With the help of a US visa for Belgian citizens, the USA is an amazing nation in North America that you—a Belgian passport holder—ought to explore at least once in your life. This E-vissa.com post has compiled the necessary information, giving you precise directions for the US visa application process, along with its requirements and categories. Let’s explore the post right now for further instructions!
One of the world's leading economic powers is widely acknowledged to be the USA. It is a popular hub for immigration and travel. Also, it is the third-largest nation in the world in terms of total area, just after Russia and Canada. Moreover, this North American country attracts many international travelers due to a variety of attractive destinations, career opportunities, and distinct cultures.
The USA attracts many international travelers due to a variety of attractive destinations, career opportunities, and distinct cultures
Depending on the reason for your travel, you may simply need an Electronic System for Travel Authorization (ESTA) as a citizen of Belgium to enter the United States. However, in certain cases, if your intended travel purposes, the length of your stay time, and the type of visa you select are not suitable for an ESTA application, you can still apply for a visa at a nearby US diplomatic mission.
To help these application processes run smoothly and error-free, you must read the following aspects of a US visa carefully:
It is advised that you check out the list of documents before applying for a US visa. Here are some basic documents that you must obtain in advance:
Belgian passport
Photograph
Application form for your chosen type of US visa
Receipt of your paid visa application fees
Travel itinerary
Invitation letter (if applicable)
Sponsorship documents (if applicable)
Property records (if applicable)
Documents of employment (if applicable)
Note:
Any document not written in English or the official language of the country where the interview will take place must be translated. Translations need to be approved by a qualified translator.
In addition, immigrant officials may require you to provide other documents. Therefore, it is advised that you contact a local US diplomatic mission to check out the full list of documents.
To stimulate the US tourist and economic sectors, the US government offers many types of visas to international citizens, including Belgians. Depending on your eligibility, the type of visa that you apply for, and the length of your stay in the USA, you should consider the following circumstances:
Typical types of US visas:
These visa types are mainly divided into the two following categories:
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US visa category |
Visa type |
Description |
|---|---|---|
|
Nonimmigrant visas: They are used for brief visits for work, education, tourism, business, or family. |
Visitor visas |
US visitor visas are granted to Belgian citizens who want to take a trip to the USA for no more than six months. The main purposes used for these visitor visas are typically business or tourism. |
|
Treaty trader and investor visas |
The US treaty trader and investor visas are typically used for Belgian citizens who possess trade and navigation treaties with the USA. |
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Student visas |
Student visas are available for purposes of learning and vocation. Depending on your field of study and your school, you will need to obtain a visa for students (F1 visa) or a visa for vocational purposes (M1 visa). |
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Temporary work visas |
US temporary work visas are granted to Belgian citizens who want to work temporarily in the USA. |
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Immigrant visas: They are used for individuals who want to be permanent residents of the USA. |
Immediate relative and family-sponsored visas |
With this visa category, you can move to the US permanently and live with your close family, such as your parents, fiancé, or spouse. You can apply for this type of immigrant visa if you are engaged to or married to a US citizen, or if you have relatives in the US. |
|
Employer-sponsored visas |
The immigrant visas sponsored by US employers enable their holders to work in the country permanently. During each fiscal year, the US government issues a maximum of 140,000 employment-based visas. |
Note:
In addition to the visa types above, there are other types of immigrant and nonimmigrant visas. Additionally, each type of them is also divided into many different subclasses. Therefore, you must confirm your travel purposes for the trip to the USA in advance and decide the most suitable visa type for your trip.
To stimulate the US tourist and economic sectors, the US government offers many types of visas to international citizens, including Belgians
Electronic System for Travel Authorization (ESTA):
Belgium is one of the nations that participates in the Visa Waiver Program (VWP), despite the fact that there are several types of visas available. To speed up the application process for the Visa Waiver Program, the US government also created an electronic platform, which is known as the Electronic System for Travel Authorization (ESTA).
Under the Visa Waiver Program, obtaining an Electronic System for Travel Authorization (ESTA) is a requirement for entry into the United States. However, it is not considered a US visa.
Depending on your intended itinerary and the length of your stay in the USA, you may need to apply for a visa as a Belgian traveler or obtain a valid ESTA. Belgian nationals can enter the US without a visa under this program if they are staying there for less than 90 days for either business or tourism.
With this ESTA, you can enter the country more than once and receive two years of pre-approval for travel to the USA. It is necessary to apply for this ESTA online. An ESTA will be sent to your email address upon acceptance.
Belgian nationals who successfully apply for a US visa for Belgian citizens usually have their applications processed in a few working days. Nevertheless, in some situations, your visa application processing procedure takes six months or even longer than you expected.
Your passport will remain at the US diplomatic mission while your application is being processed. After your US visa is approved or denied, the US diplomatic mission will return your passport to you. You are not allowed to collect your passport by yourself.
You can select one of the following application procedures for a US visa for Belgian nationals or an ESTA, depending on your type of visa that you choose, the primary reason for your trip to the USA, and the length of your stay in this nation:
You must take the following steps to apply for this US visa for Belgian nationals seamlessly:
|
Step |
Description |
|---|---|
|
Choose the type of US visa |
The selection of your anticipated US visa type is the first step in the US visa application process. Selecting the appropriate type of visa to apply for is very important because there are variations for each type of US visa. |
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Complete the application form for the type of US visa |
A US visa application form is available on the official website of the US diplomatic mission to which you apply. You must fill out all the fields in the application form. |
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Pay the US visa fee |
Paying the application fees for a US visa is the next stage in the process. Your machine-readable visa (MRV) fees vary according to the type of visa you are applying for. Refunds are not available for the visa fee in the event that your US visa application is denied or you choose to cancel your appointment. It is possible that you will be required to pay extra fees in addition to US visa application fees. You must pay the required fees and save the receipts as proof of payment in order to move on with your application. |
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Gather supporting documents |
You need to provide the US diplomatic mission with proof that you meet the requirements for the US visa you are seeking in addition to your visa application form. |
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Schedule a face-to-face interview |
Attending a US visa interview is required. Therefore, you need to make an appointment with the US diplomatic mission where you are applying to participate in this obligatory interview. You need to be sure to arrange your interview as early as possible because the US diplomatic mission can have a heavy workload and the wait time can last for days or weeks. On the other hand, you can be eligible for an urgent appointment for a US visa if you meet specific requirements. You ought to schedule your interview as soon as you turn in your US visa application form. A letter confirming the interview will then be sent to you, which you need to bring on the day of the interview. |
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Attend the in-person visa interview |
The US visa interview is the last stage of the application procedure for a US visa for Belgian citizens. You have to bring all of your supporting documentation to the interview and arrive on time. The interviewing official will ask you about your past and any other pertinent information pertaining to the visa. The interview may last longer in some circumstances. |
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Receive the outcome of your US visa application |
You have to wait for the processing of your application after the visa interview. The length of the processing time varies based on the type of US visa you apply for. However, it may take you several days to several months to process this US visa application. You will be notified of your approval or denial of your visa upon its processing. It is best to wait to book travel until your visa has been granted rather than take the chance of incurring extra costs in the event that it is rejected. In the event that your US visa application is approved, a US visa will be added to your Belgian passport or other travel document that certifies you are allowed entry into the nation. You must notice that the Department of Homeland Security (DHS) and Customs and Border Protection (CBP) officers will determine who can enter the country; a US visa does not ensure your final admission into the USA. |
You must fill out all the fields in the US visa application form
For a maximum of 90 days, nationals of certain countries, including Belgian citizens, are permitted to enter the United States for business or tourism without a visa, thanks to the Visa Waiver Program.
The Department of Homeland Security oversees the program, which was developed to increase visitor security while allowing US citizens unrestricted travel to these nations, including Belgium. Overall, it is advantageous to both parties and makes travel much safer.
You will need to apply for an ESTA if you meet the requirements, especially if you are a Belgian citizen. The only documentation needed to enter the United States is the stamp on your passport proving that you are a participant in the Visa Waiver Program (VWP).
To be eligible for the US Visa Waiver Program, you need to meet the following requirements:
Be a Belgian citizen.
Possess a valid e-passport that is still valid six months after you plan to leave the United States.
Have an approved ESTA for a visa waiver.
Demonstrate that you intend to go back home once your VWP stamp expires.
To apply for an ESTA, you must follow the steps below:
Fill out the ESTA form.
Turn in all the required documentation for your ESTA application.
Pay for your ESTA fees.
Receive the final confirmation for your ESTA.
You must possess a valid e-passport that is still valid six months after you plan to leave the United States
One of the visa agencies that ensures a seamless visa application process is E-vissa.com, which makes it a great option to handle the visa application procedure on your behalf. Our portal has been thoughtfully created to offer you efficient help and unambiguous guidelines for securing a valid US visa.
The most recent regulations, guidelines, and procedures governing various US visa categories are always kept up-to-date by our staff. Thus, we can use our expertise to give you the finest advice and support, ensuring that your US visa application is completed correctly and submitted on time.
Besides, you can maximize your free time to concentrate on other travel-planning objectives by making this process less onerous for you with the help of our professional staff.
To sum up, if you want to travel to the USA, you need to get a US visa for Belgian citizens in some situations. Thus, if you want to consult us, you can email us at [email protected]. We promise to help you with our best support!
