Article 1: Passport vs. Visa - What’s the Difference?

This article explains the difference between a passport and a visa and how they are used when traveling to the United States.

What is a Passport?

A passport is an official document that shows who you are and what country you are a citizen of. A passport is issued by your country of nationality and is generally required when you travel internationally. Think about your passport like an international ID. For example, if you are a citizen of Liberia and travel to the United States, your Liberian passport helps identify you as a Liberian citizen. A passport may also contain visas or entry and exit stamps from countries you visit.

What is a Visa?

A visa is a document that allows you to travel to a country for a specific reason such as studying, working or visiting. For example, if you are a student from Liberia who wants to study in the United States, you may apply for an F-1 visa. If your visa is approved, the visa is placed inside your passport.

For U.S. visas, the U.S. Department of State (DOS) handles visa applications at embassies and consulates outside the United States. A consular officer reviews your application and determines whether you qualify for the visa under U.S. immigration law.

If you receive a visa, you can use it to travel to a U.S. port of entry, such as an airport or land boarder crossing. However, having a visa does not guarantee that you will be allowed to enter the United States.

When you arrive at a U.S. port, U.S. Custom and Boarder Protection (CBP), an agency within the U.S. Department of Homeland Security (DHS), reviews you and makes the final decision about whether you can enter the country and how long you stay. Think about it this way: DOS tells you what visa you qualify for while CBP decides whether you can enter.

U.S. Visa Waiver Program (VWP)

Not everyone needs a visa to travel to the United States. The Visa Waiver Program (VWP) allows citizens of certain countries to travel to the United States for tourism or business for up to 90 days without getting a visa first.

However, travelers using the Visa Waiver Program must first receive ESTA approval before traveling to the United States. ESTA is an online system that checks whether a traveler is eligible to travel without a visa. When travelers arrive in the United States, CBP still decides whether they can enter.

For example, France participates in the Visa Waiver Program. French citizens or nationals can visit the United States for vacation without applying for a tourist visa. Instead, they apply online for ESTA approval before their trip.

What's Next?

In the next article, we'll explore the two main types of U.S. visa categories: nonimmigrant and immigrant visas.