United
States-Canada Free-Trade Agreement
Public Law 100-449 (Act of 9/28/88) established a special, reciprocal
trading relationship between the United States and Canada. It provided
two new classes of nonimmigrant admission for temporary visitors to
the United States-Canadian citizen business persons and their spouses
and unmarried minor children. Entry is facilitated for visitors seeking
classification as visitors for business, treaty traders or investors,
intracompany transferees, or other business people engaging in activities
at a professional level. Such visitors are not required to obtain
nonimmigrant visas, prior petitions, labor certifications, or prior
approval but must satisfy the inspecting officer they are seeking
entry to engage in activities at a professional level and that they
are so qualified. The United States-Canada Free-Trade Agreement was
superseded by the North American Free-Trade
Agreement (NAFTA) as of 1/1/94.
U. S. Visa
A U.S. visa allows the bearer to apply for entry to the U.S. in a
certain classification (e.g. student
(F), visitor (B), temporary
worker (H)). A visa does not grant the bearer the right to enter
the United States. The Department of State (DOS) is responsible for
visa adjudication at U.S. Embassies and Consulates outside of the
U.S. The Department of Homeland Security (DHS), Bureau of Customs
and Border Protection (BCBP) immigration inspectors determine admission
into, length of stay and conditions of stay in, the U.S. at a port
of entry. The information on a nonimmigrant visa only relates to when
an individual may apply for entry into the U.S. DHS immigration inspectors
will record the terms of your admission on your Arrival/Departure
Record (I-94 white or I-94W green) and in your passport.
Visa Waiver 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).
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.
