Documents Required for Admission in USA — Full List

If you’re applying for admission into the United States, this guide is for you.

Depending on your legal status with the United States, you’ll need to show a set of documents for admission in the US, at the port of entry.

What are the documents required for admission in USA?

• U.S. Citizen
  A U.S. passport is required for international travel by an airline. 
  
  
• Lawful Permanent Resident of the United States
  One of the following documents:
  • Permanent Resident Card (“Green Card” or Form I-551) 
    
    
  • Reentry Permit (if out of the U.S. for more than one year) 
    
    
  • Returning Resident Visa (if out of the U.S. for 2 years or more) 
    
    
• Persons on Immigrant Visa
  • Passport 
    
    
  • Entire package given by the U.S. Embassy/Consulate, including immigrant visa
    
    More Details 
    
    
• Documents required for admission in USA for Non-immigrants
  • Passport 
    
    
  • Category Specific
    • Visa Waiver Program 
      No visa is required, as long as you are applying to enter the U.S. as a visitor for business or pleasure (B-1 or B-2), if you are staying for no more than 90 days, and if not admissible. 
      
      
    • Canadians:
      Canadians generally don’t require a visa. There are a few exceptions. Canadians must prove their identity and citizenship (birth certificate, citizenship certificate, or passport) to enter the U.S. If you don’t have such documents because they are lost or stolen, the burden of proof is on you to prove that you are a Canadian citizen. Copies of correspondence requesting a replacement of documents or something similar might be accepted, but it is up to the CBP officer to determine whether or not such paperwork meets that burden of proof. They can visit for up to 6 months.
      
      Canadians coming as a Treaty Trader (E classification) are required to have a visa to enter the U.S. 
      
      
    • Mexicans:
      Holders of Border Crossing Card, containing a machine-readable biometric identifier and issued by the Department of State, who are applying for admission as a temporary visitor for business or pleasure from a contiguous territory do not need a passport or a visa. However, if the traveler is not coming from the Western Hemisphere, a passport is required.
      
      
    • Advance Parole, for whom the application to adjust the status to permanent residence (I-485) is pending and who temporarily traveled outside the U.S. 
      
      Effective Nov 1, 2007, an I-485 receipt is not required.
      
      Also, read EAD/AP vs. H/L status. 
      
      
    • All other documents required for admission in USA 
      
      
      • Valid, unexpired visa stamp in the passport for the category under which you are applying to enter the U.S.
        
        
      • Category Specific
        • F-1 or M-1 Visa
          • Current Form I-20, endorsed by the Designated School Official (DSO) or RO for Travel. The endorsement will be made on page 3 of the SEVIS Form I-20.
            
            
          • Form I-901 fee payment receipt. 
            
            
        • J-1 Visa
          • Form DS-2019 (filled out in blue ink). If studying at school, Form DS-2019 must be endorsed by the Designated School Official (DSO) or RO for Travel. The endorsement will be made on page 1 of the Form DS-2019.
            
            
          • Form I-901 fee payment receipt. 
            
            
        • Prior Visitor Visa Extension
          • Original visitor visa extension approval notice. 
            
            
        • H-1 Transfer
          • If you don’t have a visa stamp corresponding with your current employer, H-1 visa status approval – notice of action. 
            
            
        • Blanket L1 Visa
          • Endorsed Form I-129S.
            
        • Petition-Based Visa (H, L, O, P, Q, R etc.)
          • Form I-797, Notice of Action, Approval Notice from USCIS.