Understanding the Difference Between Visa and Passport, and Their Purposes
To understand the difference between a visa and a passport, the first thing you need to know is that both are essential identification documents if you plan a trip to another country.
Regardless of the travel reason, whether it’s for work, vacation, family visit, or just exploring new destinations, it’s necessary to have them on hand.
While both serve the function of identifying the person, the main difference is that the passport is issued by the country of origin. The visa, on the other hand, is issued by the embassy or consulate of the country to be visited.
Passport
A passport is a document that certifies a person’s identity and nationality and is necessary to visit another country. The passport identifies you outside your home country and is valid for several years, depending on the place of issuance.
Depending on where you are, the passport is issued by the Ministry of Foreign Affairs. To obtain it, you must go to this entity.
Requirements may vary, but you will need to schedule an appointment and manage personal data. They will request your identification document and take your photograph. You will have to pay the indicated fee and wait the specified period to obtain it.
Do I need a valid passport from my country of origin to apply for American citizenship?
If you want to apply for citizenship and you do not have the passport from your birth country, or it is expired, do not worry, because it is not a required document to apply for citizenship.
What you will need is your valid Permanent Resident Card or Green Card, in addition to other documents requested by the United States Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS).
These documents may vary according to the characteristics of each particular case, so it is important that you inform yourself and organize them in advance, as failing to send all the required documentation can result in your application being denied.
Remember that in addition to sending the documents, you will also need them for your citizenship exam and your English test.
Visa
The “Verified International Stay Approval” is a type of authorization that allows entry into certain countries for a specified period.
Each country has different entry requirements to its territory, but there are also some that do not require a visa for travelers. In some cases, the visa is placed on the passport, like a stamp, but it can also be issued as an additional document.
The visa is issued by the embassy or consulate of the country you wish to visit. Therefore, it is a different process from the passport.
Even so, the visa does not guarantee entry to the country you want to go to, as the decision is generally made by the immigration authority of that country. An official will ask you the purpose of your trip, the length of your stay in the country, and your place of accommodation.
But there are also different types of visas, which vary depending on the destination country, length of stay, among other things.
For the United States, there are tourist, work, study, and exchange visas known as non-immigrant visas. These allow you to stay in the country for a time and carry out specific activities, but they do not grant permanent residency or citizenship.
Getting an immigrant visa is a more complicated process, as it involves different additional procedures. In these cases, it is most advisable to consult an immigration lawyer, who can provide you with a more personalized guide.
It’s important that you are very aware of the differences between visa and passport for any immigration procedure you need to perform.
What types of visas are there?
According to the Immigration and Nationality Act, there are several categories of non-immigrant visas. Let’s see what each of them consists of.
Visas for visitors for pleasure or business trips
This category includes two types of visas, B1 and B2.
The B1 is also known as a visa for business trip visitors. It includes, among others, individuals attending professional or business conventions and conferences. Also, contract negotiations, property sales, business partnerships, and certain crew members.
Meanwhile, the B2 applies to those entering the country to visit relatives or friends. Both allow, depending on the purpose of travel, a stay of 1 to 6 months, but the final time is decided by the immigration officer who authorizes their entry into the country.
To obtain either of the two, you must prove that your visit to the U.S. will be for temporary business reasons and your stay will be temporary. Also, that you can financially support yourself and will then return to your home country.
Likewise, you will need to have your current passport, pay the corresponding fee, and fill out the form on the State Department’s website.
Visas for students and exchange visitors
These are granted to participants in educational and cultural exchange programs.
They are divided into three categories: Visas for academic and vocational students (F and M), exchange visas (J), and their respective spouses and children.
To apply for the F Visa, you must have been previously admitted to an educational institution approved by the Student and Exchange Visitor Program (SEVP).
On the other hand, the M Visa applies to non-academic or vocational students, as well as technical programs.
Finally, the J is assigned to exchange students, but also extends to interns, teachers, researchers, and other international visitors connected with academia.
To obtain one of these student visas, it is necessary to demonstrate that you will return to your home country at the end of the program, have sufficient funds for maintenance, and strong ties to your country (work, bank accounts, among others).
The requirements for processing these types of visas may vary, depending on your country, we suggest contacting your embassy or consulate for more information. In general terms, you must fill out the corresponding form and pay the current fee, according to your type of visa.
Visas for temporary workers
They are assigned to individuals who meet certain characteristics to work temporarily in the country.
This category is one of the most common, and there are different types of visas, some of them are H, I, L, P, and R, among others.
These apply to specific professions, agricultural jobs (H), foreign media (I), inter-corporate transfers (L), artists (P), religious workers (R).
You should be especially careful when applying for the visa that applies to your case, as the requirements for each may vary. For example, you might need an employer to sponsor your visa, credentials, or additional documentation to certify your activity.
How to know if my Visa was denied?
There are two reasons why a visa may be denied, each of these has its own characteristics; firstly, for being ineligible, which happens when the requirements to obtain the visa you are applying for are not met. Secondly, there is the reason of inadmissibility, which is when the requirements established by the immigration law to enter the United States are not met. To have a positive response for a non-immigrant visa, the two sets must be met simultaneously.
Reasons why my Visa is denied
In addition to the above, you will know that the denial was for being ineligible when you are given an official paper at the consular office after the interview, in the mentioned document will appear the number 214-b, which corresponds to the visa being denied for raising suspicions of wanting to stay in the United States, this happens when sufficient family, economic, labor, or personal ties with the country of residence have not been proven, this is the most common cause of denial for a non-immigrant visa.
On the other hand, there is inadmissibility which groups those people who have incurred in illegal acts or who may be considered a public charge, among the most prominent are:
Having been deported or expelled from the country. Being involved in fraud issues using a fake passport, Green Card, or visa. Having been illegal in the United States, you may have a penalty of no entry to the USA for 3 to 10 years. Being considered a danger to society or the American government, a national security argument. Being in poor health or other conditions that make the subject a possible public charge in the future.
We recommend that before sending your naturalization application, or starting any other process, consult with an immigration lawyer to study the details of your case.
