Visiting California on a US Visa Online
If you want to visit California for business or tourism purposes, you will have to apply for a US Visa. This will provide you with permission to visit the country for a period of 6 months, for both work and travel purposes.
If you are thinking of visiting The Sunshine State, you must already be aware of the numerous tourist attractions, restaurants, and museums you might want to go to. If you have not yet started to look yet, well worry not, we will help you out with this massive task! California is a huge state that is situated in the United States and houses some of the liveliest tourist cities in the country, including San Francisco and Los Angeles.
There are several bus tours that are run by the state which will take you to the sets of some of the most famous Hollywood movies, such as Pretty Woman, and many more! If you are careful enough, you might even get the opportunity to meet a celebrity or two! In the case that you are not much of a movie buff, worry not - there are plenty of other attractions to keep you amused, which include Disneyland in LA and Santa Monica Pier.
And while you are in LA, you simply cannot miss out on an opportunity to enjoy the stunning beaches of Malibu or Venice Beach! If you are a fan of surfing or would like to get a glowing tan, there are no dearth of beaches in LA that will gladly cater to all your wishes and demands! But before you pack up your bags and get down on the road, there are a few things that you must be aware of - keep reading to find out what they are.
What Are the Top Tourist Attractions in California?
As per what we mentioned earlier, there are so many things to see and do in the city, that you will pretty much need to cram up your itinerary as much as possible! Some of the most popular sightseeing attractions visited by tourists include the Golden Gate Bridge and Alcatraz, the Walk of Fame and Chinese Theater, and the Universal Studios.
Golden Gate Bridge and Alcatraz
If you wish to get a glimpse of the beautiful Golden Gate Bridge, all you need to do is hop on a boat from the Alcatraz. There are several guided tours that will give you a detailed history of the place, which includes the stories of all the notorious criminals who served time here, along with their attempts to escape from there.
Walk of Fame and Chinese Theater
There is no need to say that Los Angeles is the home to numerous world-renowned celebrities, which includes some of the biggest music artists, actors, and TV presenters of the time. The popular walk of fame serves as a badge of honor to those who have moved the world and Hollywood with their talents, whereas the Chinese theatre is a place where you will find the handprints and the footprints of the stars from all times of history.
Universal Studios
Visiting the Universal Studios should fall on the “places to visit” bucket list of every person, regardless of their age! The plethora of fun-packed rides and attractions at the amusement park also includes an area that has been built to resemble the world of Harry Potter - it is a dream come true for every Potterhead!
Why Do I Need a Visa to California?
If you wish to enjoy the many different attractions of California, it is mandatory that you must have some form of visa with you as a form of travel authorization by the government, along with other necessary documents such as your passport, bank-related documents, confirmed air-tickets, ID proof, tax documents, and so on.
What is the Eligibility for the Visa to Visit California?
In order to visit the United States, you will be required to have a visa. There are primarily three different visa types, namely the temporary visa (for tourists), a green card (for permanent residence), and student visas. If you are visiting California mainly for tourism and sightseeing purposes, you will need a temporary visa. If you wish to apply for this kind of visa, you must apply for an US Visa Online, or visit the US embassy in your country to gather more information.
In the case that you are staying in the US for more than 90 days, then the ESTA will not be enough - you will be required to apply for Category B1 (business purposes) or Category B2 (tourism) visa instead.
What Are the Different Types of Visas to Visit California?
There are solely two types of visa that you must know about before you visit the United States or California -
B1 Business visa – The B1 Business visa is the best suited for when you are visiting the US for business meetings, conferences, and have no plan to gain employment whilst in the country to work for a US company.
B2 Tourist visa – The B2 Tourist visa is when you wish to visit the US for leisure or holiday purposes. With it, you can take part in tourism activities.
How Can I Apply for A Visa to Visit California?
In order to apply for a visa to visit California, you will first have to fill up an online visa application or DS - 160 forms. You will have to submit the following documents:
- Original Passport that is valid for at least 6 months from the date of entry into the US with a minimum of two blank pages.
- All old Passports.
- Interview appointment confirmation
- A recent photograph measuring 2” X 2” was taken against a white background.
- Visa application fee receipts / proof of payment of visa application fee (MRV fee).
Once you successfully submit the form, next you will need to schedule an interview at the US embassy or consulate. The period that you have to wait to get your appointment scheduled depends upon how busy they are at the given time.
In your interview, you will be required to present all the necessary personal documents, as well as tell the reason for your visit. Once it gets over, you will be sent a confirmation on whether your visa request has been approved or not. If it gets approved, you will be sent the visa within a short period of time and you can have your vacation in California!
Do I Need to Take A Copy of My US Visa?
It is always recommended to keep an extra copy of your eVisa with you, whenever you are flying to a different country. If in any case, you are unable to find a copy of your visa, you will be denied entry by the destination country.
How Long Is the US Visa Valid For?
The validity of your visa refers to the time period for which you will be able to enter the US using it. Unless it has been specified otherwise, you will be able to enter the US at any time with your visa prior to its expiry, and as long as you have not used up the max number of entries granted to a single visa.
Your US visa will become effective right from the date of its issuance. Your visa will become automatically invalid once its period is over regardless of the entries being used up or not. Usually, the 10 Years Tourist Visa (B2) and 10 Years Business Visa (B1) has a validity of up to 10 years, with 6 months stay periods at a time, and Multiple Entries.
Can I Extend a Visa?
It is not possible to extend your US visa. In the case that your US visa expires, you will have to fill up a new application, following the same process that you followed for your original Visa application.
What Are the Main Airports in California?
San Francisco International Airport
While LAX is the main airport in the state of California if you wish to head over to LA, there are also numerous other airports located all throughout the state, which includes the San Francisco International, San Diego International and Oakland International - thus there is no shortage of airports in the state, and based upon where you are staying or heading over to first on your trip to California, you must make your decision. LAX falls amongst one of the busiest airports in the world, and it is connected to most of the major airports in the world as well.
Can I Work in California?
The Google Office
There are plenty of industries where you can work, in the state of California. While some people may head over to the state to seek fame and fortune through Hollywood, others may find satisfactory jobs in tourism, retail, or other industries. Since California is quite big in the health and fitness industry, if you have an interest or experience in this area, you may be able to find a gym trainer position!
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Foreign passport holders must have an ESTA US Visa to be able to enter United States. Foreign citizens can apply for an US Visa Application in a matter of minutes.
Polish citizens, Portuguese citizens, Singaporean citizens, and British citizens can apply online for ESTA US Visa.