The Visa

Immigrant and fiancé(e) visas are normally valid for travel to the United States for six months from the date on which they are issued.

The Kii visa is usually valid for two years and will allow the holder to travel in and out of the United States. Children will be issued visas valid for two years or until the day before their twenty-first birthday, which ever is shorter.

The V visa is usually valid for ten years years and will allow the holder to travel in and out of the United States. Children will be issued visas valid for ten years or until the day before their twenty-first birthday, which ever is shorter.

If, for any reason, the applicant is unable to use the visa, it should be returned to the Embassy with a covering letter indicating whether or not the holder wishes to immigrate to the United States. Consideration of the issuance of a new visa will only be given if the individual is able to establish that the reason for not traveling to the U.S. during the validity period of the visa was due to circumstances beyond his/her control.

A child born after the issuance of an immigrant or fiance(e) visa will not need a visa to accompany the parent provided they both travel within the period of validity of the visa. A copy of the child's long-form birth certificate showing the name of the parent must be carried for presentation to an imigration officer at the port of entry, together with a valid travel document for the child.

A child born to an American citizen may have claim to American citizenship. The child is not eligible to travel on the parent's immigrant visa until his/her eligibility for citizenship has been determined.

If a child born after the issuance of a Kii or V visa the parent will be required to apply for a visa for the child before traveling.

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