A-1 Foreign Government Officials: Ambassador, Public Minister, Career Diplomat or Consular Officer, or Immediate Family.
A-2 Foreign Government Officials: Other Foreign Government Official or Employee, or Immediate Family.
A-3 Foreign Government Officials: Attendant, Servant, or Personal Employee of A-1 or A-2, or Immediate Family.
B-1 Temporary Visa for Business Travelers and domestic servant; Consulting with business associates; Traveling for a scientific, educational, professional or business convention, or a conference on specific dates; Settling an estate; Negotiating a contract; Participating in short-term training; Transiting through the United States: certain persons may transit the United States with a B-1 visa Deadheading: certain air crewmen may enter the United States as deadhead crew with a B-1 visa
B-2 Visitors (“tourists”): Temporary Visitor for Pleasure or Medical Treatment
C-1 Alien in Transit
C-1/D Combined Transit and Crewman Visa.
C-2 Alien in Transit to United Nations Headquarters District Under Sec. 11.(3), (4), or (5) of the Headquarters Agreement.
C-3 Foreign Government Official, Immediate Family, Attendant, Servant or Personal Employee, in Transit.
C-4 Transit without Visa, see ATP
CR-1 Immigrant Visa for a Spouse of a U.S. Citizen (IR1 or CR1)
D-1 Crewmember departing on same vessel of arrival
D-2 Crewmember departing by means other than vessel of arrival
E-1 Treaty Trader, Spouses and Children under the age of twenty-one (21); Nationals of qualifying Treaty countries who undertake a significant amount of international trade with the United States my qualify for this type of visa. The volume of such trade must be sufficient to justify the trader or his/her employee(s) being in the United States to manage the trade, and must constitute the majority of the trader’s international trade (i.e. at least 50% of the Trader’s exports/imports must be to/from the USA). There is no set minimum level of trade which is considered sufficient, but obviously the lower the volume of trade the less likely one is to qualify as a Treaty Trader.
E-2 The E-2 nonimmigrant classification allows a national of a treaty country (a country with which the United States maintains a treaty of commerce and navigation) to be admitted to the United States when investing a substantial amount of capital in a U.S. business. Certain employees of such a person or of a qualifying organization may also be eligible for this classification
E-3 The E-3 classification applies only to nationals of Australia. You must be coming to the United States solely to perform services in a specialty occupation. The specialty occupation requires theoretical and practical application of a body of knowledge in professional fields and at least the attainment of a bachelor’s degree, or its equivalent, as a minimum for entry into the occupation in the United States.
EB-1 You may be eligible for an employment-based, first-preference visa if you have an extraordinary ability, are an outstanding professor or researcher, or are a multinational executive or manager.
EB-2 The EB-2 immigrant visa category for professionals with advanced degrees and individuals with exceptional ability in the sciences, arts, or business generally requires a job offer and a labor certification issued by the Department of Labor (DOL).
EB-3 You may be eligible for this immigrant visa preference category if you are a skilled worker, professional, or other worker.
EB-4 You may be eligible for an employment-based, fourth preference visa if you are a special immigrant.
EB-5 USCIS administers the Immigrant Investor Program, also known as “EB-5,” created by Congress in 1990 to stimulate the U.S. economy through job creation and capital investment by foreign investors. Under a pilot immigration program first enacted in 1992 and regularly reauthorized since, certain EB-5 visas also are set aside for investors in Regional Centers designated by USCIS based on proposals for promoting economic growth.
F1 Unmarried sons and daughters of U.S. citizens, and their minor children, if any. (23,400)
F2 Spouses, minor children, and unmarried sons and daughters (age 21 and over) of LPRs. At least seventy-seven percent of all visas available for this category will go to the spouses and children; the remainder is allocated to unmarried sons and daughters. (114,200)
F3 Married sons and daughters of U.S. citizens, and their spouses and minor children. (23,400)
F4 Brothers and sisters of U.S. citizens, and their spouses and minor children, provided the U.S. citizens are at least 21 years of age. (65,000)
F-1 The F-1 Visa (Academic Student) allows you to enter the United States as a full-time student at an accredited college, university, seminary, conservatory, academic high school, elementary school, or other academic institution or in a language training program. You must be enrolled in a program or course of study that culminates in a degree, diploma, or certificate and your school must be authorized by the U.S. government to accept international students.
F-2 Spouse and children of F-1 visa holders who wish to visit the foreign national studying in the U.S. Spouse and children of F-1 visa holders who wish to accompany or join the the foreign national student in the U.S.
G-1 G-1 visitors are defined by the Immigration and Nationality Act as “a designated principal resident representative of a foreign government recognized de jure by the United States, which foreign government is a member of an international organization entitled to enjoy privileges, exemptions, and immunities as an international organization under the International Organizations Immunities Act.”
G-2 G-2 visitors are defined by the Immigration and Nationality Act as “other accredited representatives of such a foreign government to such international organizations.”
G-3 G-3 visitors are defined by the Immigration and Nationality Act as aliens who qualify for a G-1 or G-2 visa “except for the fact that the government of which such alien is an accredited representative is not recognized de jure by the United States, or that the government of which he is an accredited representative is not a member of such international organization.”
G-4 Officers and employees of international organizations, personnel of any rank and
G-5 G-5 Visa is a nonimmigrant Visa issued to the attendants, servants or personal employees of principal G-1, G-2, G-3 and G-4 Visa holders to enter into U.S. to render services to the principal. The immediate family members (spouse and children) of principal G-5 Visa holders are also eligible for G-5 Visas.
H-1A Immediate family members of G-5 visa holders.
H-1B To work in a specialty occupation. Requires a higher education degree or its equivalent. Includes fashion models of distinguished merit and ability and government-to-government research and development, or co-production projects administered by the Department of Defense.
H-1B1 To work in a specialty occupation. Requires a post-secondary degree involving at least four years of study in the field of specialization. (Note: This is not a petition-based visa. For application procedures, please refer to the website for the U.S. Embassy in Chile or theU.S. Embassy in Singapore.)
H-1B2 The H-1B2 Visa/Status is designated for aliens who wish to come to the United States temporarily to perform services of an exceptional nature relating to a cooperative research and development project administered by the United States’ Department of Defense.
H-1B3 The H-1B3 is a non-immigrant visa that is designated for fashion models who are nationally or internationally recognized for achievements and wish to come to work temporarily in the United States in a position requiring someone of distinguished merit and ability.
H-1C The H-1C nonimmigrant temporary worker classification is for foreign nurses coming to the United States temporarily to perform services as a registered nurse in a health professional shortage area as determined by the Department of Labor (DOL).
H-2 Temporary services or labor including agricultural or seasonal if unemployed people in the US cannot be found
H-2A Temporary agricultural workers
H-2B Other temporary workers skilled or unskilled; job must be inherently temporary – The H-2B program allows U.S. employers or U.S. agents who meet specific regulatory requirements to bring foreign nationals to the United States to fill temporary nonagricultural jobs.
H-3 The H-3 nonimmigrant visa category allows foreign nationals coming temporarily to the United States as either a: Trainee to receive training in any field of endeavor, other than graduate medical education or training, that is not available in the foreign national’s home country. Special Education Exchange Visitor to participate in a special education exchange visitor training program that provides for practical training and experience in the education of children with physical, mental, or emotional disabilities.
H-4 Spouses of H-1, H-2, and H-3 nonimmigrants
I Representatives of foreign information media
IR-1 Immigrant Visa for a Spouse of a U.S. Citizen (IR1 or CR1)
IR-2 Unmarried Child Under 21 Years of Age of a U.S. Citizen
IR-3 Orphan adopted abroad by a U.S. Citizen
IR-4 Orphan to be adopted in the U.S. by a U.S. citizen
IR-5 Parent of a U.S. Citizen who is at least 21 years old
J-1 The J-1 classification (exchange visitors) is authorized for those who intend to participate in an approved program for the purpose of teaching, instructing or lecturing, studying, observing, conducting research, consulting, demonstrating special skills, receiving training, or to receive graduate medical education or training.
J-2 Family members of J-1 exchange visitors
K Fiances of US citizens (marriage within 90 days) and children
K-1 The fiancé(e) K-1 nonimmigrant visa is for the foreign-citizen fiancé(e) of a United States (U.S.) citizen. The K-1 visa permits the foreign-citizen fiancé(e) to travel to the United States and marry his or her U.S. citizen sponsor within 90 days of arrival. The foreign-citizen will then apply for adjustment of status to a permanent resident (LPR) with the Department of Homeland Security (DHS), U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS).
K-2 Minor children of K-1 visa holder
K-3 The K-3 nonimmigrant visa is for the foreign-citizen spouse of a United States (U.S.) citizen. This visa category is intended to shorten the physical separation between the foreign-citizen and U.S. citizen spouses by having the option to obtain a nonimmigrant K-3 visa overseas and enter the United States to await approval of the immigrant visa petition.
L Intracompany transferees – employed for a year and enters US temporarily, executives and managers, employee with specialized knowledge
L-1A The L-1A nonimmigrant classification enables a U.S. employer to transfer an executive or manager from one of its affiliated foreign offices to one of its offices in the United States. This classification also enables a foreign company which does not yet have an affiliated U.S. office to send an executive or manager to the United States with the purpose of establishing one.
L-1B The L-1B nonimmigrant classification enables a U.S. employer to transfer a professional employee with specialized knowledge relating to the organization’s interests from one of its affiliated foreign offices to one of its offices in the United States. This classification also enables a foreign company which does not yet have an affiliated U.S. office to send a specialized knowledge employee to the United States to help establish one.
L-2 Spouses and children of L-1
M-1 The M-1 visa (Vocational Student) category includes students in vocational or other nonacademic programs, other than language training.
M-2 The M-2 nonimmigrant visa allows the dependent spouse and children under 21 years old of a qualified M-1 student visa holder to enter the U.S.
N Parents and children of special immigrant international organization retirees
NATO Military officers primarily
TC-1 (TN) Canadian citizens engaged in professional activities
TN The North American Free Trade Agreement (NAFTA) created special economic and trade relationships for the United States, Canada and Mexico. The TN nonimmigrant classification permits qualified Canadian and Mexican citizens to seek temporary entry into the United States to engage in business activities at a professional level. Among the types of professionals who are eligible to seek admission as TN nonimmigrants are accountants, engineers, lawyers, pharmacists, scientists, and teachers. You may be eligible for TN nonimmigrant status, if: you are a citizen of Canada or Mexico;yYour profession qualifies under the regulations; the position in the United States requires a NAFTA professional; you have a prearranged full-time or part-time job with a U.S. employer (but not self-employment – see documentation required below); and you have the qualifications to practice in the profession in question.
O Aliens of extraordinary ability
O-1 The O-1 nonimmigrant visa is for the individual who possesses extraordinary ability in the sciences, arts, education, business, or athletics, or who has a demonstrated record of extraordinary achievement in the motion picture or television industry and has been recognized nationally or internationally for those achievements.
O-1A Individuals with an extraordinary ability in the sciences, education, business, or athletics (not including the arts, motion pictures or television industry)
O-1B Individuals with an extraordinary ability in the arts or extraordinary achievement in motion picture or television industry
O-2 Individuals who will accompany an O-1, artist or athlete, to assist in a specific event or performance. For an O-1A, the O-2’s assistance must be an “integral part” of the O-1A’s activity. For an O-1B, the O-2’s assistance must be “essential” to the completion of the O-1B’s production. The O-2 worker has critical skills and experience with the O-1 that cannot be readily performed by a U.S. worker and which are essential to the successful performance of the O-1
O-3 Individuals who are the spouse or children of O-1’s and O-2’s
P The P-1 classification applies to you if you are coming to the U.S. temporarily to perform at a specific athletic competition as an athlete, individually or as part of a group or team, at an internationally recognized level of performance.
P-1A Internationally recognized athlete
P-1B Member of internationally recognized entertainment group
P-2 Individual Performer or Part of a Group Entering to Perform Under a Reciprocal Exchange Program
P-3 Artist or Entertainer Coming to Be Part of a Culturally Unique Program
P-4 Spouse and minor children of P visa holders
Q Aliens involved in cultural exchange programs
R Aliens in religious occupations
S Alien informants
T Victims of trafficking
U Victims of criminal activity
V Certain spouses and children of lawful permanent residents
Asylum Asylum status is a form of protection available to people who meet the definition of refugee, are already in the US, are seeking admission at a port of entry. Does not depend on country of origin. Refugee status is a form of protection that may be granted to people who meet the definition of refugee and who are of special humanitarian concern to the United States. Refugees are generally people outside of their country who are unable or unwilling to return home because they fear serious harm. For a legal definition of refugee, see section 101(a)(42) of the Immigration and Nationality Act (INA).
Change of Status In general, you may apply to change your nonimmigrant status if you were lawfully admitted to the United States with a nonimmigrant visa, your nonimmigrant status remains valid, you have not violated the conditions of your status, and you have not committed any crimes that would make you ineligible.