United States: Tourist visas; procedures and requirements to obtain a tourist visa; conditions imposed on the holder of such a visa, including the maximum length of stay in the United States; rules governing tourist visas for Chinese, Colombian, Indian, Mexican and Sri Lankan citizens; procedures for extending the period of validity of the visa; procedures for acquiring another visa status while remaining in the country (2006-2007)

Tourist visas

There are over 20 types of non-immigrant visas available to visitors coming to the United States on a temporary basis (US n.d.c). The visa that applies to tourists or recreational visitors is the B-2 visa (ibid. June 2006b).

The B-2 visa is a non-immigrant visa, which is usually required of foreign citizens who wish to visit the United States for the purposes of pleasure or medical treatment (ibid.). Examples of travel purposes that fall under the B-2 visa category include "tourism, amusement, visits with friends or relatives, rest, medical treatment, and activities of a fraternal, social, or service nature" (ibid.), as well as a marriage ceremony to a US citizen or Green Card holder (VisaPro.com n.d.c). US Citizenship and Immigration Services states that in cases of medical and humanitarian situations, "we will expedite processing for those dealing with life threatening emergencies" (US Feb. 2006).

Tourists who plan on visiting the United States for 90 days or less may be eligible to enter the United States without a visa if their country of citizenship participates in the Visa Waiver Program (ibid. June 2006b) and if they meet certain conditions, such as possessing a machine-readable passport valid for at least six months beyond their stay in the United States (ibid. Oct. 2006). As of June 2006, the following 27 countries are participating in the Visa Waiver Program: Andorra, Australia, Austria, Belgium, Brunei, Denmark, Finland, France, Germany, Iceland, Ireland, Italy, Japan, Liechtenstein, Luxembourg, Monaco, the Netherlands, New Zealand, Norway, Portugal, San Marino, Singapore, Slovenia, Spain, Sweden, Switzerland and the United Kingdom (ibid.). Tourists from visa waiver countries are required to obtain a B-2 visa if, for example, they plan on staying in the US for more than 90 days, they plan to work or study in the US, or they do not have a machine-readable passport (ibid. Oct. 2006). Details on eligibility and ineligibility criteria of visa-free travel for tourists from visa waiver countries can be found on the Web site of the Visa Waiver Program (ibid.).

Canadian citizens do not require a visa to visit the United States, unless they are traveling for certain purposes; a complete list of these purposes is available on the Web site of the Bureau of Consular Affairs (US Jan. 2007a). Mexican citizens who wish to visit the United States as tourists require a Border Crossing Card (also known as a Laser Visa) (ibid.), details of which are provided below under the heading "Visas for Mexican tourists."

Procedures and requirements

According to the Bureau of Consular Affairs, since 11 September 2001, "[v]isa applications are now subject to a greater degree of scrutiny than in the past" (ibid. June 2006b). B-2 visa applicants may apply at any American embassy or consulate abroad, but are encouraged to apply at the embassy or consulate that has jurisdiction over their place of permanent residence, in order to ease the process (ibid.).

Visa applicants should begin by scheduling an appointment for an interview with the consular section (US June 2006b). Visa applicants between the ages of 14 and 79 must attend an interview with the consular section; those under 14 or over 80 years of age are not required to attend an interview unless the embassy or consulate deems otherwise (ibid.). A "quick, two-digit, ink-free fingerprint scan will be taken" from applicants, usually at the interview stage (ibid.; ibid. n.d.n). According to the Web site of the US Embassy in New Delhi, "[q]ualification for a visa is based mainly on a brief oral visa interview conducted by a consular officer," rather than on the documents submitted (ibid. n.d.m). In addition, consular officials evaluate the security risk posed by a visa applicant (ibid. n.d.n); applicants who need additional screening, will be notified of this when they apply (ibid. June 2006b).

According to the Bureau of Consular Affairs, each B-2 visa applicant must submit the following forms, documentation and fees in the course of their applications:

• An application, Non-immigrant Visa Application, Form DS-156, completed and signed. The DS-156 must be the March 2006 date, electronic "e-form application."
• A Supplemental Non-immigrant Visa Application, Form DS-157 provides additional information about [the applicant's] travel plans. Submission of this completed form is required for all male applicants between 16-45 years of age. It is also required for all applicants from state sponsors of terrorism age 16 and over, irrespective of gender, without exception. Six countries are now designated as state sponsors of terrorism, including North Korea, Cuba, Syria, Sudan, Iran, and Libya. [Applicants] should know that a consular officer may require any non-immigrant visa applicant to complete this form.
• A passport valid for travel to the United States and with a validity date at least six months beyond the applicant's intended period of stay in the United States. If more than one person is included in the passport, each person desiring a visa must make an application;
• One (1) 2x2 photograph....
• Non-immigrant visa application processing fee – Each applicant for a visitor visa must pay a nonrefundable US $100 non-immigrant visa application processing fee.
• Visa issuance fee – Additionally, if the visa is issued, there will be an additional visa issuance reciprocity fee, if applicable.... If there is a fee for issuance for the visa, it is equal as nearly as possible to the fee charged to United States citizens by the applicant's country of nationality. (US June 2006b)

Copies of the Non-immigrant visa application (DS-156) (ibid. n.d.d) and of the Supplemental non-immigrant visa application (DS-157) (ibid. n.d.e) can be found on the Web site of the US Department of State (ibid.; ibid. n.d.d).

The Bureau of Consular Affairs states that "[t]he presumption in the law is that every visitor visa applicant is an intending immigrant" (ibid. June 2006b). Therefore, B-2 visa applicants must show that they are eligible visitors to the United States by providing the following:

• Evidence which shows the purpose of the trip, intent to depart the United States, and arrangements made to cover the costs of the trip may be provided. It is impossible to specify the exact form the documentation should take since applicants' circumstances vary greatly.
• Those applicants who do not have sufficient funds to support themselves while in the US must present convincing evidence that an interested person will provide support.
• Depending on individual circumstances, applicants may provide other documentation substantiating the trip's purpose and specifying the nature of binding obligations, such as family ties or employment, which would compel their return abroad. (ibid.)

Immigration Equality, which is funded by several non-governmental organizations (NGOs) including the Ford Foundation and the Open Society Institute (Immigration Equality n.d.b), is a New York-based NGO that provides advice to and advocates on behalf of sexual minorities wishing to immigrate to the United States (ibid. n.d.c). According to Immigration Equality, the more unsettled the situation in an applicant's home country, "the more difficult it may be for him to prove that his intent is truly to remain in the US temporarily" (n.d.a). As such, Immigration Equality recommends that prospective tourists not disclose a long-term relationship with an American citizen during their visa interview, as this could negatively impact their ability to prove the temporary nature of their trip (n.d.a).

According to VisaPro, a Washington, DC-based immigration law firm (VisaPro n.d.a) that helps companies and individuals with visa applications (ibid. n.d.g), B-2 visa holders are not required to purchase a return airplane ticket to enter the United States, although they may have more difficulty proving that their visit is only temporary if they do not possess such a ticket (ibid. n.d.h).

In addition, B-2 visa applicants who wish to obtain medical treatment in the United States may be asked to submit a statement from a physician or medical facility explaining the medical treatment that is to be undertaken (US June 2006b).

Form DS-156, a non-immigrant visa application, lists those categories of persons who are not eligible to receive US visas (ibid.). For instance, applicants who deliberately misrepresent facts or commit fraud may be refused a visa or entry into the United States (ibid.). Applicants may also be denied a visa on medical, criminal, and security grounds, because they could become a state responsibility or for any other reason outlined in Section 212(a) of the Immigration and Nationality Act (ibid. Jan. 2007b). A list of categories of foreign citizens who are not eligible to receive visas for travel to the United States can be found on the Web site of the Bureau of Consular Affairs (ibid.). However, in some cases an individual who would otherwise be deemed ineligible may apply for a waiver of ineligibility and receive a visa if the waiver is approved (US June 2006b).

According to the Web site of the US Embassy in Bogota, the majority of non-immigrant visa refusals are based on the applicant's failure to prove that they do not seek to immigrate to the United States, contravening Section 214(b) of the Immigration and Nationality Act (ibid. n.d.i). Another common reason for non-immigrant visa refusals is said to be the failure to provide the necessary documentation to support their case for a visa, which violates Section 221(g) of the Act (ibid.). An additional factor that could result in the refusal of a visa is the length of previous visits (ibid. 12 May 2005).

While there is no formal appeal process for visa refusals, a supervisory consular officer is required to review all non-immigrant visa refusals and may overturn a negative decision (ibid. n.d.i). Applicants who are refused a B-2 visa may re-apply if they obtain new evidence that might contradict the original decision to deny the visa (ibid. June 2006b). According to the Web site of the US Embassy in New Delhi, the earliest that one may re-apply for a visa is three business days after one's previous visa interview (ibid. n.d.m).

Conditions and responsibilities

B-2 visas allow the holder to travel to a US port-of-entry but do not guarantee entry into the United States; once at an airport or seaport, US Customs and Border Protection (CBP) has the authority to deny a person's entry into the United States (ibid.). A CBP officer who approves a visitor's entry into the United States will issue an I-94 form, a document that shows the authorized length of stay in the US and that must be carried by visitors in their passports (US June 2006b). Travellers are allowed to remain in the United States until the last date authorized on the I-94 form, even if the visa expires beforehand (ibid. n.d.h).

Visits are generally authorized to last up to six months and may be extended by an additional six months (ibid. 21 Feb. 2007a). A visa officer decides a visit's maximum length based on what he or she considers is a "fair and reasonable [timeframe] for the completion of the purpose of the visit" (VisaPro n.d.b). In cases where the length of stay cannot be determined, the visa officer will assign a period of validity of 30 days (ibid.).

When a visa-holder arrives in the US, he or she will be enrolled in the US-VISIT entry-exit program (US June 2006b), a security program whereby travelers' identities are biometrically (finger scans and photographs) recorded when the application is initiated and verified when the applicant arrives at a US port of entry (US 7 May 2007). Some travellers must also register their US entry and departure with the National Security Exit Entry Registration System (NSEERS), also known as the Special Registration Program (ibid. June 2006b).

Barring any visa cancellations, visas are valid until their expiration date even if they are contained in an expired passport (ibid.; VisaPro n.d.e). A traveller must use the expired passport which contains a valid visa along with their new passport instead of removing the visa page from the expired passport (ibid.; US June 2006b). At the same time, VisaPro notes that if the passport authority has clipped the corners of the old passport to cancel it and in doing so has damaged the visa, the visa becomes invalid (n.d.e).

Non-immigrant visa holders who remain in the United States beyond the last date they were authorized to remain in the country will become "out-of-status," and, as a consequence, they will be required to re-apply for a new non-immigrant visa in their country of origin; they also risk becoming ineligible for future travel to the United States (US June 2006b).

Persons visiting the US with a B-2 visa are allowed to visit Canada, Mexico and the Caribbean (excluding Cuba) for up to 30 days as long as they re-enter the US within the period authorized by their I-94 form (ibid. 21 Feb. 2007a). A B-2 visa holder who visits other parts of the world (outside of North America) may have to undergo a more "strenuous" re-admission inspection upon their return to the United States (ibid.). However, according to VisaPro, persons with multiple entry B-2 visas may travel in and out of the United States as long as they re-enter the US before their visa expires (VisaPro n.d.d). Persons who have been arrested or who have committed a crime since their B-2 visa was issued may be denied re-entry into the United States (US 21 Feb. 2007a).

Holders of a B-2 visa may bring relatives or members of their spouse's immediate family with them to the United States, but each traveller must qualify for and obtain their own B-2 visa (VisaPro n.d.d). Under certain conditions, B-2 visa holders may also bring domestic staff (ibid.). The dependents of B-2 visa are not eligible to study in the United States (ibid. n.d.f).

People travelling to the United States on a B-2 tourist visa may not take on employment (US June 2006b; US Immigration Support n.d.a) or earn money during their stay in the country (ibid.). Foreign citizens who wish to work in the United States are required to apply for a work visa, such as an H-1B or an H-2B visa (ibid.). In addition, holders of a B-2 visa may not study in the United States, although a US consulate may authorize the holder to participate in a short training session or educational course provided that the applicant is fully funded by his or her company (VisaPro n.d.d).

Visas for Chinese tourists

According to the Web site of the Embassy of the United States in Beijing, all Chinese non-immigrant visa applicants over 16 years of age must complete both the DS-157 Supplemental Non-immigrant Visa Application and the DS-156 Non-immigrant Visa Application (US n.d.g).

Chinese B-2 visa applicants are exempt from paying visa issuance fees (which are separate from visa application fees), and their visas are valid for multiple entries for a maximum of one year (ibid. 1 Mar. 2007).

Visas for Colombian tourists

According to Immigration Equality, US authorities will examine B-2 tourist applications from countries such as Colombia "where there is civil unrest" with greater scrutiny, so applicants from these countries are advised "to show very strong ties" to their homeland, such as proof of property ownership or strong family ties (Immigration Equality n.d.a).

B-2 visa applicants from Colombia are also exempt from paying visa issuance fees and their multiple entry visas are valid for a maximum period of five years (US 8 June 2006).

Visas for Indian tourists

B-2 visa applicants from India are not required to pay visa issuance fees and their visas, which allow multiple entries into the United States, are valid for a period of up to 10 years (ibid. 12 Feb. 2007).

Additional information on the procedures for applying for non-immigrant visas in India can be found on the Web site of the Embassy of the United States in New Delhi (US n.d.l).

Visas for Mexican tourists

Mexican citizens who wish to enter the United States as tourists must first obtain a visa (ibid. n.d.k). As of 8 January 2007, a new visa class BBBCV, which combines the B1/B2 business and tourist visas with the Border Crossing Card (BCC), will be required (ibid.). According to the Web site of the US Embassy in Mexico City, the BBBCV is identical to the older BCC laser visa (ibid.).

The BCC contains a biometric identifier (such as a fingerprint) and is machine-readable (ibid. Nov. 2002). The Bureau of Consular Affairs explains that

[t]he new BCC is a laminated, credit card-style document with many security features and ten-year validity. Called a "laser visa," the card is both a BCC and a B1/B2 visitor's visa. Most Mexican visitors to the US, whether traveling to the border region or beyond, receive a laser visa. (ibid.)

All BCCs issued before 1 April 1998 expired on 1 October 1999 and were replaced by the new cards (ibid.). Between 1 April 1998 and 21 August 2001, American diplomatic missions in Mexico issued slightly over 4 million visas out of over 4.8 million applications (ibid.).

Laser visa applicants who wish to replace an expired BCC are not required to submit a passport; only their old BCC card and a recent photo identification card are necessary (if a passport is not available a voter identity card is preferred) (US Nov. 2002). First time visa applicants, as well as those renewing other types of visas, must present a valid Mexican passport (ibid.).

Children under 15 years of age pay a visa application fee of USD 13 instead of the USD 100 fee charged to adult applicants (ibid.). These children must have at least one parent who is applying for a laser visa (ibid.). Visas issued at the reduced fee expire on the child's 15th birthday (ibid.).

According to the Web site of the US Embassy in Mexico City, visitor visa applicants should be prepared to pay USD 85, in addition to the regular USD 100 visa processing fee, if it is deemed necessary for them to undergo a complete fingerprint check (ibid. n.d.j).

Holders of the new BBBCV must also present a valid passport and complete an I-94 form in order to enter the United States (ibid. Nov. 2002).

Mexican applicants for BBBCV visas are exempt from visa issuance fees (ibid. 21 Feb. 2007c). BBBCV visas are multiple entry visas, valid for up to 10 years (ibid.).

Visas for Sri Lankan tourists

As of 6 April 2005, B-2 visas for Sri Lankan citizens carry no issuance fee, can be used for multiple entries, and have a validity period of 5 years (ibid. 6 Apr. 2005).

Procedures for extending the period of validity

On its Web page dealing with B-2 visas, the US Embassy in Bogota states that "[t]here is no such thing as 'renewing' or 'revalidating' a visa. You must start from scratch each time you apply for a visa, even if you have a valid visa" (US n.d.h). Furthermore, applicants must reapply for their visa outside the United States, preferably in their country of residence (ibid., June 2006a). While the US Embassy in Mexico City notes that the waiting period for reapplying is normally shorter than for first-time visa applications (ibid. 19 Oct. 2006), additional or corroborating information on the differences between first-time B-1 visa applications and subsequent applications could not be found among the sources consulted by the Research Directorate within the time constraints of this Response.

Persons visiting the United States on a non-immigrant visa, including a B-2 tourist visa, may request an extension of their stay from the US Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS) before their authorized period of stay expires (the period noted on their I-94 form) (ibid. n.d.a). In some cases, visits may be extended by an additional six months (ibid. 21 Feb. 2007a).

In order to extend their stay in the United States, beyond the date authorized on their I-94 Form, visitors must complete an Application to Extend/Change Non-immigrant Status (I-539 Form) (ibid. 21 Feb. 2007b). When filing the application, these visitors must submit their original I-94 form and provide proof that they were legally admitted into the United States (such as a copy of a stamped passport and travel tickets) (ibid.). Applicants for extensions of stay must possess visas that are still valid and must not have committed any crimes (ibid. n.d.a).

It is recommended that visitors wishing to file an application do so at least 45 days prior to their last authorized date of departure (ibid.). Besides paying a USD 200 non-refundable application fee (ibid. n.d.b, 7), applicants must send a written statement to USCIS explaining, in detail,

• [t]he reasons for [the extension of stay] request;
• [w]hy [the] extended stay would be temporary, including what arrangements [were] made to depart from the United States; and
• [a]ny effect the extended stay may have on [the applicant's] foreign employment or residency. (ibid. n.d.b, 1-2)

A copy of the I-539 application form is available on the Web site of USCIS (ibid. n.d.b).

Foreign visitors to the United States have the right to apply for an extension of their stay (US Immigration Support n.d.a; VisaPro n.d.b) provided that "the request is due to unexpected or compelling humanitarian reasons such as medical treatment or unforeseen delay in conclusion of a business matter" (ibid.). Visitors must fill out an I-539 form in order to prove their financial independence and continued residency abroad while staying in the US (ibid.).

Visitors who are denied an extension of stay in the United States generally have 30 days to leave the country, after which they would face possible deportation (US 6 Apr. 2007). In order to minimize any problems that they may encounter when applying for a new visa in the future, such visitors are advised to keep a copy of their letter of refusal as well as proof that they left the country within 30 days in order to demonstrate that they complied with USCIS regulations even after overstaying their visit, since otherwise they may be ineligible to obtain another visa for a period of five years (US 6 Apr. 2007).

The Web site of the US Embassy in Beijing contains instructions on how to renew a B-2 visa in China (ibid. n.d.f). Chinese visa holders who wish to renew a visa may submit a visa application at a China CITIC Bank provided that the previous visa is currently valid, or did not expire more than 12 months before; the applicant applies for the same type of visa and at the same US embassy or consulate where he or she previously applied; and that the applicant is travelling on a passport from the People's Republic of China (ibid.).

Procedure for acquiring another visa status

The Web site of United States Immigration Support, a New York-based (US Immigration Support n.d.b) independent organization that seeks to assist the information needs of prospective immigrants to the United States (ibid. n.d.c), notes that B-2 visa holders visiting the US are often eligible to change their visa status to another non-immigrant category (such as temporary worker visas or student visas, among others) or to permanent residency (Green Card) (ibid. n.d.a). In order to do so, visitors must fill out an Application to Extend/Change Non-immigrant Status (I-539 Form) (US 21 Feb. 2007b). A person wishing to change their status to F-1 (academic student), M-1 (vocational student) or J-1 (exchange visitor) (US n.d.a) must indicate this when applying for their B-2 visa (VisaPro n.d.b). Should a person decide to change their B-2 visitor status once in the United States, they must demonstrate that they had no preconceived intentions of doing so (ibid.).

Tourists from visa waiver countries are required to obtain a B-2 visa if they intend to change their status to another immigration category upon arrival in the US, since participants in the Visa Waiver Program cannot change their status once in the United States (US Immigration Support n.d.a).

This Extended Response was prepared after researching publicly accessible information currently available to the Research Directorate within time constraints. This Extended Response is not, and does not purport to be, conclusive as to the merit of any particular claim for refugee protection. Please find below the list of additional sources consulted in researching this Information Request.

References

Immigration Equality [New York]. N.d.a. "Most Common Questions." [Accessed 16 Apr. 2007]
_____. N.d.b. "Our Funders." [Accessed 30 Apr. 2007]
_____. N.d.a. "Our Services." [Accessed 27 Apr. 2007]

United States (US). 7 May 2007. Department of Homeland Security. "US-VISIT: How It Works." [Accessed 11 May 2007
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_____. 1 March 2007. Department of State. Bureau of Consular Affairs. "China: Reciprocity Schedule." [Accessed 25 Apr. 2007]
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_____. 21 February 2007b. Department of Homeland Security. US Customs and Border Protection (CBP). "I Want to Extend or Change my Non-immigrant Status, but I Was not Given an I-94." [Accessed 16 Apr. 2007]
_____. 21 February 2007c. Department of State. Bureau of Consular Affairs. "Mexico: Reciprocity Schedule." [Accessed 12 Apr. 2007]
_____. 12 February 2007. Department of State. Bureau of Consular Affairs. "India: Reciprocity Schedule." [Accessed 12 Apr. 2007]
_____. January 2007a. Department of State. Bureau of Consular Affairs. "Who from Canada, Mexico and Bermuda, Needs a Non-immigrant Visa to Enter the United States Temporarily?" [Accessed 12 Apr. 2007]
_____. January 2007b. Department of State. Bureau of Consular Affairs. "Classes of Aliens Ineligible to Receive Visas." [Accessed 20 Apr. 2007]
_____. 19 October 2006. Embassy of the United States, Mexico City. "Press Releases 06: We Welcome Mexicans to Visit Our Country and Encourage Them To Apply Early for Their Visas." [Accessed 26 Apr. 2007]
_____. October 2006. Department of State. Bureau of Consular Affairs. "Visa Waiver Program (VWP)." [Accessed 12 Apr. 2007]
_____. 8 June 2006. Department of State. Bureau of Consular Affairs. "Colombia: Reciprocity Schedule." [Accessed 12 Apr. 2007]
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_____. June 2006b. Department of State. Bureau of Consular Affairs. "Visitor Visas – Business and Pleasure." [Accessed 18 Apr. 2007]
_____. February 2006. Department of State. Bureau of Consular Affairs. "Customer Service Statement to Visa Applicants." [Accessed 12 Apr. 2007]
_____. 12 May 2005. Embassy of the United States, Bogota. "I Was Given a Maximum Six-Month Stay in the U.S. With my Previous Visa, and When I Came Back to the Embassy to Revalidate my Visa, I Was Denied ... ." [Accessed 26 Apr. 2007]
_____. 6 April 2005. Department of State. Bureau of Consular Affairs. "Sri Lanka: Reciprocity Schedule." [Accessed 12 Apr. 2007]
_____. November 2002. Department of State. Bureau of Consular Affairs. "Border Crossing Card (BCC) Page." [Accessed 12 Apr. 2007]
_____. N.d.a. Department of Homeland Security. US Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS). "How Do I Extend my Stay?" [Accessed 12 Apr. 2007]
_____. N.d.b. Department of Homeland Security. US Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS). "I-539, Application to Extend/Change Non-immigrant Status." [Accessed 25 Apr. 2007]
_____. N.d.c. Department of State. Bureau of Consular Affairs. "Questions About Visas?" [Accessed 12 Apr. 2007]
_____. N.d.d. Department of State. "Non-immigrant Visa Application." [Accessed 25 Apr. 2007]
_____. N.d.e. Department of State. "Supplemental Non-immigrant Visa Application." [Accessed 25 Apr. 2007]
_____. N.d.f. Embassy of the United States, Beijing. "How to Renew a Visa (CITIC Drop Off Procedures." [Accessed 13 Apr. 2007]
_____. N.d.g. Embassy of the United States, Beijing. "Non-immigrant Visas: Business and Tourist Visas (B-1, B-2 Visas)." [Accessed 13 Apr. 2007]
_____. N.d.h. Embassy of the United States, Bogota. "Non-immigrant Visa Unit: Other Frequently Asked Questions Concerning the B-1/B-2 Visa." [Accessed 26 Apr. 2007]
_____. N.d.i. Embassy of the United States, Bogota. "Non-immigrant Visa Unit: Visa Refusals." [Accessed 16 Apr. 2007]
_____. N.d.j. Embassy of the United States, Mexico City. "Visa Services: How to Apply." [Accessed 16 Apr. 2007]
_____. N.d.k. Embassy of the United States, Mexico City. "Visa Services: 'B1/B2' Business and Tourist Visas." [Accessed 16 Apr. 2007]
_____. N.d.l. Embassy of the United States, New Delhi. "Non-immigrant Visas – Applying for a Visa: A Step-by-Step Guide." [Accessed 13 Apr. 2007]
_____. N.d.m. Embassy of the United States, New Delhi. "Non-immigrant Visas – Visa Denials." [Accessed 13 Apr. 2007]
_____. N.d.n. UnitedStatesVisas.gov. "New Procedures." [Accessed 12 Apr. 2007]

United States Immigration Support [New York]. N.d.a. "B-2 Tourist Visa." [Accessed 13 Apr. 2007]
_____. N.d.b. "Contact Us." [Accessed 30 Apr. 2007]
_____. N.d.c. "Disclaimer." [Accessed 30 Apr. 2007]

VisaPro [Washington, DC]. N.d.a. "About VisaPro." [Accessed 18 Apr. 2007]
_____. N.d.b. "B2 Visa (Tourist Visitors)." [Accessed 16 Apr. 2007]
_____. N.d.c. "B-2 Visa." [Accessed 16 Apr. 2007]
_____. N.d.d. "Can I Apply for Change of Status on US Tourist Visa?" [Accessed 16 Apr. 2007]
_____. N.d.e. "Does a B-2 Tourist Visa Guarantee Me Entry into the US?" [Accessed 16 Apr,. 2007]
_____. N.d.f. "What Are the Documents Required for USA Tourist Visa?" [Accessed 16 Apr. 2007]
_____. N.d.g. "What Do We Offer?" [Accessed 30 Apr. 2007]
_____. N.d.h. "What Should I Do After I Receive B2 Tourist Visa?" [Accessed 16 Apr. 2007]

Additional Sources Consulted

Internet sites, including: American Bar Association (ABA), American Immigration Lawyers' Association (AILA), Code of Federal Regulations (CFR), European Country of Origin Information Network (ecoi.net), Factiva, Hebrew Immigrant Aid Society (HIAS), Immigration Portal, National Immigrant Justice Center, National Immigration Forum, Political Asylum Research and Documentation Center (PARDS), Refugee Council USA, U.S. Committee for Refugees and Immigrants, Visalaw.com.