US Visas: From "A to Z"

US Visas are used by individuals of foreign countries for admittance into the United States. The U.S. Department of State is responsible for approval of the US Visas issued. When a US Visa is issued this means your application has been reviewed by a U.S. consular officer at an American embassy or consulate. The review of a US Visa application determines an individual's eligibility to enter the United States for the reason specified on the application.

A US Visa does not mean an individual will be granted entry to the United States, but allows an individual to travel to the U.S. as far as the port of entry (arriving U.S. city). At the port of entry the Customs and Border Protection (CBP) officer will determine if an individual, the traveler will be granted admission into the United States. The CBP officer is the only person who has the authority to admit foreign travelers into the United States. CBP officials also will decide how long a person is permitted to remain in the country for a particular visit or reason.

There are two types of US Visas: nonimmigrant visas, for those who wish to enter the country on a temporary basis, or immigrant visas, for those coming to this country for obtaining permanent residency. Listed below are the different Visa categories. This information is for overview purposes only and not to define United States Immigration Law.

NON-IMMIGRANT VISAS:

A-1 Visa: For a foreign government official, who is a diplomat, to enter the U.S. in order to engage in official activities on behalf of their government.

A-2 Visa: For a foreign accredited official, who is not a diplomat, to enter the U.S. in order to engage in official activities on behalf of their government.

A-3 Visa: For personal employees, attendants, domestic workers, or servants of individuals who hold a valid A-1 or A-2 visa.

B-1 Visa: For foreign nationals who need to travel to the U.S. to consult with business associates, travel for a scientific, educational, professional or business conventions, or conferences on specific dates, settle an estate ,or negotiate a contract.

B-2 Visa: For foreign nationals who wish to come to the United States as tourists or for medical treatment.

C-1 Visa: For a citizen of a foreign country traveling in immediate and continuous transit through the United States en route to a foreign destination.

C-1/D Visa: For a crew member desiring to enter the United States to join a foreign sea vessel or aircraft.

C-2 Visa: For a foreign official to the United Nations Headquarters for official work or for an United Nations official traveling in immediate and continuous transit through the United States en route to a foreign destination.

C-3 Visa: For an accredited foreign government official traveling in immediate and continuous transit through the United States en route to a foreign destination.

C-4 Visa: For temporary employment for less than 90 days, such as a summer camp job.

D-1 Visa: For a crew member serving on board a sea vessel or aircraft in the United States except for a fishing vessel. Individual must intend to depart from the U.S. on the same vessel or any other vessel within 29 days.

D-2 Visa: For a crew member serving on board a fishing vessel in the United States. Visa is valid for a period of 6 months.

E-1 Visa: For a foreign national (Treaty Trader) of a country with which the United States maintains a treaty of commerce and navigation, who is coming to the U.S. to carry on substantial trade, including trade in services or technology, principally between the U.S. and the treaty country.

E-2 Visa: For a foreign national (Treaty Investor) of a country with which the United States maintains a treaty of commerce and navigation, to develop and direct the operations of an enterprise in which the national has invested, or is in the process of investing a substantial amount of capital.

E-3 Visa: For citizens of Australia who are entering the United States solely to perform services in a specialty occupation.

F-1 Visa: For foreign nationals who are entering the United States for full-time academic studies in the United States.This is a Student Visa.

F-2 Visa: For spouses and children under the age of 21 of F-1 Visa holders.

G-1 Visa: For a designated Principal Resident representative of a foreign government that is recognized by the U.S. to enter the United States to work for an international organization.

G-2 Visa: For other accredited representatives of any rank of foreign governments recognized by the U.S. to enter the United States to work for an international organization.

G-3 Visa: For representatives of any rank of foreign governments NOT recognized by the U.S. to enter the United States to work for an international organization.

G-4 Visa: For foreign officers or employees of international organizations of any rank to enter into the U.S. to engage in business activities.

G-5 Visa: For attendants, servants or personal employees of G-1, G-2, G-3 and G-4 visa holders to enter into U.S. to render services to the principal G visa holder. Also for the immediate family members of G-5 visa holders.

H-1B1 Visa: For foreign nationals who come to the U.S. to work in a speciality occupation for a temporary period. The "specialty occupation" is defined as one that requires theoretical and practical application of a body of highly specialized knowledge in a field of human endeavor, including but not limited to architecture, engineering, mathematics, physical sciences, social sciences, biotechnology, medicine and health, education, law, accounting, business specialties, theology, and the arts, and requiring the attainment of a bachelor's degree or its equivalent in this field of study.

H-1B2 Visa: For foreign nationals who come to the U.S. on a temporary basis to perform exceptional services related to a development project governed by the Department of Defense.

H-1C Visa: For foreign national nurses to come to the U.S. in order to fulfill shortage needs.

H-2A Visa: For foreign nationals who come to the U.S. to perform temporary or seasonal agricultural labor or services.

H-2B Visa: For foreign nationals who come to the U.S. to perform temporary or seasonal non-agricultural labor or services.

H-2R Visa: For returning H-2B temporary non-agricultural workers.

H-3 Visa: For foreign nationals seeking on-the-job training provided by a U.S. company or a U.S. government agency so that they can further their career in their home country.

H-4 Visa: For the spouses and children under the age of 21 of H Visa holders.

I Visa: For representatives of the foreign media to temporarily travel to the United States to engage in their profession while having their home office in a foreign country.

J-1 Visa: For foreign individuals who seek to enter the U.S. for a temporary period in order to serve in one of the following capacities: teacher, professor or research scholar; short-term scholar; trainee or intern; secondary-school teacher, college or university student; nonacademic specialist; foreign physician; camp counselor; au pair; or summer student in a travel/work program.

J-2 Visa: For the spouses and children under age of 21 of J-1 Visa holders.

K-1 Visa: For the fiancé(e) of a U.S. citizen to enter the United States.

K-2 Visa: For the children under age of 21 of a K-1 visa holder.

K-3 Visa: For the spouse of a United States citizen who is living abroad.

K-4 Visa:  For the children under age of 21, of a qualified K-3 nonimmigrant visa applicant, who are living abroad.

L-1A Visa: For foreign nationals who are transferred to a U.S. company after having worked at least one of the last three years at a foreign subsidiary, affiliate, branch, or parent company. The L-1A visa is available to employees who will work in a managerial or executive capacity.

L-1B Visa: For foreign nationals who are transferred to a U.S. company after having worked at least one of the last three years at a foreign subsidiary, affiliate, branch, or parent company. The L-1B visa is available to employees who will work in a position requiring specialized knowledge.

L-2 Visa: For the spouses and children under the age of 21 of L1 visa holders.

M-1 Visa: For foreign nationals who are entering the United States for nonacademic studies or vocational training. This is a Student Visa.

M-2 Visa: For the spouse and children under the age of 21 of an M-1 visa holder.

N-8 Visa: For the parents of special immigrants on an SN-3 immigrant visa.

N-9 Visa: For the children under the age of 21 of N-8, SK-1, SK-2, or SK-4 special immigrant.

O-1 Visa: For foreign nationals of extraordinary ability in the sciences, arts, education, business, or athletics, or extraordinary achievement in the motion picture or television industry.

O-2 Visa: For foreign nationals accompanying an O-1 Visa holder.

O-3 Visa: Immediate family of O Visa holder.

P-1 Visa: For team athletes or entertainment groups.

P-2 Visa: For artists and entertainers in exchange programs.

P-3 Visa: For artists and entertainers in culturally unique programs.

P-4 Visa: For the spouse and children under the age of 21 of P-1, P-2 and P-3 visa holders.

Q-1 Visa: For international participants in international cultural exchange programs.

Q-2 Visa: For Irish Peace process cultural and training program (Walsh Visa).

Q-3 Visa: For the spouse and children under the age of 21 of Q-2 visa holders.

R-1 Visa: For foreign national religious workers.

R-2 Visa: For the spouse and children under the age of 21 of R-1 visa holders.

S-5 Visa: For informants providing critical information about a criminal organization.

S-6 Visa: For informants providing critical Information in regards to terrorism.

S-7 Visa: For the spouse and children under the age of 21 of S-5 and S-6 visa holders.

T-1 Visa: For victims of a severe form of human trafficking.

T-2 Visa: For the spouse of a T-1 visa holder.

T-3 Visa: For the minor child of a T-1 Visa holder.

T-4 Visa: For the parent of T-1 visa holder if the T-1 visa holder is under the age of 21.

TN Visa: For citizens of Canada and Mexico who will work in the U.S. in a designated professional capacity for a temporary period as defined under the North American Free Trade Agreement (NAFTA).

TD Visa: For the spouse and children under the age of 21 of a TN-1 visa holder.

TWOV Visa: For foreign individuals in Transit Without Visa (passenger or crew).

U-1 Visa: For victims of certain criminal activities.

U-2 Visa: For the spouse of a U-1 visa holder.

U-3 Visa: For the minor child of a U-1 visa holder.

U-4 Visa: For the parent of a U-1 visa holder, if U-1 visa holder is under the age of 21.

TPS Visa: For a foreign national seeking Temporary Protected Status.

V-1 Visa: For the spouse of an Legal Permanent Resident (LPR) who is the principal beneficiary of a family-based petition (Form I-130) which was filed prior to December 21, 2000, and has been pending for at least 3 years.

V-2 Visa: For the children of an LPR who are the principal beneficiaries of a family-based visa petition (Form I-130) that was filed prior to December 21, 2000, and has been pending for at least 3 years.

V-3 Visa: For the children of a V-1 or V-2 visa holders.

IMMIGRANT VISAS:

EB-1A Visa: For foreign nationals with extraordinary ability in the sciences, arts, education, business, or athletics, as demonstrated by a sustained national or international acclaim and achievements recognized in the field through extensive documentation.

EB-1B Visa: For Outstanding Researcher/Professor who are recognized internationally for doing outstanding work in their academic field.

EB-1C Visa: For certain multinational executives and managers.

EB-2 Visa: For a foreign national who is a member of a profession and who holds an advanced degree or its equivalent, such as a Doctor or Physician.

EB-3 Visa: For skilled and unskilled workers or professionals with a job offer from a U.S. company.

EB-4 Visa: For a religious worker who has been a member of a religious denomination for at least two years which has a bona fide nonprofit, religious organization in the United States.

EB-5 Visa: For a foreign investor who is involved in the creation of a new commercial enterprise in the United States.