Types of Visas in USA
USA Visa
Overview: A citizen of a foreign country who seeks to enter the United States generally must first obtain a U.S. visa, which is placed in the traveler’s passport. Certain international travelers may be eligible to travel to the U.S. without a visa if they meet the requirements for visa-free travel.
There are two main categories of US visas: non-immigrant visas for travel to the United States on a temporary basis or immigrant visas for travel to live permanently in United States.
Major non-immigrant worker visas include H-1B Visa, H-2A Visa, H-2B Visa, L Visa, O Visa and TN Visa. Holders of Student Visa(F-1 Visa, M-1 Visa), Exchange Visitor Visa(J-1 Visa), Visitor Visa for Business Purpose(B-1 Visa) could also apply for work authorization under some circumstance.
There are two main categories of US visas: non-immigrant visas for travel to the United States on a temporary basis or immigrant visas for travel to live permanently in United States.
Major non-immigrant worker visas include H-1B Visa, H-2A Visa, H-2B Visa, L Visa, O Visa and TN Visa. Holders of Student Visa(F-1 Visa, M-1 Visa), Exchange Visitor Visa(J-1 Visa), Visitor Visa for Business Purpose(B-1 Visa) could also apply for work authorization under some circumstance.
List of Major US Visa
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Symbol
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Type
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Description
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A-1
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Foreign government officials and families: ambassadors, public ministers, career diplomats, or consular officers
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A-2
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Foreign government officials and families: other foreign government officials or employees
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A-3
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Foreign government officials and families: attendants, servants, or personal employees of A-1 and A-2 classes
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B-1
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Non-immigrant
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Temporary visitors: for business
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B-2
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Non-immigrant
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Temporary visitors: for pleasure
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BCC
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Non-immigrant
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Mexico citizens border crossing card and B1/B2 visa
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C-1
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Non-immigrant
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Transit aliens: aliens in transit
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C-2
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Non-immigrant
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Transit aliens: aliens in transit to the United Nations
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C-3
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Non-immigrant
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Transit aliens: foreign government officials and families in transit
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Continued Presence (CP)
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Temporary
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Issued by federal law enforcement to victims of crime actively cooperating in an investigation or prosecution of a federal crime
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Transit aliens: aliens in transit to the United Nations
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DV-1
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Immigrant
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Diversity visa: lottery winner
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DV-2
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Immigrant
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Diversity visa: spouses and children
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E-1
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Treaty traders and investors: treaty traders
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E-2
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Treaty traders and investors: treaty investors
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E-3
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Treaty traders and investors: Australian Free Trade Agreement
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EB-5
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Immigrant
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Immigrant investors
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F-1
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Non-immigrant
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Students and exchange visitors: academic students
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F-2
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Non-immigrant
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Students and exchange visitors: spouses and children of academic students
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F-3
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Non-immigrant
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Students and exchange visitors: Canadian or Mexican national academic commuter students
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G-1
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Representatives to international organizations and families: principals of recognized foreign governments
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G-2
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Representatives to international organizations and families: other representatives of recognized foreign governments
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G-3
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Representatives to international organizations and families: representatives of nonrecognized or nonmember foreign governments
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G-4
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Representatives to international organizations and families: international organization officers or employees
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G-5
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Attendants, servants or personal employees of representatives
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GB
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Temporary visitors: for business, visa waiver, Guam
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GT
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Temporary visitors: for pleasure, visa waiver, Guam
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H-1B
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Dual-intent
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Temporary workers and trainees: specialty occupations
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H-1B1
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Dual-intent
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Temporary workers and trainees: Chile and Singapore Free Trade Agreement
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H-1C
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Dual-intent
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Temporary workers and trainees: registered nurses participating in the Nursing Relief for Disadvantaged Areas
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H-2A
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Temporary workers and trainees: seasonal agricultural workers
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H-2B
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Temporary workers and trainees: seasonal nonagricultural workers
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H-3
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Temporary workers and trainees: industrial trainees
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H-4
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Dual-intent
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Temporary workers and trainees: spouses and children of H-1, H-2, and H-3 workers
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I-1
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Representatives of foreign information media and families
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IH-3
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Immigrant
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Immediate relative of U.S. citizen: Orphan resident in a country that is party to the Hague Convention on Protection of Children and Co-operation in Respect of Intercountry Adoption ("Hague country") and adopted by U.S. citizens, whose adoption was finalized outside the U.S.
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IH-4
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Immigrant
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Immediate relative of U.S. citizen: Orphan resident in a Hague country whose adoption by a U.S. citizen will be finalized in the citizen's home jurisdiction.
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IR-1
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Immigrant
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Immediate relative of U.S. citizen: Spouse of a U.S. citizen. This visa is called CR-1 (for conditional resident) if the marriage is less than 2 years old at the time of application. The CR-1 visa has to have its conditionality "removed" two years after entry in a separate process.
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IR-2
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Immigrant
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Immediate relative of U.S. citizen: Unmarried child, under 21 years of age, of a U.S. citizen.
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IR-3
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Immigrant
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Immediate relative of U.S. citizen: Orphan resident in a non-Hague country adopted by U.S. citizens, whose adoption was finalized outside the U.S.
Note: In order for an IR-3 visa to be issued, U.S. regulations require that both adoptive parents take part in the overseas adoption and actually meet with the child in the child's home country. If only one parent travels to pick up the child, the child will be issued an IR-4 visa instead. |
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IR-4
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Immigrant
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Immediate relative of U.S. citizen: Orphan resident in a non-Hague country whose adoption by a U.S. citizen will be finalized in the citizen's home jurisdiction.
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IR-5
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Immigrant
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Immediate relative of U.S. citizen: Parent of a U.S. citizen; the citizen must be at least age 21.
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J-1
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Nonimmigrant
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Students and exchange visitors: exchange visitors
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J-2
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Nonimmigrant
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Students and exchange visitors: spouses and children of exchange visitors
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K-1
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Dual-intent
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LIFE Act: fiances(ees) of U.S. citizens
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K-2
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Dual-intent
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LIFE Act: children of fiances(ees) of U.S. citizens
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K-3
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Dual-intent
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LIFE Act: spouses U.S. citizens, visa pending
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K-4
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Dual-intent
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LIFE Act: children of U.S. citizen, visa pending
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L-1
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Dual-intent
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Intracompany transferees: principals
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L-2
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Dual-intent
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Intracompany transferees: spouses and children of intracompany transferees
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M-1
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Students and exchange visitors: vocational students
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M-2
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Students and exchange visitors: spouses and children of vocational students
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M-3
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Canadian or Mexican national vocational commuter students
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N-1 to N-6
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NATO officials and families
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N-8 and N-9
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Immediate relatives of certain SK-3 special immigrants
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O-1
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Temporary workers and trainees: extraordinary ability or achievement
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O-2
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Temporary workers and trainees: accompanying and assisting in performance of O-1 workers
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O-3
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Temporary workers and trainees: spouses and children of O-1 and O-2 workers
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P-1
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Temporary workers and trainees: internationally recognized athletes or entertainers
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P-2
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Temporary workers and trainees: artists or entertainers in reciprocal exchange programs
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P-3
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Temporary workers and trainees: artists or entertainers in culturally unique programs
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P-4
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Temporary workers and trainees: spouses and children of P-1, P-2, and P-3 workers
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Q-1
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Temporary workers and trainees: workers in international cultural exchange programs
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R-1
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Temporary workers and trainees: workers in religious occupations
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R-2
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Temporary workers and trainees: spouses and children of R-1 workers
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S visa [two types: S-5/ S-6]
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Aliens Assisting Law Enforcement
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Special Immigrant Juvenile Status (SIJS)
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Qualifying children present in the U.S. who are declared dependents of a juvenile court and who would be harmed if returned to their home country
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T-1
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Victims of human trafficking
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T-2
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Victims of human trafficking: spouse of victim
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T-3
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Victims of human trafficking: children of victim
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T-4
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Victims of human trafficking: parents of victim who are children
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TD
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Temporary workers and trainees: spouses and children of NAFTA workers
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TN
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Temporary workers and trainees: NAFTA professional workers
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U-1
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Victims of qualifying criminal activity, such as rape, murder, manslaughter, child abuse, domestic violence, sexual assault, and/or human trafficking
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U-2
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Victims of qualifying criminal activity: spouse of victim
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U-3
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Victims of qualifying criminal activity: children of victim
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U-4
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Victims of qualifying criminal activity: parents of victim who are children
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U-5
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Victims of qualifying criminal activity: siblings (of minor age) of victim who are children
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V-1
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LIFE Act: spouses of permanent residents, visa pending
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V-2
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LIFE Act: children of permanent residents, visa pending
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V-3
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LIFE Act: dependents of V-1 and V-2, visa pending
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WB
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Temporary visitors: visa waiver, business
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WT
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Temporary visitors: visa waiver, pleasure
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