for less than 90 days on your pleasure or business trip to the United States.


Which visa category might be right for me?

The following is a list of the most commonly requested types of visa:

red button  Temporary visitor for business or pleasure
red button  Treaty trader or investor
red button  Student (academic or language program)
red button  Individuals in specialty occupations (e.g. nurses)
red button  Exchange visitor
red button  Fiancé(e) of U.S. Citizen
red button  Student in vocational or recognized non-academic program
red button  Individuals with extraordinary ability in sciences, arts, education, business, athletics
red button  Participant in an international cultural exchange program


If none of the above categories apply to you or if you need more detailed information about one of these visas, please call:

red buttonLive Operator Service at 0190 - 85 00 55, 7am to 8pm, Monday - Friday (EUR 1,86/min; defacto)
red buttonRecorded Message at 0190 - 85 00 58 00, 24 hours, daily, (EUR 1,86/min; defacto)
red button Visa Information via fax-on-demand
red button Why do we have a 0190 number?


Last modified: February 2002

Disclaimer | Home | Index