For most travelers wishing to come to the United States for business, tourism, work, uniting with family members, etc., they must first obtain a visa from the U.S. Department of State. A visa is simply a travel document that is affixed to a page in your passport, which gives you permission to enter and stay in the United States on a temporary or permanent basis. Based on your reason for coming to the U.S. you will likely be required to request either a non-immigrant (temporary) or immigrant (permanent) visa. The major difference between the two depends upon your intent to return to your home country once the period of stay on your visa expires. However, the Visa Waiver Program allows travelers from member countries to travel to the United States for business or tourism, for a period of 90 days or less, without obtaining a visa. The same is true for U.S. citizens wishing to travel to Visa Waiver Program member countries.
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