Immigrant visas

The Immigrant visas

An immigrant visa is issued to a foreign national who intends to live and work permanently in other countries. An intending immigrant must present the immigrant visa at a port-of-entry prior to the expiration of the immigrant visa.

This type of visa granted for those intending to settle permanently in the issuing country (obtain the status of a permanent resident with a prospect of possible naturalization in the future):

Family member visa, for other members of the family of a resident or citizen of a given country. Usually, only the closest ones are covered:

• Parents, often restricted to helpless ones, i. e. those who, due to their elderly age or state of health, need supervision and care;
• Children (including adopted ones), often restricted to those who haven't reached the age of maturity or helpless ones;
• Often also extended to grandchildren or grandparents, where their immediate parents or children, respectively, are for whichever reason unable to take care of them;
• Often also extended to helpless siblings.

Marriage visa, granted for a limited period before intended marriage or conclusion of a civil partnership based on a proven relationship with a citizen of the destination country. For example, a German woman wishing to marry an American man would obtain a Fiancée Visa (also known as a K-1 visa) to allow her to enter the United States. A K1 Fiancée Visa is valid for four months from the date of its approval.

Pensioner visa (also known as retiree visa or retirement visa), issued by a limited number of countries (Australia, Argentina, Thailand, Panama, etc.), to those who can demonstrate a foreign source of income and who do not intend to work in the issuing country. Age limits apply in some cases.

Other Types of Visas

Each country typically has a multitude of categories of visas with various names. The most common types and names of visas include:

• Short-stay or visitor visas For short visits to the visited country. Many countries differentiate between different reasons for these visits, such as: Tourist visa, Business visa, Working holiday visa, Private visa, Medical visa, Athletic or artistic visa, Pilgrimage visa, Refugee visa, and Digital nomad visa,
• Long-stay visas For Long-stay. This type visas valid for long term stays of a specific duration include: emporary worker visa, Residence visa, Student visa, Asylum visa, and Dependent visa,
• Official visas These are granted to officials doing jobs for their governments, or otherwise representing their countries in the host country, such as the personnel of diplomatic missions: A diplomatic visa, and Courtesy visas
• On-arrival visas Also known as visas on arrival (VOA), they are granted at a port of entry. This is distinct from visa-free entry, where no visa is required, as the visitor must still obtain the visa on arrival before proceeding to immigration control.
• Transit visas For passing through the country of issue to a destination outside that country. Validity of transit visas are usually limited by short terms such as several hours to ten days depending on the size of the country or the circumstances of a particular transit itinerary: Airside transit visa, and Crew member, steward, or driver visa.

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