Types of Visas
If you are an alien who wants to enter the United States from a Foreign country, you must first obtain a visa. This can be either a non-immigrant visa or an immigrant visa. The non-immigrant visas are for a temporary stay while the immigrant visa is for a permanent residence.
The following are the different types of immigrant and non-immigrant visas. There are links provided to some of the more commonly used visas. The link will take you to a page where we have provided more information and specifics about the visa.
Nonimmigrant Visas
A1
Ambassador, Public Minister, Career Diplomat or Consular Officer, or Immediate Family
A2
Other Foreign Government Official or Employee, or Immediate Family
A3
Attendant, Servant, or Personal Employee of A1 or A2, or Immediate Family
Temporary Visitor for Business
Temporary Visitor for Pleasure
Temporary Visitor for Business & Pleasure
C1
Alien in Transit
C1/D
Combined Transit and Crewmember Visa
C2
Alien in Transit to United Nations Headquarters District Under Section 11.(3), (4), or (5) of the Headquarters Agreement
C3
Foreign Government Official, Immediate Family, Attendant, Servant or Personal Employee, in Transit
CW1
Commonwealth of Northern Mariana Islands Transitional Worker
CW2
Spouse or Child of CW1
D
Crewmember (Sea or Air)
E1
Treaty Trader, Spouse or Child
E2
Treaty Investor, Spouse or Child
E2C
Commonwealth of Northern Mariana Islands Investor, Spouse or Child
E3
Australian Treaty Alien coming to the United States Solely to Perform Services in a Specialty Occupation
E3D
Spouse or Child of E3
E3R
Returning E3
F1
Student in an academic or language training program
F2
Spouse or Child of F1
F3
Canadian or Mexican national commuter student in an academic or language training program
G1
Principal Resident Representative of Recognized Foreign Government to International Organization, Staff, or Immediate Family
G2
Other Representative of Recognized Foreign Member Government to International Organization, or Immediate Family
G3
Representative of Nonrecognized or Nonmember Foreign Government to International Organization, or Immediate Family
G4
International Organization Officer or Employee, or Immediate Family
G5
Attendant, Servant, or Personal Employee of G1 through G4, or Immediate Family
H1B
Alien in a Specialty Occupation (Profession)
H1B1
Chilean or Singaporean National to Work in a Specialty Occupation
H1C
Nurse in health professional shortage area
H2A
Temporary Worker Performing Agricultural Services Unavailable in the United States
H2B
Temporary Worker Performing Other Services Unavailable in the United States
H3
Trainee
H4
Spouse or Child of Alien Classified H1B/B1/C, H2A/B, or H–3
I
Representative of Foreign Information Media, Spouse and Child
J1
Exchange Visitor
J2
Spouse or Child of J1
K1
Fiance(e) of United States Citizen
K2
Child of Fiance(e) of U.S. Citizen
K3
Spouse of U.S. Citizen awaiting availability of immigrant visa
K4
Child of K3
L1
Intracompany Transferee (Executive, Managerial, and Specialized Knowledge Personnel Continuing Employment with International Firm or Corporation)
L2
Spouse or Child of Intracompany Transferee
M1
Vocational Student or Other Nonacademic Student
M2
Spouse or Child of M1
M3
Canadian or Mexican national commuter student (Vocational student or other nonacademic student)
N8
Parent of an Alien Classified SK3 or SN3
N9
Child of N8 or of SK1, SK2, SK4, SN1, SN2 or SN4
NATO 1
Principal Permanent Representative of Member State to NATO (including any of its Subsidiary Bodies) Resident in the U.S. and Resident Members of Official Staff; Secretary General, Assistant Secretaries General, and Executive Secretary of NATO; Other Permanent NATO Officials of Similar Rank, or Immediate Family
NATO 2
Other Representative of member state to NATO (including any of its Subsidiary Bodies) including Representatives, Advisers, and Technical Experts of Delegations, or Immediate Family; Dependents of Member of a Force Entering in Accordance with the Provisions of the NATO Status-of-Forces Agreement or in Accordance with the provisions of the “Protocol on the Status of International Military Headquarters”; Members of Such a Force if Issued Visas
NATO 3
Official Clerical Staff Accompanying Representative of Member State to NATO (including any of its Subsidiary Bodies), or Immediate Family
NATO 4
Official of NATO (Other Than Those Classifiable as NATO1), or Immediate Family
NATO 5
Experts, Other Than NATO Officials Classifiable Under NATO4, Employed in Missions on Behalf of NATO, and their Dependents
NATO 6
Member of a Civilian Component Accompanying a Force Entering in Accordance with the Provisions of the NATO Status-of-Forces Agreement; Member of a Civilian Component Attached to or Employed by an Allied Headquarters Under the “Protocol on the Status of International Military Headquarters” Set Up Pursuant to the North Atlantic Treaty; and their Dependents
NATO 7
Attendant, Servant, or Personal Employee of NATO1, NATO2, NATO 3, NATO4, NATO5, and NATO6 Classes, or Immediate Family
O1
Alien with Extraordinary Ability in Sciences, Arts, Education, Business or Athletics
O2
Alien Accompanying and Assisting in the Artistic or Athletic Performance by O1
O3
Spouse or Child of O1 or O2
P1
Internationally Recognized Athlete or Member of Internationally Recognized Entertainment Group
P2
Artist or Entertainer in a Reciprocal Exchange Program
P3
Artist or Entertainer in a Culturally Unique Program
P4
Spouse or Child of P1, P2, or P3
Q1
Participant in an International Cultural Exchange Program
R1
Alien in a Religious Occupation
R2
Spouse or Child of R1
S5
Certain Aliens Supplying Critical Information Relating to a Criminal Organization or Enterprise
S6
Certain Aliens Supplying Critical Information Relating to Terrorism
S7
Qualified Family Member of S5 or S6
T1
Victim of a severe form of trafficking in persons
T2
Spouse of T1
T3
Child of T1
T4
Parent of T1
T5
Unmarried Sibling under age 18 of T1
T6
Adult or Minor Child of a Derivative Beneficiary of a T1
TN
NAFTA Professional
TD
Spouse or Child of NAFTA Professional
U1
Victim of criminal activity
U2
Spouse of U1
U3
Child of U1
U4
Parent of U1 under 21 years of age
U5
Unmarried Sibling under age 18 of U1 under 21 years of age
V1
Spouse of a Lawful Permanent Resident Alien Awaiting Availability of Immigrant Visa
V2
Child of a Lawful Permanent Resident Alien Awaiting Availability of Immigrant Visa
V3
Child of a V1 or V2
IMMIGRANT VISAS
Immediate Relative & Family Sponsored
Spouse of a U.S. Citizen
Spouse of a U.S. Citizen awaiting approval of an I-130 immigrant petition
K-3 *
Fiancé(e) to marry U.S. Citizen & live in U.S.
K-1 *
Intercountry Adoption of Orphan Children by U.S. Citizens
Certain Family Members of U.S. Citizens
Certain Family Members of Lawful Permanent Residents
Employer Sponsored – Employment
Employment-Based Immigrants, including (preference group):
-
Priority workers [First] - E1
-
Professionals Holding Advanced Degrees and Persons of Exceptional Ability [Second] - E2
-
Professionals and Other Workers [Third] - E3, EW3
-
Employment Creation/Investors [Fifth] - C5, T5, R5, I5
-
Certain Special Immigrants: [Fourth] - S (many**)
Religious Workers
Iraqi and Afghan Translators/Interpreters
Iraqis Who Worked for/on Behalf of the U.S. Government
Afghans Who Worked for/on Behalf of the U.S. Government
Other Immigrants
Diversity Immigrant Visa
Returning Resident