The following is a listing of current Visa classifications. 

Non Immigrant Visas
FORM DESCRIPTION
B-1 Visitors Visa: aliens who wish to enter the US temporarily for business purposes.
B-2 Visitors Visa: used for the purpose of tourism, visit to relatives & friends or similar reasons.
A/G Representatives of foreign government
C Transit visa
D Crewman
E Treaty traders & investors
F Students: in academic or language programs
H Temporary Workers: and trainees
I Journalists
J Exchange visitors
K Fiancé(e): of us citizens
L Inter-company transferees
M Students: in vocational or other non academic programs
N The parents of certain special immigrants
O Temporary Workers of extraordinary ability
P Athletes & Entertainers
Q Cultural exchange visitor
R Religious: Visas


General Information A nonimmigrant visa for a particular category is valid for entry only for the purpose for which it was originally issued. For example, a student visa cannot be used for entry as a visitor, nor can the possessor of a visitor visa enter to study. A visa is not a guarantee of entry into the United States. The bearer of a visa is subject to inspection at the port of entry by US Immigration officials who have authority to deny admission. Therefore, the recipient of a visa should carry with him/her, for possible presentation to immigration inspectors, the evidence submitted to the consular officer when the visa was obtained. The validity period shown in a nonimmigrant visa relates only to the period during which it may be used in making application for admission into the United States; it does not indicate the length of time the alien may spend in the United States. The period for which the bearer of a nonimmigrant visa is authorized to remain in the United States is determined by the U.S. Immigration authorities at the port of entry. A nonimmigrant who remains in the United States beyond the period for which he/she has been granted permission to stay may become subject to deportation. There may be a fee charged for your visa. If there is a fee it is approximately the same as that which is charged by your government to a United States citizen for a similar type visa.

General Procedure

  • Complete the application form OF-156.

  • Submit your passport which should be valid for at least 6 months longer than your intended period of stay in the United States.

  • A separate application is required for each traveler, regardless of age, and whether or not more than one person is included in the same passport.

  • Present a recent photograph 1 1/2 inches square (37 x 37 mm) with your usual signature on the reverse side. Children under the age of 16 are not required to submit a photograph.

  • Evidence substantiating the purpose of your trip and your intention to depart from the United States after a temporary visit may be required.

Foreign nationals seeking entry into the U.S. are grouped into two broad categories:

"Immigrants" and "Non-immigrants".

"Immigrants" are defined as persons seeking to reside permanently in the U.S.  The document authorizing permanent residency is frequently referred to as a "Green Card".

"Non-immigrants" is the classification given to all aliens entering the U.S. on a "temporary" basis.

NON IMMIGRANT

  • E-1    Nationals of a country having a treaty of commerce and navigation between the U.S. and the foreign state to enable the alien to conduct substantial trade between the U.S. and the foreign state of which the alien is a national, and the spouse and children of such an alien if accompanying or following to join him/her.


  • E-2    Nationals of a country having a treaty of commerce and navigation between the U.S. and the foreign state to enable the alien to develop and direct the operations of an enterprise in which he has invested, or an enterprise in which he is actively in the process of investing, a substantial amount of capital, and the spouse and children of such alien if accompanying or following to join him/her.


  • L        Intra-company transferees and their spouse and minor children.


  • O-1A  Aliens with extraordinary ability in the sciences, arts, education, business, or athletics seeking to work in the area of their extraordinary ability.


  • O-1B  Aliens with a demonstrated record of extraordinary achievement in the motion picture and television production industry seeking to work in the area of their extraordinary ability.


  • O-2     Aliens necessary to assist O-1 Visa Holders in the performance of their work.


  • O-3     Spouse and children of O-1 and O-2 Visa Holders.


  • P-1     Athletes and Entertainment Groups of international renown.


  • P-2     Artists and entertainers participating in an international exchange program.


  • P-3     Artists and entertainers performing in a program that is culturally unique.


  • P-4     Spouse and children of P-1, P-2 and P-3 Visa Holders.


  • TN      Canadian and Mexican professionals.


  • TD      Spouse and children of TN Visa Holders.


  • A-1    Ambassadors, public ministers, career diplomatic or consular officers, and their immediate family.


  • A-2    Public officials and employees, and their immediate family.


  • A-3    Attendants, servants, personal employees and members of
              their immediate family, of A-1 and A-2 Visa Holders.


  • B-1    Visitors for business.


  • B-2    Visitors for pleasure.


  • C        United Nations officials and employees.


  • D-1    Aircraft and vessel crewmen in transit.


  • D-2    Crewmen serving on a fishing vessel having its home port or operating base in the United States.


  • F-1    Full-time students at an established college, university, seminary, conservatory, academic high school, elementary school, or other academic institution or in a language training program.


  • F-2     Parent, spouse and minor children of F-1 Visa Holder.


  • G-1     Resident representatives of foreign governments, their staff, and members of their immediate families.


  • G-2     Non-resident representatives of foreign governments and members of their family.


  • G-3     Resident and non-resident representatives of a foreign governments not formally recognized by the U.S., and members of their family.


  • G-4     Officers and employees of certain international organizations, and members of their immediate families.


  • G-5     Attendants, servants, and personal employees of G-1, G-2, G-2 and G-4 Visa Holders and their immediate families.


  • H-1B   Employees engaged in specialty occupations, and fashion models of distinguished merit and ability.


  • H-1C   Registered Nurses.


  • H-2A   Workers performing temporary or seasonal agricultural labor or service.


  • H-2B   Non-agricultural workers performing temporary service or labor.


  • H-3      Trainees in a training program that is not designed primarily to provide productive employment and other than to receive graduate medical education, and their spouse and minor children.


  • I           Representatives of the foreign press, film, radio, or other
                information media, and their spouse and children.


  • J         Students, scholars, trainees, teachers, professors, research assistants, specialists, or leaders in a field of specialized knowledge or skill participating in an approved exchange program for the purpose of teaching, instructing, studying, observing, conducting research, consulting, demonstrating special skills, or receiving training, the their spouse and minor children


  • J-1      Visa Waiver.  Waiver of Two Year Home Country Residency  Requirement.


  • K        Fiancee or fiancé of a U.S. citizen who seeks to enter the U.S. solely to conclude a valid marriage, and the minor children of such fiancee or fiancé.


  • The New K and V Visa


  • M-1    Full-time students pursuing studies at an established vocational or other recognized non-academic institution.


  • M-2    The spouse and minor children of an M-1 Visa Holder.


  • N-1     Parents and children of a G-4 Visa Holder.


  • Q        Aliens participating in an international cultural exchange program for the purpose of providing practical training, employment, and the sharing of the history, culture, and traditions of the alien’s nationality.


  • R        Members of religious organization seeking to perform work for that organization within the U.S., and their spouse and children.


  • S-1     Witnesses concerning the activities of a criminal organization or enterprise.


  • S-2     Witnesses concerning the activities of a terrorist organization.


  • WT      Issued as part of a Visa Waiver Program between the U.S. and certain treaty nations. It is a substitute for B-1 and B-2 Visas.

    IMMIGRANTS

    EB-1    Extraordinary aliens – artists, entertainers, athletes, professionals, entrepreneurs, scientists, professors, researchers, managers and executives.

    EB-2    Workers with exceptional ability or an advanced degree.

    EB-5    Entrepreneur investors.

    EB-3    Skilled workers.

    EB-4    Ordained ministers of religion.

    FP-1    Unmarried children of U.S. citizens.

    FP-2A  Spouses and children of permanent U.S. residents.

    FP-2B  Unmarried adult children of permanent U.S. residents.

    FP-3     Married children of U.S. citizens.

    FP-4     Siblings of U.S. citizens.

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