If U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services has already approved my nonimmigrant visa, why do I need to apply again for a visa stamp at an embassy or consulate abroad?
USCIS approval determines that you (and your purpose for coming to the U.S.) qualify for the nonimmigrant status requested, and that you are authorized to be present in the U.S. in that status. The embassy or consulate determines whether anything – independent of the criteria for the nonimmigrant visa – prevents you from entering the U.S. In other words, the embassy or consulate determines whether any ground for exclusion applies. The visa stamp in the passport can be viewed as a pass or ticket to enter the U.S., while the USCIS Service Center approval grants permission to be present in the U.S. in a specific nonimmigrant status. There are exceptions to this process in the visitor context, such as the B-1/B-2 visitor visas where all that is required is the intent to visit the U.S. for only a brief period for specific allowable purposes (determined entirely by the embassy or consulate without USCIS Service Center participation), and the related Visa Waiver Program visas for visitor admi
Related Questions
- If I am required to file with U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services, where will my family member beneficiary’s interview take place?
- What should I do if my nonimmigrant visa application has been refused under Section 221(g) of the Immigration and Nationality Act?
- Once the US Citizenship and Immigration Services (CIS) sends the filing receipt notice, how long before my H-1B is approved?
