Citizens of many foreign countries who wish to enter the United States must first obtain a visa. For a temporary stay, a nonimmigrant visa is required. In cases where permanent residence is intended, a foreign citizen must have a valid immigrant visa. Some nonimmigrant categories also allow nonimmigrants to intend to eventually immigrate.
Travelers from specified eligible foreign countries may visit the U.S. through the Visa Waiver Program without acquiring a visa. The Visa Waiver Program (VWP) allows citizens of participating countries to travel to the U.S. for business or tourism for up to 90 days without a visa.
| A-1 |
Foreign Diplomatic Personnel |
Ambassadors, career diplomats, consular officers and members of their immediate families. |
| A-2 |
Foreign Government Employees |
Other employees of foreign governments and their immediate families. |
| A-3 |
Employee of Foreign Government Official |
Attendants, servants or personal employees of foreign diplomats and government officials. (Dependents of A-3 visa holders also receive A-3 status.) |
| B-1 |
Visitor/Business |
Travelers intending to enter temporarily for business purposes. |
| B-2 |
Visitor/Tourist |
Travelers entering the U.S. for tourism or other personal reasons such as family visits. The B-2 category may also include entry for temporary medical treatment, as well as visiting schools as a prospective student or scholar. |
| C-1 |
Foreign National in Transit |
Individuals traveling from one country to another who are stopping over in the U.S. |
| C-1D |
Combined Transit/Crewmember |
Foreign national crewmembers traveling to airplanes or vessels that are temporarily located in the U.S. |
| C-2 |
Foreign National in Transit to United Nations headquarters district |
Accredited representatives of foreign media or nongovernmental agencies traveling to and from UN headquarters in New York City. |
| C-3 |
Foreign Government Official in Transit |
Members of foreign governments on official business who are in transit through the U.S. Also includes family members, servants and personal employees. |
| C-4 |
Transit Without Visa (TWOV) |
As of August 2, 2003 the Transit Without Visa Program was suspended by the US government. Individuals from Visa Waiver countries may still transit without a visa. |
| D-1 |
Foreign National Crewmembers |
Persons serving on airplanes or ships that are landing or docking in the U.S. temporarily. |
| D-2 |
Crewmembers/Fishing Vessels |
Foreign national crewmembers of fishing vessels with home port or operating base in the U.S. |
| E-1 |
Treaty Trader |
Persons engaged in international trade between the U.S. and the Applicant’s country of nationality and certain qualified employees of their company. To qualify, the Applicant’s home country must have a current and appropriate commercial treaty with the U.S. |
| E-2 |
Treaty Investor |
Citizens from a qualified treaty country who make a significant commercial investment in the U.S. and certain qualified employees. |
| F-1 |
Student |
For academic studies at U.S. colleges, universities, conservatories, seminaries, high schools, language training schools and other educational institutions. (Requires Sevis I-20) |
| F-2 |
Dependent of Student |
Dependents of valid F-1 holders. (Requires Sevis I-20) |
| G-1 |
Member/Permanent Mission |
Representatives of recognized governments who are assigned to permanent missions of international organizations such as the United Nations which are located in the U.S. (Includes immediate family members) |
| G-2 |
International Meeting |
Representatives of recognized governments and their immediate families who are traveling to the U.S. to attend meetings of a designated international organization. (Includes immediate family members) |
| G-3 |
Nationals/Non-Recognized Governments |
Representatives from non-recognized or non-member governments who are participating in temporary meetings of designated international organizations. (Includes immediate family members) |
| G-4 |
Employee/International Organization |
Personnel employed by designated international organizations who are in the U.S. to take up their appointments or traveling on behalf of that international organization. Employees who are not assigned to the U.S. may receive G-4 visas when they are in transit. |
| G-5 |
Personal Employee of G Visa Holder |
Attendants, servants, domestic workers and other personal employees of G-1 through G-4 visa holders. |
| H-1B |
Professional & Specialty Occupation |
Professionals working in positions that require specialized knowledge such as mathematics, science or engineering who are on temporary assignment within the U.S. (Requires petition) |
| H-1C |
Registered Nurse in Underserved Area |
Fully licensed registered nurses employed by accredited medical facilities in areas where U.S. citizen nurses are not available. (Requires petition) |
| H-2A |
Agricultural Worker |
Temporary or seasonal agricultural workers when and where U.S. workers are unavailable. (Requires petition) |
| H-2B |
Seasonal Worker |
Non-professional workers on jobs created by temporary situations such as seasonal need, intermittent need, peak loads or a one-time occurrence. (Requires petition) |
| H-3 |
Company Trainee |
Persons coming to the U.S. to receive specialized training that is not available in their home country. This category does not include post-graduate academic education. (Requires petition) |
| H-4 |
Dependent of Professional |
Dependents of H-1 visa holders. |
| I |
Representative of Foreign Media |
Members of foreign press, print, television, radio or film media in the U.S. to practice their profession. Includes reporters, film or video crews and editors, as well as immediate family members. |
| J-1 |
Educational & Cultural Exchange |
Participants in cultural and educational exchange programs designated by the U.S. Department of State. Participants may include students, professors, science and medical personnel, trainees, consultants, researchers and foreign nationals in organized people-to-people programs. (Requires DS Form 2019) |
| J-2 |
Dependent of J-1 |
Family members and other qualified dependents of J-1 visa holders. (Requires DS Form 2019) |
| K-1 |
Fiancee/Intended Spouse |
Engaged persons coming to the U.S. to marry an American citizen. The marriage must occur within 90 days of admission to U.S. (Requires petition) |
| K-2 |
Minor Child of Fiancee |
Children of K-1 visa holders. |
| K-3 |
Spouse of U.S. Citizen |
Husbands and wives of U.S. citizens when the marriage has occurred overseas. (The K-3 visa permits foreign national spouses to complete the immigration process within the U.S. so the family will not be separated.) |
| K-4 |
Minor Child of K-3 Spouse |
Children of K-3 visa holders. |
| L-1A |
Manager or Executive (Intra-company Transferee) |
Executive and management personnel who are transferred by their current employer to work for the parent corporation, a subsidiary company, branch office or an affiliate in the U.S. (Requires petition) |
| L-1B |
Specialized Knowledge |
Personnel with specialized knowledge or training who are assigned by their current employer to work in the U.S. for the same employer, parent corporation, affiliate or subsidiary company in a position that involves their specialized knowledge. (Requires petition) |
| L-2 |
Dependent of L-1 |
Dependents of L-1 visa holders. |
| M-1 |
Vocational Student |
Individuals enrolled in U.S. vocational schools or programs. (Requires Sevis I-20) |
| M-2 |
Dependent of Vocational Student |
Spouses and minor children of M-1 visa holders. (Requires petition) |
| NATO-1 |
NATO Representative and Staff |
Principal representatives and their official staff from member nations of North Atlantic Treaty Organization. (Also includes immediate family members) |
| NATO-2 |
Other NATO Representatives |
Other representatives and official staff from NATO member states. (Includes immediate family members) |
| NATO-3 |
NATO Clerical Staff |
Clerical staff and their family members who accompany NATO representatives. |
| NATO-4 |
Foreign Nationals/NATO |
Foreign nationals, other than those classified as NATO-1 or NATO-2, who are classified as NATO officials. (Includes immediate family members) |
| NATO-5 |
Experts Assigned to NATO |
Experts, not classified as NATO-4 individuals, who are assigned to NATO. (Includes immediate family members) |
| NATO-6 |
Civilians Assigned to NATO |
Civilian members, and their dependents, attached to NATO delegations and missions. |
| NATO-7 |
Personal Employees/NATO |
Servants and personal attendants of NATO-1 through NATO-6 visa holders. (Includes family members of NATO personal employees) |
| N-8 |
Parent of Special Immigrant |
Parents of certain officers and employees of international organizations who have been accorded special immigrant status. |
| N-9 |
Child of Special Immigrant |
Children of officers and employees of international organizations with special immigrant status. |
| O-1 |
Extraordinary Ability |
Nationals of foreign countries who have demonstrated extraordinary ability or achievement in science, art, education, business or athletics. (Requires petition) |
| O-2 |
Support Personnel |
Support personnel who will assist an athlete or artist at a specific performance or event. The Applicant must be involved in essential support services which cannot be readily performed by a U.S. worker. (Requires petition) |
| O-3 |
Dependents of O-1 Visa Holder |
Spouses and minor children of O-1 visa holders. |
| P-1 |
Athletes & Entertainers |
Athletes who come to the U.S. to compete in a specific event at an internationally recognized level of performance. Entertainers coming to the U.S. to perform with a group that has achieved international recognition over a substantial period of time. The Applicant must have had a sustained relationship with the group (usually at least one year) and provide functions integral to the performance. (Requires petition) |
| P-2 |
Artistic Exchange |
Artists and entertainers who are coming to the U.S. to perform under a reciprocal exchange program between a U.S. organization and an organization based in a foreign country. (Requires petition) |
| P-3 |
Culturally Unique Artists |
Artists and entertainers coming to the U.S. temporarily to perform or teach under a program that is considered culturally unique, such as traditional or local art forms. (Requires petition) |
| P-4 |
Dependents of P Visa Holder |
Spouses and children of P-1 through P-3 visa holders. |
| Q-1 |
Cultural Exchange |
Participants in an international cultural exchange program approved by the U.S. Attorney General that provides training and employment, as well as sharing the traditions, culture and history of the home country. (Requires petition) |
| Q-2 |
Irish Peace Process Program Participants |
Citizens of Northern Ireland, and selected border counties in the Republic of Ireland, between the ages of 18 and 35 years old who work in designated occupations. (Requires petition) |
| R-1 |
Religious Worker |
Religious workers such as clergy members authorized to perform religious services (e.g. ministers, priests, rabbis), as well as professionals in a religious vocation or occupation (e.g. religious instructors, parochial school officers). The Applicant must have been a member of a bona fide religious organization with non-profit status in the U.S. for at least two years prior to making an application. |
| R-2 |
Dependent of Religious Worker |
Dependents of R-1 visa holders. |
| S-5 |
Criminal Witness |
Persons who possess and share reliable, important information about a crime or impending crime with law enforcement. |
| S-6 |
Terrorism Witness |
Persons who possess and share reliable information about a terrorist organization or plot with law enforcement. |
| T-1 |
Victims of Human Trafficking |
Victims of severe forms of human trafficking such as the sex trade or forced labor who are in the U.S. due to that trafficking. |
| T-2 |
Spouse of T-1 Visa Holder |
Husband or wife of T-1 victims of human trafficking. |
| T-3 |
Child of T-1 Visa Holder |
Dependent children of T-1 victims of human trafficking. |
| T-4 |
Parent of T-1 Visa Holder |
Parents of victims of human trafficking when T-1 visa holder is under 21 years of age. |
| TN |
NAFTA Professional Worker |
Citizens of Canada and Mexico who are working for a U.S. employer in a professional category that is included on the North American Free Trade Agreement eligibility list. |
| TD |
Dependent of NAFTA Professional |
Spouses and minor children of valid TN visa holders. |
| TPS |
Temporary Protected Status |
Citizens of designated countries who cannot return home due to extraordinary and temporary conditions such as armed conflict or environmental disasters. |
| TWOV |
Transit Without Visa/Passenger |
(Program suspended in 2003) |
| TWOV |
Transit Without Visa/Crew |
(Program suspended in 2003) |
| U-1 |
Crime Victim |
Victims of certain crimes such as rape, torture, domestic abuse, prostitution, kidnapping, blackmail and other offenses who are helpful in prosecuting those crimes. (Requires petition) |
| U-2 |
Spouse of Crime Victim |
Husband or wife of U-1 visa holders. |
| U-3 |
Child of Crime Victim |
Sons and daughters of U-1 visa holders. |
| U-4 |
Parent of Crime Victim |
Parents of crime victim when the U-1 visa holder is under 21 years of age. |
| V-1 |
Spouse of Permanent Resident |
Spouses of Lawful Permanent Residents (Green Card holders) who are principal beneficiaries of family-based petitions filed on or before December 21, 2000 and have been waiting for more than three years due to delays or the unavailability of immigrant visas. |
| V-2 |
Child of Permanent Resident |
Unmarried children, less than 21 years old, of Lawful Permanent Residents who are principal beneficiaries of family-based petitions filed on or before December 21, 2000 and have been waiting for more than three years due to delays or the unavailability of immigrant visas. |
| V-3 |
Child of Permanent Resident Spouse |
Unmarried children, less than 21 years old, of V-1 visa holders or Applicants who are principal beneficiaries of family-based petitions filed on or before December 21, 2000 and have been waiting for more than three years due to delays or the unavailability of immigrant visas. |
