The United States is home to a wide array of opportunities concerning education, work, and life in general. It’s part of why many people choose to move to the country and settle for permanent residence, particularly because of the great perks it brings and its improved way of living. This also means that you’re exposed to diverse people, cultures, and prospects that can ultimately help you achieve the dreams and goals you’ve long wanted to fulfill.
Whatever your reason may be, you’d have to undergo the process of immigration before moving to another country permanently or temporarily. It’s worth noting that the US immigration laws can be quite complex and hard to comprehend, especially for those who are moving for the first time. Not only that, but since immigration rules are strict, you’d want to try your hardest not to make mistakes since even the smallest ones can already warrant rejection. Not to mention the mountain of paperwork and documents you must settle and prepare, which is stressful work.
If you want to save yourself the hassle, hiring a US immigration lawyer is the best way to go. A professional immigration lawyer assists you throughout the immigration process by overseeing your requirements and offering you advice about your case. They help you make informed decisions that leverage your application’s chances of being approved, ensuring a smooth transfer from one country to another. Besides, they also act as reliable legal representatives in case you bump into major legal issues along the way. They also let you know which visas you’re most qualified for and how you can apply as well.
Importance of traveling with a valid visa
Visitors are required to apply for a US visa at a consulate or embassy in their home country. Depending on your reasons for travel, you will need to fulfill the specific set of requirements and comply with the needed documents as part of the immigration process. Having a visa entitles you to legally enter the country and be admitted to the US. Inspectors at the port of entry will usually examine your documents and determine whether you’re qualified to enter the country or not.
That being said, you have to make sure that you’re entering on a valid visa, particularly since it’s important in determining your length of stay and what you need to do throughout. The validity of your visa basically refers to the amount of time that you can use your visa to enter or remain in the destination country.
Keep in mind that countries have their respective visa policies, which tend to determine how long each visa type is valid. Visa validity periods can differ depending on the reasons for travel or the purpose behind getting it in the first place, such as work, education, business, or tourism. Your nationality may also factor in the validity of your visa.
Knowing the length of your visa’s validity is vital if you want to stay in the country doing what you intend to do. In fact, most travelers are strongly recommended to adhere to their visa terms and make sure that they step foot in the country while their US visa is still legal and valid.
However, there are also other cases where countries require the visa to be valid throughout the entire duration of your stay.
What is visa validity?
Visa validity, in a nutshell, refers to a visa’s state of being valid. This means that you can use the visa for whatever purpose you initially applied for. When a visa is issued to you, it tends to be valid until a specific date. This period of validity makes it usable for you to enter the country that granted it in the first place.
There are many cases where a visa’s validity period pertains to a time when the visa holder uses it to gain entry to his or her destination. However, there is also another separate period by which the person can remain in the country.
Keep in mind that you can still enter the country of your destination on your validity period’s last day and still get to remain for several weeks or days after. During this particular time, the visa is recognized as valid for your intent of remaining in the country, but you won’t be able to use it to re-enter the country anymore once you leave. This isn’t always the case, though, since some countries tend to require the entire duration of your trip to fall within the validity period of your visa. It’s important to take note that you cannot enter the country once your visa reaches its expiration date.
You can check the length of your visa’s validity by looking for the date that it’s issued and its expiration date. It’s always a good idea to check the validity before your travels so that you can maximize your stay in the country you want to go to.
