U.S Immigration Guide
USA Visa Categories
Explore various visa options for international individuals seeking to enter the United States legally.
Visa Categories Overview
Explore various visa options available for international individuals seeking to enter the USA.
Non-Immigrant Visas
E-3 Visa: Australian Professional Specialty
Purpose: For Australian nationals employed in the U.S. in a specialty occupation, similar to the H-1B but specifically for Australian citizens.
Governing Authority: Department of Labor (DOL).
BCC Visa: Border Crossing Card (Mexico)
Purpose: A card issued to Mexican nationals for short visits across the U.S. border, serving as a visa for entry.
Governing Authority: Not applicable (NA).
B-1 Visa: Business Visitor
Purpose: For individuals visiting the U.S. temporarily for business-related activities, such as meetings, conferences, or contract negotiations.
Governing Authority: Not applicable (NA).
CW-1 Visa: CNMI-Only Transitional Worker
Purpose: For foreign workers employed in the Commonwealth of the Northern Mariana Islands (CNMI) during the transition to U.S. immigration law.
Governing Authority: U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS).
D Visa: Crewmember
Purpose: For individuals serving on commercial sea vessels or international airlines who travel to the U.S. temporarily as part of their job.
Governing Authority: Not applicable (NA).
A Visa: Diplomat or Foreign Government Official
Purpose: For diplomats or foreign government officials who are traveling to the U.S. to perform official duties or work on behalf of their government.
Governing Authority: Not applicable (NA).
B-1 Visa: Domestic Employee or Nanny (Accompanying a Foreign National Employer)
Purpose: For domestic employees or nannies traveling to the U.S. to accompany a foreign national employer for short periods.
Governing Authority: Not applicable (NA).
G1-G5, NATO Visa: Employee of Designated International Organizations or NATO
Purpose: For employees and representatives of international organizations (such as the UN) or NATO.
Governing Authority: Not applicable (NA).
J Visa: Exchange Visitor
Purpose: For individuals participating in exchange programs such as students, scholars, trainees, teachers, or au pairs.
Governing Authority: SEVIS.
A-2, NATO1-6 Visa: Foreign Military Personnel Stationed in the U.S.
Purpose: For foreign military personnel stationed in the U.S. under official orders from their government.
Governing Authority: Not applicable (NA).
O Visa: Foreign National with Extraordinary Ability in Sciences, Arts, Education, Business, or Athletics
Purpose: For individuals recognized nationally or internationally for their extraordinary abilities in sciences, arts, education, business, or athletics.
Governing Authority: USCIS.
H-1B1 Visa: Free Trade Agreement (FTA) Professional (Chile, Singapore)
Purpose: For professionals from Chile and Singapore working in the U.S. under free trade agreements in a specialty occupation.
Governing Authority: Department of Labor (DOL).
Q Visa: International Cultural Exchange Visitor
Purpose: For individuals participating in cultural exchange programs designed to share the culture and traditions of their home country with the U.S.
Governing Authority: USCIS.
L Visa: Intra-Company Transferee
Purpose: For employees of international companies transferring to the U.S. to work in managerial or executive positions.
Governing Authority: USCIS.
B-2 Visa: Medical Treatment, Visitor for
Purpose: For individuals traveling to the U.S. for the purpose of receiving medical treatment.
Governing Authority: Not applicable (NA).
I Visa: Media, Journalist
Purpose: For members of foreign press or media who are traveling to the U.S. to engage in their profession.
Governing Authority: Not applicable (NA).
TN/TD Visa: NAFTA Professional Worker (Mexico, Canada)
Purpose: For professionals from Mexico or Canada who are working in the U.S. under the United States-Mexico-Canada Agreement (formerly NAFTA).
Governing Authority: Not applicable (NA).
P Visa: Performing Athlete, Artist, Entertainer
Purpose: For athletes, artists, and entertainers who are traveling to the U.S. to perform.
Governing Authority: USCIS.
J, H-1B Visa: Physician
Purpose: For foreign physicians coming to the U.S. for medical training, research, or to practice medicine.
Governing Authority: SEVIS.
J Visa: Professor, Scholar, Teacher (Exchange Visitor)
Purpose: For scholars, professors, or teachers participating in exchange programs in the U.S.
Governing Authority: SEVIS.
R Visa: Religious Worker
Purpose: For individuals traveling to the U.S. to work in a religious capacity for a recognized nonprofit religious organization.
Governing Authority: USCIS.
H-1B Visa: Specialty Occupations Requiring Highly Specialized Knowledge
Purpose: For professionals in specialty occupations that require advanced degrees or specialized knowledge.
Governing Authority: Department of Labor (DOL) then USCIS.
F, M Visa: Student (Academic, Vocational)
Purpose: For students pursuing academic or vocational studies in the U.S.
Governing Authority: SEVIS.
H-2A Visa: Temporary Agricultural Worker
Purpose: For foreign workers coming to the U.S. to perform seasonal or temporary agricultural work.
Governing Authority: Department of Labor (DOL) then USCIS.
H-2B Visa: Temporary Worker Performing Other Services or Labor (Seasonal Nature)
Purpose: For foreign workers coming to the U.S. to perform temporary, non-agricultural services of a seasonal nature.
Governing Authority: Department of Labor (DOL) then USCIS.
B-2 Visa: Tourism, Vacation, Pleasure Visitor
Purpose: For individuals visiting the U.S. for tourism, vacation, or personal purposes.
Governing Authority: Not applicable (NA).
H-3 Visa: Training in a Program Not Primarily for Employment
Purpose: For individuals coming to the U.S. for training in areas not intended for employment.
Governing Authority: USCIS.
E Visa: Treaty Trader/Treaty Investor
Purpose: For individuals entering the U.S. under a treaty to engage in substantial trade or invest a significant amount of capital in a U.S. enterprise.
Governing Authority: Not applicable (NA).
C Visa: Transiting the United States
Purpose: For individuals transiting through the U.S. en route to another country.
Governing Authority: Not applicable (NA).
U Visa: Victim of Criminal Activity
Purpose: For individuals who have been victims of serious criminal activity and are assisting law enforcement with investigations or prosecutions.
Governing Authority: USCIS.
T Visa: Victim of Human Trafficking
Purpose: For individuals who have been victims of human trafficking and are assisting law enforcement in investigations or prosecutions.
Governing Authority: USCIS.
V Visa: Nonimmigrant Visa for Spouse and Children of a Lawful Permanent Resident (LPR)
Purpose: For spouses and children of lawful permanent residents waiting for the availability of an immigrant visa.
Governing Authority: Not applicable (NA).
A, G, NATO Visas: Renewals in the U.S.
Purpose: Renewals for diplomatic or official visas such as A, G, or NATO visas for individuals needing extended stays in the U.S.
Governing Authority: Not applicable (NA).
B-1 Visa: Athlete, Amateur or Professional (Competing for Prize Money Only)
Purpose: For amateur or professional athletes traveling to the U.S. to compete in an athletic event for which they will only receive prize money and no salary.
Governing Authority: Not applicable (NA).
J Visa: Au Pair (Exchange Visitor)
Purpose: For individuals participating in an exchange visitor program, including au pairs, who provide childcare and live with a host family while experiencing U.S. culture.
Governing Authority: SEVIS.
Understanding Abbreviations
DOL (Department of Labor): U.S. employers must obtain foreign labor certification from the U.S. Department of Labor before filing a petition with U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS).
USCIS (U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services): You must get approval from USCIS for a petition or application, depending on the visa category you are applying for.
SEVIS (Student and Exchange Visitor Information System): Program approval must be recorded in SEVIS for student and exchange visitor visas.
NA (Not Applicable): No additional approval from other U.S. government agencies is required before applying for the visa.
Immigrant Visa Categories
K-3 Visa: Spouse of a U.S. Citizen Awaiting Approval of an I-130 Immigrant Petition
Purpose: For spouses of U.S. citizens who are waiting for the approval of an I-130 petition, allowing them to enter the U.S. and await the processing of their immigrant visa.
Note: K-3 visa applicants must first file an I-129F petition.
Type: K-3.
K-1 Visa: Fiancé(e) to Marry U.S. Citizen & Live in the U.S.
Purpose: For foreign nationals engaged to U.S. citizens who intend to marry and live in the U.S.
Note: K-1 visa holders must marry within 90 days of entering the U.S.
Type: K-1.
IR3, IH3, IR4, IH4 Visa: Intercountry Adoption of Orphan Children by U.S. Citizens
Purpose: For U.S. citizens adopting orphan children from other countries, allowing the child to enter and reside in the U.S.
Type: IR3 and IH3 (for children adopted abroad) or IR4 and IH4 (for children adopted after entering the U.S.).
IR2, CR2, IR5, F1, F3, F4 Visa: Certain Family Members of U.S. Citizens
Purpose: For certain family members of U.S. citizens, including:
IR2, CR2: Children of U.S. citizens
IR5: Parents of U.S. citizens
F1: Unmarried sons and daughters of U.S. citizens
F3: Married sons and daughters of U.S. citizens
F4: Siblings of U.S. citizens.
F2A, F2B Visa: Certain Family Members of Lawful Permanent Residents
Purpose: For family members of lawful permanent residents, including:
F2A: Spouses and children of permanent residents
F2B: Unmarried sons and daughters of permanent residents.
Employment-Based Immigrants (Preference Categories)
Purpose: For immigrants sponsored by U.S. employers, categorized as:
E1: Priority workers (including persons with extraordinary ability, outstanding professors, researchers, and multinational executives)
E2: Professionals holding advanced degrees or persons of exceptional ability
E3, EW3: Skilled workers, professionals, and other workers
C5, T5, R5, I5: Employment creation/investors (Immigrant investors who invest in a new commercial enterprise in the U.S.)
S: Certain special immigrants, including religious workers.
SD, SR Visa: Religious Workers
Purpose: For religious workers seeking to enter the U.S. to work in a religious capacity for a recognized nonprofit religious organization.
Type: SD (special immigrants) and SR (nonimmigrant religious workers).
SI Visa: Iraqi and Afghan Translators/Interpreters
Purpose: For Iraqi and Afghan nationals who served as translators or interpreters for the U.S. government.
Type: SI.
SQ Visa: Iraqis Who Worked for/on Behalf of the U.S. Government
Purpose: For Iraqis employed by or on behalf of the U.S. government, often in a critical or sensitive role.
Type: SQ.
SQ Visa: Afghans Who Worked for/on Behalf of the U.S. Government
Purpose: For Afghans who worked for or on behalf of the U.S. government, typically in roles critical to U.S. operations in Afghanistan.
Type: SQ.
DV Visa: Diversity Immigrant Visa
Purpose: For individuals from countries with historically low rates of immigration to the U.S., who are selected via a lottery system.
Type: DV (commonly known as the green card lottery).
SB Visa: Returning Resident
Purpose: For lawful permanent residents (green card holders) who have been outside the U.S. for more than one year due to unforeseen circumstances and wish to return to the U.S.
Type: SB (Returning Resident Visa).
IR1, CR1 Visa: Spouse of a U.S. Citizen
Purpose: For spouses of U.S. citizens seeking to live permanently in the United States.
Type: IR1 (if married for more than 2 years) or CR1 (Conditional Resident, if married for less than 2 years).
Contact Us for Visa Info
Explore various U.S. visa categories for international visitors. We provide guidance on application processes and requirements for each visa type.
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