Non-Immigrant Visas
Non-Immigrant Visa Types
All persons traveling to the United States are required to either have a visa to the U.S., or be a valid passport holder of a visa waiver country passport. Citizens of Mexico and Canada are subject to different entry requirements.
Tourist/Business Visa (B1/B2)
The "visitor" visa is a nonimmigrant visa for persons desiring to enter the United States temporarily for business (B-1) or for pleasure or medical treatment (B-2).
Click here for more information about the visitor visa.
Children
Minors must present birth certificates. For their personal interview, BOTH parents must accompany them, except in cases of death (bring death certificate) or absence from the country (bring proof of legal authorization). The parents should also bring their passports and documents to establish the family's ties to Guyana.
Other Types of Non-Immigrant Visas
Persons wishing to go to the United States for purposed other than business or pleasure should apply for the appropriate visa. Details about the non-immigrant visa categories are below.
Student Visas
If you are going to the U.S. primarily for tourism, but want to take a short course of study of less than 18 hours per week, you may be able to do so on a visitor visa. You should inquire at the appropriate U.S. Embassy or Consulate. If your course of study is more than 18 hours a week, you will need a student visa.
Click here for information on local requirements for student visas.
Click here for more information on student visas.
Additional Information for the Student Visa Applicant:
Unless previously canceled, a visa is valid until its expiration date. However, you may not use a visitor visa to study in the United States - you must apply for a F-1 student visa.
Students are not permitted to accept outside employment during their first year in the United States.
Holders of student visas will not be admitted to the U.S. until a date thirty days or less prior to the beginning of your program date, or start date, as stated on your Form I-20 or DS-2019.
Seamen (C1/D)
Bring a job letter from your employer as well as your current, updated seaman's book and contract.
* If you are applying for a tourist visa and have a valid seaman's visa, you still need to present all of the documents suggested for a tourist visa.
Firstime seamen should also bring licenses/certificates of any completed training.
Transit Visa (C-1)
Warning!
A transit visa is issued to allow immediate and continuous transit through the United States. This visa is for people to proceed through the U.S. on the way to another final destination. Generally, the applicant must present the same evidence as for a tourist (B-2) visa to qualify.
Temporary Worker Visa ("H" or "L")
The H1B or H2B categories apply to aliens coming temporarily to engage in non-agriculture employment, a specialty occupation (e.g. fashion model), as a worker of distinguished merit and ability or for work that is seasonal, intermittent, a peak load need or a one-time occurrence.
The L-1 category applies to aliens who work for a company with a parent, subsidiary, branch or affiliate in the U.S. These workers come to the United States as intra-company transferees temporarily to perform services either in a managerial or executive capacity, or who have specialized knowledge.
The prospective employer in the United States must file an I-129 petition for the applicant; the petition and instructions may be found at www.uscis.gov.
If the I-129 is approved, and the beneficiary has received a Notice of Action, the beneficiary may file a non-immigrant visa application. Please click here for application instructions.
Who Does Not Need a Tourist Visa?
Citizens of the following countries do not need a business/tourist visa (B-1/B-2), as long they have a machine-readable passport and are going to remain in the U.S. for 90 days or less (otherwise, they must apply for a visa):
Andorra, Australia, Austria, Belgium, Brunei, Denmark, Finland, France, Germany, Holland, Iceland, Ireland, Italy, Japan, Liechtenstein, Luxembourg, Monaco, New Zealand, Norway, Portugal, San Marino, Singapore, Slovenia, Spain, Sweden, Switzerland, and United Kingdom.
If the purpose of the trip is to study or work, they must apply for the appropriate visa.