visa

A visa is a conditional authorization granted by a government permitting a foreign national to proceed into the government’s country. In the United States, foreign visitors are generally required to have a visa before entering a U.S. port of entry, airport, or crossing a land border. There are two types of U.S. visas; immigrant visas for permanent residency, and nonimmigrant visas for temporary travel. 

For more information, see: immigration

[Last reviewed in July of 2024 by the Wex Definitions Team] 

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