A foreign citizen (or "alien") who seeks to enter into the United States will almost always require a visa, a travel document which permits entrance into the U.S. The visa is placed into the passport of a foreign traveler which is issued by the traveler's country of citizenship. There are almost 200 different types of visas available to people seeking to visit the U.S. The "immigrant visa" is for foreigners wishing to enter the country for permanent residence. The "nonimmigrant visa" is for travelers making temporary visits for purposes such as business, work, study, tourism, recreation or investing. The visa list below is in alphabetical order, which is how visas are categorized.
A VISA - Diplomats
A-1 Visa
Foreign diplomatic employees holding diplomatic passports (Ambassador, Public Minister, Diplomat, Consular Officer) who also have credentials approved by the President of the United States or Secretary of State.A-2 Visa
Accredited officials and employees of foreign governments including their immediate families.A-3 Visa
Foreign attendants, servants or personal employees of A-1 Visa or A-2 Visa holders or immediate family.
B VISA - Tourism, Business, Medical Treatment, Athletes
B-1 Visa
Temporary Visa for business travelers and domestic servants, engaging in legitimate business such commercial transactions, participating in litigation, attending seminars.B-2 Visa
A "Tourist Visa" for temporary visitors receiving medical treatment or engaging in recreational activities, tourism, amusement, visits with relatives, friends and activities of a social nature.
C VISA - Transit Through the U.S.
C-1 Visa
Transit visa for foreign citizens in immediate and continuous transit through the U.S.C-2 Visa
Alient in Transit, visa for foreign nationals traveling to the United Nations.C-3 Visa
Combined Transit and Crewman Visa, for foreign government officials and their family, attendants, servants and personal employees.C-4 Visa
Transit without Visa (also see an "saadviser.co.uk/?page=search/atpSearchATP, The Advanced Travel Partner).
D VISA - Crew Members of Airplane, Ship or Vessel
D-1 Visa
Crew members or an airplane or ship departing on the same vessel as arrival, including landing or docking temporarily.D-2 Visa
Crew members or an airplane or ship departing on a different vessel than arrival, including docking and landing.
E VISA - Investor, Trader and Australian Specialty Occupation
E-1 Visa
Treaty Trader, spouse and children under the age of 21.E-2 Visa
Treaty Investor, spouse and children under the age of 21.E-3 Visa
For Australians working in specialty occupation (profession) who have at least a degree equivalent to Bachelor's degree, their spouse and children under the age of 21 (also known as an "Australian H-1B Visa".E-5 Visa
Green card for investors of $1 million or $500,000 as part of a "Pilot Program".
F VISA - Students, Academic and Vocational
F-1 Visa
Academic students and school, study abroad.F-2 Visa
For Spouses and children under age of 21 of F-1 Visa holders.
G VISA - Employees of Designated International Organization
G-1 Visa
Principal resident representative of a recognized foreign member government to international organizations, staff and immediate family. Representatives of foreign governments and permanent mission members.G-2 Visa
Other representative of a recognized foreign member government to international organizations, staff and immediate family. Travel to the U.S. to attend meetings of a designated international organization.G-3 Visa
Representative of a non-recognized foreign non-member government to international organizations, staff and immediate family.G-4 Visa
International organization officer or employee or immediate family.G-5 Visa
Attendant, servant or personal employee or immediate family of G-1 through G-4 visa holder.
H VISA - Temporary Work, Specialty, Seasonal, Shortage
H-1B Visa
Work visa for professionals with a specialty degree or occupation such as a doctor, engineer or scientist.H-1B2 Visa
Work visa for aliens to temporarily perform cooperative research and development projects in the U.S.H-1B3 Visa
Work visa for aliens to appear temporarily as a fashion model in the U.S.H-1C Visa
Temporary services (up to 3 years) of foreign Registered Nurse in a Health Professional Shortage Area (HPSA) as determined by the U.S. Department of Labor.H-2A Visa
Temporary work visa to perform agricultural services in the U.S. including of a season nature.H-2B Visa
Temporary work visa for services other than agricultural, including of a seasonal nature.H-2R Visa
Specialized H-2B visa temporarily bypassing quotas of H-2B visas for individuals previously issued H-2B status (enacted in the Emergency Supplemental Appropriations Act for Defense, the Global War on Terror, and Tsunami Relief, 2005, P.L. 109-13, 119 Stat. 231, signed into law by the President on May 11, 2005).H-3 Visa
For alients participating in a training program.H-4 Visa
For spouses and children under age 21 of H-1 Visa, H-2 Visa and H-3 Visa holders.
I VISA - Media and Journalism
I Visa
Representative of foreign information media, their spouse and children under age 21.
J VISA - Foreign Exchange Visitors and Au Pairs
J-1 Visa
For foreign exchange visitors in the U.S.J-2 Visa
For spouses and children of J-1 visa holders.
K VISA - Fiance / Fiancee, Contemplation of Marriage
K-1 Visa
For foreign fiancee or fiance of U.S. Citizens.K-2 Visa
For minor and unmarried children of K-1 Visa holder or U.S. citizen.K-3 Visa
For foreign spouses of U.S. Citizens awaiting approval of marriage-based visa petition and green card (LIFE Act).K-4 Visa
For minor and unmarried children of K-3 Visa holder (LIFE Act).
L VISA - Intracompany Transfers
L-1A Visa
For Intracompany transferees; executives or managers who are continuing employment with an international firm or corporation.L-1B Visa
For Intracompany transferees; specialized knowledge workers who are continuing employment with an international firm or corporation.L-2 Visa
For spouses and children under age 21 of L1 Visa holders.
M VISA - Students, Academic and Vocational
M-1 Visa
For vocational studentsM-2 Visa
For spouses and children under the age of twenty-one (21) of M-1 visa holders.M-3 Visa
Citizens or residents of Mexico or Canada commuting to the U.S. to attend vocational school.
N VISA - NATO Employees, Staff and Family
N-8 Visa
Parent of an Alien Classified SK-3 Special Immigrant.N-9 Visa
Children under the age of 21 of N-8 or of an SK-1, SK-2, or SK-4 Special Immigrant.NATO-1 Visa
For Principal permanent representative of a member state to a NATO (North Atlantic Treaty Organization) resident (including any NATO Subsidiary Bodies) in the U.S. and resident members of official staff, other NATO officials and members of immediate family.NATO-2 Visa
For other representative of a member state to a NATO (North Atlantic Treaty Organization) resident including representatives and advisers and technical experts (and other related NATO members) and members of immediate family.NATO-3 Visa
Official clerical staff accompanying NATO representatives and members of immediate family.NATO-4 Visa
Officials of NATO and members of immediate family.NATO-5 Visa
NATO Experts and members of immediate family.NATO-6 Visa
NATO member of civilian components and members of family.NATO-7 Visa
NATO Attendants, servants or employees who have a NATO-1 through NATO-6 visa and members oftheir immediate family.
O VISA - Extraordinary Ability in Science, Arts, Education, Business, Athletics
O-1 Visa
Foreign citizens possessing extraordinary ability in Sciences, Arts, Business, Athletics or Education and their support staff.O-1B Visa
Foreign citizens possessing extraordinary ability in the arts or extraordinary achievement in motion picture and television industry.O-2 Visa
Foreign person accompanying certain O-1 Visa holders.O-3 Visa
Spouses and children under age 21 of O Visa holders.
P VISA - Performing Athletes, Artists, Entertainers
P-1 Visa
Athletes, entertainment groups and their support staff.P-2 Visa
Artistic exchange, cultural exchange entertainers (reciprocal exchange program).P-3 Visa
Artistic exchange, cultural exchange entertainers (cuturally unique program).P-4 Visa
For spouses and children under age 21 of P-1 Visa, P-2 Visa and P-3 Visa holders.
Q VISA - International Cultural Exchange
Q-1 Visa
Participants in an International Cultural Exchange Program.Q-2 Visa
Participants in an Irish Peace Process Cultural and Training Program (Walsh Visas).Q-3 Visa
Spouses and children under the age of twenty-one (21) for Q visa holders.
R VISA - Religious Workers
R-1 Visa
Alien and foreign religious leaders and workers.R-2 Visa
Spouses and children under age 21 of R-1 Visa holder.
S VISA - Criminal and Terrorist Informants, Witnesses
S-1 Visa
For foreign witnesses in a criminal investigationS-5 Visa
For foreign citizens supplying critical information relating to a criminal organization or enterprise.S-6 Visa
For foreign citizens supplying critical information relating to terrorism.S-7 Visa
For qualified and immediate family members of S-5 Visa and S-6 Visa holders.
T VISA - Victims of Human Trafficking
T-1 Visa
Victims of a severe form of human trafficking.T-2 Visa
Spouse of a T-1 visa holder.T-3 Visa
Children under age 21 of a T-1 visa holder.T-4 Visa
Parents of a T-1 visa holder who is under age 21.TN Visa
NAFTA professional workers (from Canada or Mexico).TD Visa
For Spouses and children under age 21 of NAFTA professionals (TN visa holders).TPS Visa
Temporary Protected Status.
U VISA - Victims of Criminal Activity
U-1 Visa
Victim of criminal abuse and specific criminal activity.U-2 Visa
Spouse of U-1 visa holder.U-3 Visa
Children under age 21 of U-1 visa holder.U-4 Visa
Parents of a U-1 visa holder who is under age 21.
V VISA - Temporary Visa for Family of Lawful Permanent Residents
V-1 Visa
Spouse of an Lawful Permanent Resident 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 three years.V-2 Visa
Child of an Lawful Permanent Resident who is the principal beneficiary of a family-based visa petition (Form I-130) that was filed prior to December 21, 2000, and has been pending for at least three years.V-3 Visa
Derivative children of a V-1 or V-2 visa holder.
- Immigration Law
- Visa Applications