| V-1
Visa |
Spouses
of Green Card holders waiting at least 3 years to immigrate. |
| V-2
Visa |
Children
of Green Card holders waiting at least 3 years to immigrate. |
| V-3
Visa |
Children
of V-1 or V-2 visa holders. |
| VAWA |
Violence
Against Women Act (VAWA)
|
| Victims
of Trafficking and Violence Protection Act of 2000 |
Public
Law 106-386 (Act of 10/28/2000), enacted to combat trafficking in
persons, especially into the sex trade, slavery, and involuntary
servitude, and to reauthorize certain Federal programs to prevent
violence against immigrant women and children. Created nonimmigrant
classes of admission allowing temporary status to individuals (and
spouses, children, and parents) in the United States who are or have
been victims of a severe form of trafficking or who have suffered
substantial physical or mental abuse as victims of criminal activity.
Afforded the same immigrant benefits as refugees, with allowance for
adjustment to permanent resident status. |
| Visa |
A
visa is a permit to apply to enter the United States. If needed, it
is normally obtained at an American embassy or consulate outside the
United States. It classifies the visit as business, tourism, etc. and
is usually valid for multiple visits to the U.S. during a specified
period of time.
|
| Visa
Waiver Program |
The
program allows citizens of certain selected countries, traveling
temporarily to the United States under the nonimmigrant admission
classes of visitors for pleasure and visitors for business, to enter
the United States without obtaining nonimmigrant visas.
Admission is for no more than 90 days. The program was instituted by
the Immigration Reform and Control Act of 1986 (entries began 7/1/88).
Under the Guam Visa Waiver Program, certain visitors from designated
countries may visit Guam only for up to 15 days without first having to
obtain nonimmigrant visitor visas. The Visa Waiver Program was made
permanent in 2000.
|
| Voluntary
Departure |
The
departure of an alien from the United States without an order of
removal. The departure may or may not have been preceded by a hearing
before an immigration judge. An alien allowed to voluntarily depart
concedes removability but does not have a bar to seeking admission at a
port-of-entry at any time. Failure to depart within the time granted
results in a fine and a ten-year
bar to several forms of relief from
deportation. |