Visa

Visa

1. A document allowing a person to enter, study and/or work in a country in which the person is not a citizen. There are many types of visas; most have time limits and restrictions. Visa holders ordinarily are not permitted recourse to welfare or other public funds.

2. A financial services company that issues a large share of credit cards and debit cards in the United States and worldwide. It began as a credit card issued by Bank of America that was accepted by multiple merchants, and not simply by a single company. In 1970, Visa became its own company and revolutionized the way for which goods and services are paid, especially at the retail level. Because of Visa, customers may pay with a card almost everywhere and are not required to use cash or check.