1. What's a Visa?

If you are a citizen of a foreign country, in most cases you need a visa to enter the United States .

A visa doesn't permit entry to the U.S. , however. A visa simply indicates that your application has been reviewed by a U.S. Consular officer at an American embassy or consulate, and that the officer has determined you are eligible to enter the country for a specific purpose. Consular affairs are the responsibility of the U.S. Department of State.

A visa allows you to travel to the United States as far as the port of entry (airport or land border crossing) and ask the immigration officer to allow you to enter the country. Only the immigration officer has the authority to permit you to enter the United States . He or she decides how long you can stay for any particular visit. Immigration matters are the responsibility of the U.S. Department of Homeland Security.

There are two categories of U.S. visas: immigrant and nonimmigrant.

Immigrant visas are for people who intend to live permanently in the U.S. Nonimmigrant visas are for people with permanent residence outside the U.S. but who wish to be in the U.S. on a temporary basis? for tourism, medical treatment, business, temporary work or study.

2. U.S. Visa Policy

The U.S. is a free and open society. We welcome citizens from around the world who genuinely want to visit, study, and do business here. We are dedicated to protecting their safety and keeping our doors open to them. Changes in visa procedures reflect our concern for ensuring the safety of U.S. residents and visitors alike, not to make it more difficult for legitimate travelers to enter the United States .

Following the terrorist attacks of September 11, 2001, we made some changes in our laws governing visitor entry and exit.

We now require additional application forms and security clearances. Visa applications take longer to process.

At first, many applicants experienced hardship when applications got backlogged and delays became indefinite. Fortunately, we have improved our visa clearance procedures. Better interagency cooperation and automated procedures have speeded up the clearance process. Our goal is to make the visa process not only thorough, but also respectful and efficient.

There are some new procedures that you will need to become familiar with. We want to educate and inform you about this process.

New Procedures In 2001 and 2002, the United States passed new laws that affected some aspects of the nonimmigrant visa process and entry-exit procedures. Many things remain the same, however.

What's the Same in U.S. Visa Processing Procedures?

Applicants still must complete all of the various application forms, submit photographs, application fees and other kinds of documentation as they did before.

What's Different about U.S. Visa Processing Procedures?

The United States is committed to what Secretary Powell has called the policy of "secure borders, open doors," by facilitating legitimate travel to the United States by international visitors while maintaining the integrity and security of our borders and our nation. Laws passed after September 11, 2001 focused ways to improve border security in the United States .

Most visa applicants can expect to be interviewed and must now have two index fingerscans collected as part of the visa application process. These fingerscans are normally collected by the consular officer at the visa interview window, but in some posts they are collected prior to the visa interview.

In addition to being satisfied that the applicant intends to honor the terms of the visa, the consular officer must evaluate the security risk presented by the applicant. We carefully examine all applications. Visa applications take longer to process. This affects all nonimmigrant visas. Advance planning can smooth the visa application process for you.

What's the Same in U.S. Visa Application Procedures?

Many aspects of U.S. visa application process continue as before. All applicants' names are routinely checked against sophisticated government databases for possible criminal or other information that may disqualify them. The consular officer examines the application and supporting documents and data for facts indicating possible ineligibilities, inconsistencies or questions that may require clarification.

In certain situations, the consular officer may ask for additional application review in Washington , DC . Some visa applicants may need to undergo an extra review process if they seek to engage in a commercial exchange or academic pursuit involving certain designated fields of advanced technology.

What's Different About U.S. Visa Application Procedures?

Some aspects of the nonimmigrant visa process have changed.

Supplemental Application -- All male nonimmigrant visa applicants between the ages of 16-45, regardless of nationality or other factors, must now complete a supplemental application form which helps inform the consular officer's judgment about visa eligibility. Consular officers have the authority to require anyone from any country to complete visa forms if they think it's warranted.

3. Visa Type

Because the terrorist attacks of September 11, 2001, foreign single people can't apply for travel visa or business visa to USA , the following information explain this:

"B-2" VISA: The B-2 visa is intended for tourist activities, such as sight-seeing, visiting friends and relatives, obtaining medical treatment, and attending conferences and meetings. Visitors are not permitted to accept employment during their stay in the U.S. Applicants for B-2 visas may wish to bring to their interviews letters of invitation from friends or relatives in the United States, information confirming participation in a tour group or conference, and documentation demonstrating the applicants ability and intention, or that of friends or relatives in the United States, to support his or her travel and other expenses. Documentation establishing the applicants personal status, such as marriage certificates , letters confirming employment, bank statements, pay slips, etc. is also useful.

So, my company advises American men and Chinese women apply for fiancée visa or spouse visa if you two do love each other and decide to spend the rest of your life together.

A: Fiancé(e) - If you are an American citizen, you may bring your fiancé(e) to the United States to marry  and live here.

Nonimmigrant visa for fiancé(e) (K-1)  - To travel to the United States for marriage.

B: Spouse - If you are an American citizen you have two ways to bring your foreign spouse to the United States to live. They are:

Immigrant visa for a Spouse of a U.S. Citizen (IR1 or CR1)  - An immigrant Petition for Alien Relative

Nonimmigrant visa for spouse (K-3) - It is important to note that application for the nonimmigrant visa for spouse (K-3) who married a U.S. citizen must be filed and the visa must be issued in the country where the marriage took place.   After the visa process has been completed, and the visa is issued, the spouse can travel to the United States to wait for the processing of the immigrant visa case.