What is the difference between a non-immigrant visa and an immigrant visa?

A non-immigrant visa is a type of visa issued for a temporary purpose such as tourism, business, or study. This type of visa is usually valid for one year or less and does not lead to permanent residency. On the other hand, an immigrant visa is issued to a person who wants to live and work permanently in the United States. An immigrant visa requires a person to demonstrate that they have an eligible sponsor, a valid job offer, and are qualified to fill the job. In Massachusetts, a family seeking to enter the United States on an immigrant visa must have a relative who is a US citizen or a lawful permanent resident. This relative must serve as a sponsor and submit a petition to the US Citizenship and Immigration Services. The petition must include documentation to prove the relationship between the family and the sponsor. Once the petition is approved, the family must complete the visa application process and attend an interview at the US Consulate or Embassy in their home country. Immigrant visas confer a range of legal rights and benefits that a non-immigrant visa does not, such as the right to work and live in the United States permanently and the ability to file for benefits like health care and Social Security. Non-immigrant visas, however, are necessary for foreigners who intend to stay in the United States for a limited period of time, such as students, visitors or people on business trips.

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La diferencia principal entre una visa de no inmigrante y una visa de inmigrante es el tiempo durante el cual se puede estar en los Estados Unidos. Una visa de no inmigrante es temporal, normalmente para fines turísticos, educativos, religiosos o de negocios y generalmente permite que el titular esté en los Estados Unidos por un máximo de seis meses. Por otra parte, una visa de inmigrante es para aquellos que desean ingresar a los Estados Unidos para establecerse para siempre. Esto puede incluir una visa de familia, para aquellos que desean reunirse con sus familiares que ya viven en los Estados Unidos, una visa de trabajo para aquellos que tienen ofertas de trabajo en los Estados Unidos, y una visa de residencia permanente para aquellos que desean convertirse en ciudadanos estadounidenses. En Massachusetts, los estándares de inmigración se basan en el Código de Inmigración de los Estados Unidos.

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