The US attracts expats from all parts of the world. The most popular states for migrants are California, Texas and Florida. Almost half of tourists and expats prefer these states, which makes property in Florida especially in demand. Residents of some countries can enter the United States without additional documents, but for most foreigners, the question of whether a US visa is needed remains relevant.
CONTENTS
- Visa regime
- How many days can you stay in the USA without a visa
- Extending stay beyond 90 days in the USA
- Visa for the purchase of real estate
- We will help you apply for a visa
Visa regime
Foreigners can obtain two types of US visa: immigrant and non-immigrant. The latter has several categories:
- a tourist visa;
- a student visa;
- a visa for those participating in exchange programs;
- a work visa;
- a transit visa;
- a visa for media workers;
- a diplomatic visa.
These are the most common types of visas. You can check out the full list on the official government website of the country. All nonimmigrant visas in the United States are valid for a short term. Each category has its own terms of validity and a package of documents for registration.
How many days can you stay in the USA without a visa
The visa-free regime is provided only for the countries participating in the visa-free program or the Visa Waiver Program. They can stay in the US for up to three months. Nationals of the countries that are not included in the program need to get a visa in advance.
Extending stay beyond 90 days in the USA
The duration of a visa depends on its type. For example, a tourist visa is valid for one to three years, but this does not mean that its holder can stay in the country all this time. This is only the period during which they can enter and leave the United States, and the period you can stay in the country itself is set upon entry and is limited to between one and six months. A longer period is considered by the authorities to be "losing ties with the native country" and the first step towards possible immigration. In most cases, tourists are offered a 90-day stay in the United States, and during this period it is important not to violate existing requirements: not to work, not to study, and not to express intentions to stay in the country. Otherwise, the permission to stay in the country may be cancelled. You can extend your visa if you apply for an extension no later than 45 days before the expiration of the visa. But for this it is important to observe several conditions:
- To have no problems with the law;
- Provide a valid reason for wanting to stay in the country for a longer period of time, such as emergency treatment or a desire to continue holidaying in the US for more than 90 days;
- Have a valid foreign passport for the period during which it is planned to stay in the United States;
- To confirm your financial viability, taking into account that it is forbidden to work on most types of non-immigrant visas.
Visa for the purchase of real estate
When planning to purchase an apartment in Florida or in another state of the country, it is important to consider that owning residential real estate does not automatically entitle you to a US visa. The homeowner can stay in the US for more than 30 days on a regular tourist visa, in some cases on other grounds. Obtaining the so-called green card is possible only when acquiring commercial real estate. In this case, the value of the acquired object must be at least USD 1 million. An important condition is the functionality of the premises: the building must generate income, otherwise the visa will not be extended. A temporary investor visa is issued for two years. Subject to all the conditions established by law, a resident can subsequently receive a permanent US visa - a green card - and begin their journey to obtaining US citizenship.
We will help you apply for a visa
Our property database offers the latest home deals from developers and real estate agencies in Florida. In addition, on the site you can find up-to-date information about the US visa regime and get help in choosing real estate and obtaining a visa for moving to Florida. Our real estate experts will walk you through the buying process and get your ideal home.