US Visa Requirements

For many people the US visa requirements are mysterious. Here we will explain very important information, including information on the new requirements for obtaining a US visa, how consular officers of the American embassy make their decisions, according to US immigration law, who qualifies for the US visa and who does not. This will be useful when filling out the US visa application. One of the requirements for obtaining a US visa or Green Card that is very important is that a US visa applicant should be able to show that he or she can support himself or herself financially while in the United States so that they do not become a financial burden on the US government, though some US visa classes and US residency classes are exempt from ineligibility for not meeting these requirements.

Is the US visa applicant or Green Card applicant likely to become a public charge in the USA?

When submitting a US visa application, consular officials will take into account, after receiving the US visa application form, important factors, including, the age of the US visa applicant; health; family situation; assets, resources, financial situation; education and skills.

The age of the US visa applicant

When reviewing a US visa application, consular officers will consider the age of the US visa applicant and whether or not the age of the applicant makes the applicant more likely to become a public charge in the United States, such as affecting the applicant’s ability to work. Consular officers will consider the age of US visa applicants between 18 and 62 as a positive factor. However, consular officers may consider other factors, such as the support provided to a minor child by a parent, legal guardian, or other source, which in some circumstances may compensate for the applicant’s age as a negative factor.

The health of the US visa applicant

Included in the requirements for applying for a US visa, consular officers will consider whether the health of the US visa applicant serves as a positive or negative factor. Including whether the US visa applicant has been diagnosed with a medical condition that is likely to require treatment or institutionalization or interfere with the ability of the applicant to provide for and care for himself, to attend school or to work (if they have permission to work in the United States).

Family situation of the US visa applicant

When considering the family situation of a US visa applicant, consular officers will consider the size of the applicant’s family, and whether the size of the applicant’s family causes the applicant to be likely to become a public charge at any time in the future. The size of the family is a positive factor if the size of the family makes the American visa applicant unlikely to receive public benefits at any time in the future.

Assets, resources and financial status of the US visa applicant

Consular officers will consider US visa applicant assets, resources, and financial status when considering the requirements to apply for a US visa, in regart to whether or not to grant or deny the US visa. If the annual gross income for the applicant’s family size is at least 125 percent of the most recent US Federal Poverty Guidelines, based on the size of the applicant’s household, (or 100 percent for a US visa applicant on active duty, other than training, in the armed forces), is a positive factor. If the applicant’s annual gross income is less than 125 percent of the most recent US Federal Poverty Guidelines (or 100 percent for an active-duty applicant, other than training, in the Armed Forces) based on the size of the US visa applicant’s household, the applicant may submit evidence of asset ownership, which may affect the determination of the consular officer.

Education and skills of the US visa applicant

When considering the education and skills of a US visa applicant, consular officers will consider positive and negative factors associated with whether the applicant has adequate education and skills to obtain or maintain a legal job with a sufficient income to avoid being likely to become a public charge. In assessing whether the level of education and skills of the US visa applicant makes the applicant likely to become a public charge, the consular officer will consider, among other factors, the applicant’s employment history, the educational level (high school diploma, or its equivalent, or higher education degree), any occupational skills, certifications or licenses, and English skills or the ability to speak languages other than English.

Is the US visa applicant a primary caregiver?

If you want to apply for a US visa and you are a primary caregiver, consular officials consider it a positive factor in the totality of the circumstances if the US visa applicant is over 18 years of age and has considerable responsibility for actively caring for and managing the welfare of a minor, the elderly, the sick, or a person with disabilities residing in the home of the US visa applicant.

Affidavit of support

The Affidavit of Support, in situations where required, is a positive factor for the US visa applicant. The Affidavit of Support is a document that a person signs as a contract to use their financial resources to support the US visa applicant mentioned in the affidavit. The person who signs the affidavit, who must meet certain income requirements, becomes the sponsor at the time the applicant receives US residency, and would be required to use their financial resources to support the applicant if there was a need, for example, if the applicant would suffer a financial crisis. This is to ensure that the applicant does not become a public charge in the United States.