Types of Visas for Temporary Visitors
Print
Email
We welcome visitors to the United States (U.S.), with
secure borders and open doors. Most Canadian citizens
and many citizens from Visa Waiver Program countries can
come to the U.S. without a visa if they meet certain
requirements. Visit Travel Without a Visa to learn more.
There are various types of nonimmigrant visas for
temporary visitors to travel to the U.S., if you are not
a U.S. citizen or U.S. lawful permanent resident. The
purpose of your intended travel and other facts will
determine what type of visa is required under U.S.
immigration law. It's important to have information
about the type of nonimmigrant visa you will need for
travel, and the steps required to apply for the visa at
a U.S. Embassy or Consulate abroad.
Review the chart below. For more detailed information
specific to each visa category, including how-to-apply
information and more, select a link from the Visa Type
column below.
Purpose of Travel to U.S. and Nonimmigrant Visas Visa
Type Required: Before Applying for Visa*
Athletes, amateur & professional (compete for prize
money only) B-1 (NA)
Au pairs (exchange visitor) ---J--- SEVIS
Australian professional specialty E-3 DOL
Border Crossing Card: Mexico BCC (NA)
Business visitors B-1 (NA)
Crewmembers ---D--- (NA)
Diplomats and foreign government officials ---A--- (NA)
Domestic employees or nanny -must be accompanying a
foreign national employer B-1 (NA)
Employees of a designated international organization,
and NATO G1-G5, NATO (NA)
Exchange visitors ---J--- SEVIS
Foreign military personnel stationed in the U.S. A-2
NATO1-6 (NA)
Foreign nationals with extraordinary ability in
Sciences, Arts, Education, Business or Athletics ---O---
USCIS
Free Trade Agreement (FTA) Professionals: Chile,
Singapore H-1B1 - Chile
H-1B1 - Singapore DOL
International cultural exchange visitors ---Q--- USCIS
Intra-company transferees ---L--- USCIS
Medical treatment, visitors for B-2 (NA)
Media, journalists ---I--- (NA)
NAFTA professional workers: Mexico, Canada TN/TD (NA)
Performing athletes, artists, entertainers ---P--- USCIS
Physician J , H-1B SEVIS
Professor, scholar, teacher (exchange visitor) ---J---
SEVIS
Religious workers ---R--- (USCIS)
Specialty occupations in fields requiring highly
specialized knowledge H-1B DOL then USCIS
Students: academic, vocational F, M SEVIS
Temporary agricultural workers H-2A DOL then USCIS
Temporary workers performing other services or labor of
a temporary or seasonal nature. H-2B DOL then USCIS
Tourism, vacation, pleasure visitors B-2 (NA)
Training in a program not primarily for employment H-3
USCIS
Treaty traders/treaty investors ---E--- (NA)
Transiting the United States ---C--- (NA)
Victims of Human Trafficking ---T--- USCIS**
Visa Renewals - Available in the U.S. (NA)
*What the abbreviations (above) mean:
Before applying for a visa at a U.S. Embassy abroad the
following is required:
DOL = The U.S. employer must obtain foreign labor
certification from the U.S. Department of Labor, prior
to filing a petition with USCIS.
USCIS = DHS, United States Citizenship and Immigration
Services (USCIS) must approve a Form I-129 petition,
filed by the U.S. employer. ** A T-1 applicant must have
USCIS approval of a Form I-914 application before a
family member can apply for a visa.
SEVIS = Program approval entered in the Student and
Exchange Visitor Information System (SEVIS)
(NA) = Not Applicable - Means that additional approval
by other government agencies is not required prior to
applying for a visa at the U.S. Embassy abroad.
Notes:
Canadian NAFTA Professional workers- Visa not required,
apply to CBP at border port-of-entry.
K visas are for the purpose of marrying a U.S. citizen
and immigrating or joining a U.S. citizen spouse in the
United States while awaiting USCIS approval of Form
I-130 for immigrant status. Visit the immigrant visa
section of this website for K-1 and K-3 visa information
.
Important Notices: This chart includes nonimmigrant
visas and the associated purpose of travel with links to
relevant webpages. However, it should be noted this
chart is not a complete list of all purposes of travel
or types of nonimmigrant visas. Each visa applicant must
meet the eligibility requirements for the type of visa
for which he/she is applying, as determined by the
consular officer at the U.S. Embassy or Consulate,
following U.S. immigration laws. See more detailed
information on our temporary visitor webpages.
Post Comment
|