Glossary

Plain meanings of the visa words you will see on this site. Tap a group to jump to it, or type a word.

Visas

B-1 Visa: The visitor visa for short business trips, like a meeting or a conference.
B-2 Visa: The visitor visa for tourism and visiting family.
Immigrant visa: A visa for people who want to live in the U.S. for good. A visitor visa is not this.
Nonimmigrant visa: A visa for a short, temporary stay. The B-2 visitor visa is one.

DS-160: The online application form for a U.S. visitor visa.
DS-160 confirmation page: The page with a barcode you get when you finish the DS-160. Print it and take it to your interview.
Form I-539: A form you can send to USCIS to ask to stay in the U.S. longer.
I-94: Your arrival and departure record. It shows the date you must leave the U.S.
Passport: Your travel document. It must still be valid 6 months after your stay in the U.S. ends.
Visa photo: A color photo of your face, taken in the last 6 months, on a plain white background. You upload it with the DS-160.

CBP: U.S. Customs and Border Protection. The officers who check you when you arrive at a U.S. airport.
Department of State: The part of the U.S. government that handles visas and collects the visa fee.
DHS: Department of Homeland Security. The part of the U.S. government that CBP and USCIS belong to.
U.S. Consulate: A U.S. government office in a big city, like Mumbai or Chennai. You can apply for your visa there too.
U.S. Embassy: The main U.S. government office in another country. You can apply for your visa there.
USCIS: U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services. The office you ask if you want to stay longer than planned.
VAC: Visa Application Center. A place where your fingerprints and photo are taken.

Admission: Permission to enter the U.S. The CBP officer decides this at the airport. A visa does not guarantee it.
Overstay: Staying in the U.S. after the date on your I-94. Your visa is cancelled, and it can be hard to get a visa again.
Port of entry: The place where you first enter the U.S., usually an airport. CBP officers check you there.
Visa interview: A short meeting at the embassy or consulate. An officer asks about your trip and decides if you get the visa.