Obtaining a USA Visa

Whatever your reason for traveling, you must obtain an ESTA or a USA visa to be able to go to the United States. There are a multitude of visas, depending on your status or professional situation. Although the reasons for requesting it are varied, the procedure for obtaining it remains the same.

For a stay of less than 90 days in the United States: It is not necessary to apply for a US visa. You can simply apply for ESTA. ESTA is an Electronic Travel Authorization issued by the United States for stays of less than 90 days. To obtain your certificate in a few minutes click on the online form.

Procedure for obtaining a US visa

Whatever the reason for your stay, obtaining a visa for the USA is mandatory under US immigration regulations. To obtain your visa, you need to follow the procedure that includes an application and an interview at the American embassy. At this interview, you’ll be asked to explain why you want to come to the U.S., how long you plan to stay, and to provide information about your personal situation, health and criminal record.

The issuance of a visa is not taken lightly by the US government, which is why an interview at the embassy is a requirement for a USA visa. Therefore, we advise you to come prepared. Here are our tips:

• Plan to be there at least half an hour before the appointment to make sure you are not late;
• Adopt an appropriate dress code for the interview because the image you send back is essential;
• Bring your valid electronic or biometric passport for the USA;
• Prepare your answers to any questions you may be asked during the interview;
• Plan to pay the visa fee for the type of visa you wish to obtain.

The length of validity and price depend entirely on the type of visa you wish to obtain: For example, an au pair visa or a J1 visa for an internship will last 1 year and the visa application fee will be 185 US Dollars. Each request is considered on a case-by-case basis by the U.S. government.

When to apply for your US visa?

We recommend that you start the process at least several weeks before your departure date to ensure that you get your USA visa on time. In fact, you must complete various online forms, gather a significant number of documents to put together your file and carry out your interview at the American embassy. You must also take into account the processing time for your application, which includes a thorough review of your file.

Once you have made your appointment, you should allow 3 to 5 working days to receive your visa by mail.

Also, anticipate your future in the United States, especially for the long term, by considering obtaining a social security number in the United States.

ESTA, an alternative to a visa

If you wish to travel to the U.S. for tourist or business reasons for a stay of less than 90 days, then we advise you to obtain an ESTA rather than a visa. Nationals of member countries of the Visa Waiver Program can benefit from this visa-free travel authorization. The advantages of ESTA are numerous:

1. Valid for two years, allowing several stays with the same authorization;
2. Allows you to stay in the United States for up to 90 days without the need for a visa;
3. There is no need to go to the embassy: the entire process is done online;
4. There is no need to prepare a file with a multitude of administrative papers: you only need your valid electronic passport;
5. Your request is processed very quickly: in less than 72 hours.

If ESTA is more to your liking, simply visit the official U.S. website to start the procedure.