Visa Types - Nonimmigrant Visas

Purpose of Travel to U.S. and Nonimmigrant Visas

Visa Type

Brief Description

Border Crossing Card: Mexico

BCC

Only issued to citizens of and residents in Mexico.  Applicants must meet the eligibility requirements of the B1/B2 visas and demonstrate that they have ties to Mexico that would compel them to return after their temporary U.S. stay.  This card is valid until the expiration date on the card, generally 10 years after the date of issuance.

Business, tourism, vacation, pleasure visitors

B

For persons desiring to enter the United States temporarily for:

B-1 – General business purposes including but not limited to: consultation with business associates; attending a scientific, educational, professional/business convention or a conference on specific dates; estate settlement; negotiation of a contract; participation in short-term training; athletes (amateur and professional) competing for prize money only; domestic employees accompanying a foreign employer. Dates must be provided at time of application.

B-2 – Pleasure; tourism; vacation (holiday); visiting with friends or relatives; participation in social events hosted by fraternal, social, or service organizations; participation by amateurs in musical, sports, or similar events or contests if not being paid for participating; enrollment in a short recreational course of study, not for credit toward a degree; medical treatment (May require further medical documentation).

Foreign citizens traveling for visitor visa purposes only from certain eligible countries may be able to visit the U.S. without a visa through the Visa Waiver Program, if they meet requirements

Crewmembers

D

For persons working on board vessels (such as cruise liner or fishing ship) or international airlines in the United States of which their employment is required for normal operation and services. Crewmembers on a D visa must intend to depart the United States on the same vessel or any other vessel within 29 days.

Diplomats and foreign government officials; Foreign military personnel stationed in the U.S.

A

For diplomats and other government officials.  With the exception of a Head of State or Government who qualifies for an A visa regardless of the purpose of his or her visit to the United States, the type of visa required by a diplomat or other government official depends upon their purpose of travel.  For an A-1 or A-2 visa, one must be traveling to the U.S. on behalf of one’s national government to engage solely in official activities for that government.

Employees of a designated international organization, and NATO; Foreign military personnel stationed in the U.S. or traveling to the U.S. for official NATO activities.

  G1-G5, NATO

For employees of international organizations  (G) and/or NATO, with the exception of a Head of State or Government, including national representatives, international staff, and immediate family of an individual classified NATO-1 through NATO-6

Exchange visitors

J

For Individuals approved to participate in exchange visitor programs in the United States including but not limited to short term scholars; Au Pair, Educare, and camp counselors; specialists; College/University/Secondary students; interns; summer work travel; teachers; physicians; professors/research scholars; trainees; and government or Department of State Visitors.  Dates must be provided at time of application; in addition a J visitor is subject to a two year home-country physical presence requirement in which the visitor must return to his/her home country for a minimum of two years at the end of the program.

Foreign nationals with extraordinary ability in Sciences, Arts, Education, Business, or Athletics

O

For persons with extraordinary ability or achievement in the sciences, arts, education, business, athletics, or extraordinary recognized achievements in the film & television fields, demonstrated by sustained national or international acclaim, to work in their field of expertise. Includes persons providing essential services in support of the above individual.  Dates must be provided at time of application

International and Cultural Exchange Visitors

Q1

For practical training and employment and for sharing of the history, culture, and traditions of one’s home country through participation in an international cultural exchange program.

Intra-company transferees

L

For individuals who will work at a branch, parent, affiliate, or subsidiary of their current employer in a managerial or executive capacity, or in a position requiring specialized knowledge.  Individual must have been employed by the same employer abroad continuously for one year within the three preceding years.

Media, journalists

I

For representatives of the foreign media, including members of the press, radio, film, and print industries, traveling temporarily to the United States to work in their profession engaged in informational or educational media activities, essential to the foreign media function. Activities in the United States while on a media visa must be for a media organization having its home office in a foreign country, must be informational in nature, and generally associated with the news gathering process and reporting on current events.

NAFTA professional workers: Mexico, Canada

TN/TD

The North American Free Trade Agreement (NAFTA) created special economic and trade relationships for the United States, Canada, and Mexico.  The nonimmigrant NAFTA Professional (TN) visa allows citizens of Canada and Mexico, as NAFTA professionals, to work in the United States in prearranged business activities for U.S. or foreign employers under the following conditions: Applicant is a citizen of Canada or Mexico; Profession is on the NAFTA list; The open position in the United States requires a NAFTA professional; Applicant will work in a prearranged full-time or part-time job for an employer (self-employment is not permitted); and Applicant has the qualifications, meeting the specific requirements, education, and/or experience of the profession.  With some exceptions, each profession requires a baccalaureate degree as an entry-level requirement. 

Canadian citizens usually do not need a visa as a NAFTA Professional, (although a visa can be issued to qualified Canadian TN visa applicants upon request), and a Canadian citizen without a TN visa can apply for TN nonimmigrant status at a U.S. port of entry.

Mexican citizens require TN visas to request admission to the United States in this status. 

TD Visas are specifically for spouses/children that are not Canadian citizens coming with a Canadian TN visa holder, or who are Mexican citizens entering with a Mexican TN visa holder.

Performing athletes, artists, entertainers

P

P1 - To perform at a specific athletic competition as an athlete or as a member of an entertainment group. Requires an internationally recognized level of sustained performance.
P2 - For performance under a reciprocal exchange program between an organization in the United States and an organization in another country.
P3 - To perform, teach or coach under a program that is culturally unique or a traditional ethnic, folk, cultural, musical, theatrical, or artistic performance or presentation.
Each P1,2,3 visa includes persons providing essential services in support of the above individual.

Religious workers

R

For persons who want to enter the United States to work temporarily in religious capacities.  A temporary religious worker must: be a member of the same religious denomination as the religious organization he/she plans to work for in the U.S. for at least two years prior to that organization filing a petition on his/her behalf; be coming to work as a minister or in a religious vocation or occupation in the U.S.; be employed by a non-profit religious organization in the U.S. (or an organization affiliated with the religious denomination in the U.S.); and work at least part time, an average of at least 20 hours per week.

Specialty occupations in fields requiring highly specialized knowledge

H-1B

For persons who want to enter the United States for employment or training lasting a fixed period of time, and are not considered permanent or indefinite including:

H1 - 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 visas, a subcategory, are specific to Chilean and Singaporean citizens, according to the countries’ respective U.S. Free Trade Agreements).

H2A - For temporary or seasonal agricultural work. Limited to citizens or nationals of designated countries, with limited exceptions, if determined to be in the United States’ interest.

H2B - For temporary or seasonal non- agricultural work. Limited to citizens or nationals of designated countries, with limited exceptions, if determined to be in the United States’ interest.

H3 - To receive training, other than graduate medical or academic, that is not available in the trainee’s home country or practical training programs in the education of children with mental, physical, or emotional disabilities.

Students: academic, vocational

F, M, OPT, CPT

Students must have a student visa to study in the United States. One’s course of study and the type of school one plans to attend determines the need for an F-1 visa or an M-1 visa.

F – University or college; high school; private elementary school; seminary; conservatory; another academic institution including a language training program.

M - Vocational or other recognized nonacademic institution, other than a language training program.

OPT - Temporary employment that is directly related to an F-1 student’s major area of study.  An F-1 student could be authorized to receive up to a total of 12 months of practical training either before (pre-) and/or after (post-) completion of studies.  STEM students may be eligible for a 17 month extension under certain conditions.

Pre-completion - Authorized after student has been enrolled for one full academic year and must be directly related to the student’s major area of study.  Students authorized to participate in pre-completion OPT must work part-time while school is in session. They may work full time when school is not in session.

Post-completion - Authorized upon completion of studies and must be directly related to the student’s major area of study.

CPT - allows students to accept paid alternative work/study, internships, cooperative education or any other type of required internship or practicum that employers offer though cooperative agreements with the student’s school. 

Treaty traders/treaty investors

E

For citizens of countries with which the United States maintains treaties of commerce and navigation who are coming to the U.S. to engage in substantial trade, including trade in services or technology; in qualifying activities, principally between the U.S. and the treaty country; or to develop and direct the operations of an enterprise in which one has invested a substantial amount of capital.

E1 – Treaty Trader (Specific qualifications apply)

E2 – Treaty Investor (Specific qualifications apply)

E3 - Only applies to Australian Nationals.

Transiting the United States

C

For persons traveling in immediate and continuous transit through the United States en route to another country, with few exceptions.  This may include layovers, making port, transfers from one type of transportation to another, and/or a foreign citizen transiting to or from U.N. headquarters (limited to the New York City vicinity).

Victims of Criminal Activity

U

For victims of certain criminal activities that either occurred in the United States or violated U.S. laws.  Victims must have suffered substantial mental or physical abuse due to the criminal activity and possess information concerning that criminal activity. Law enforcement authorities must also certify that the victim has been, is being, or is likely to be helpful in the investigation or prosecution of the criminal activity.

Victims of Human Trafficking

T

Victims of severe forms of human trafficking are provided relief under U.S. immigration.  This status allows victims of human trafficking to remain in the United States to assist in investigations or prosecutions of human trafficking violators.  Foreign citizens seeking T-1 nonimmigrant status must be physically present in the U.S. already due to human trafficking.