Visa Types
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(Ministry of External Affairs, India)
Tourist Place
Types of Visas
The chart below shows various reasons for temporary travel and the corresponding visa categories.
| Visa Category | Immediate Relative & Family Sponsored Visa Category: |
| B-1 | Athlete, amateur or professional (competing for prize money only) B-1: This category is for athletes, both amateur and professional, who are competing for prize money only. |
| J | Au pair (exchange visitor) J: Au pairs are individuals participating in a cultural exchange program, living with a host family and providing childcare services in return. |
| E-3 | Australian professional specialty E-3: This visa category is specifically for Australian citizens who are coming to the United States to work temporarily in a specialty occupation. |
| BCC | Border Crossing Card: Mexico BCC: This card is for Mexican citizens who are frequent travelers to the United States for border crossings. |
| B-1 | Business visitor B-1: This category is for individuals entering the United States temporarily for business purposes, such as consulting with business associates, attending a conference, or negotiating contracts. |
| CW-1 | CNMI-only transitional worker CW-1: This visa is for foreign workers to be employed in the Commonwealth of the Northern Mariana Islands (CNMI) during the transitional period. |
| D | Crewmember D: Crewmembers are individuals working on board sea vessels or international airlines in the United States. |
| A | Diplomat or foreign government official A: This category is for diplomats and other foreign government officials who are representing their country in the United States. |
| B-1 | Domestic employee or nanny B-1: This category is for individuals accompanying a foreign employer to the United States as a domestic employee or nanny. |
| G1-G5, NATO | Employee of a designated international organization or NATO G1-G5, NATO: This category is for employees of designated international organizations or NATO who are working in the United States. |
| J | Exchange visitor J: This category is for individuals participating in approved exchange visitor programs in the United States. |
| A-2 | |
| NATO1-6 | Foreign military personnel stationed in the United States A-2, NATO1-6: This category is for foreign military personnel, as well as their dependents, stationed in the United States. |
| O | Foreign national with extraordinary ability in Sciences, Arts, Education, Business or Athletics O: This category is for individuals with extraordinary ability in various fields who wish to work temporarily in the United States. |
| H-1B1 – Chile | |
| H-1B1 – Singapore | Free Trade Agreement (FTA) Professional: Chile, Singapore H-1B1: This category is for professionals from Chile and Singapore under Free Trade Agreements working in the United States. |
| Q | International cultural exchange visitor Q: This category is for individuals participating in international cultural exchange programs in the United States. |
| L | Intra-company transferee L: This category is for employees of international companies who are being transferred to a branch, parent, affiliate, or subsidiary in the United States. |
| B-2 | Medical treatment (visitor for medical treatment) B-2: This category is for individuals seeking medical treatment in the United States. |
| I | Media, journalist I: This category is for representatives of the foreign media, including reporters, film crews, and other media professionals, who are working in the United States. |
| TN/TD | NAFTA professional worker: Mexico, Canada TN/TD: This category is for professionals from Mexico and Canada under the North American Free Trade Agreement working in the United States. |
| P | Performing athlete, artist, entertainer P: This category is for internationally recognized athletes, artists, and entertainers who are performing in the United States. |
| J , H-1B | Physician J, H-1B: This category is for physicians who are working in the United States either as exchange visitors (J) or through an H-1B visa. |
| J | Professor, scholar, teacher (exchange visitor) J: This category is for professors, scholars, and teachers participating in approved exchange visitor programs in the United States. |
| R | Religious worker R: This category is for individuals involved in religious occupations, such as ministers and religious professionals, who are working in the United States. |
| H-1B | Specialty occupations in fields requiring highly specialized knowledge H-1B: This category is for individuals working in specialty occupations that require highly specialized knowledge in the United States. |
| F, M | Student: academic, vocational F, M: This category is for academic and vocational students studying in the United States. |
| H-2A | Temporary agricultural worker H-2A: This category is for temporary agricultural workers in the United States. |
| H-2B | Temporary worker performing other services or labor of a temporary or seasonal nature H-2B: This category is for temporary workers performing non-agricultural services or labor in the United States. |
| B-2 | Tourism, vacation, pleasure visitor B-2: This category is for individuals visiting the United States for tourism, vacation, or pleasure purposes. |
| H-3 | Training in a program not primarily for employment H-3: This category is for individuals receiving training in various fields in the United States. |
| E | Treaty trader/treaty investor E: This category is for individuals engaged in substantial trade between the United States and their home country or for individuals investing a substantial amount of capital in the United States. |
| C | Transiting the United States C: This category is for individuals transiting through the United States to another country. |
| U | Victim of Criminal Activity U: This category is for victims of criminal activity who have been helpful to law enforcement or government officials in the investigation or prosecution of criminal activity. |
| T | Victim of Human Trafficking T: This category is for victims of human trafficking who have complied with reasonable requests for assistance in the investigation or prosecution of human trafficking. |
| V | Nonimmigrant (V) Visa for Spouse and Children of a Lawful Permanent Resident (LPR) V: This category is for the spouse and children of a lawful permanent resident of the United States. |
| Renewals in the U.S. – A, G, and NATO Visas: This category is for individuals renewing A, G, and NATO visas while in the United States. |
The chart below shows various reasons for immigrating to the United States and the related immigrant visa categories with available information.
| Visa Category | Immediate Relative & Family Sponsored Visa Category: |
| IR1, CR1 | Spouse of a U.S. Citizen IR1, CR1: This category is for the spouses of U.S. citizens who are immigrating to the United States. IR1 is for immediate relatives, while CR1 is for conditional residents. |
| K-3 * | Spouse of a U.S. Citizen awaiting approval of an I-130 immigrant petition K-3: This category is for spouses of U.S. citizens who are waiting for the approval of their I-130 immigrant petition. It allows them to enter the U.S. temporarily. |
| K-1 * | Fiancé(e) to marry U.S. Citizen & live in U.S. K-1: This category is for foreign fiancé(e)s of U.S. citizens who intend to marry and live in the United States. |
| IR3, IH3, IR4, IH4 | Intercountry Adoption of Orphan Children by U.S. Citizens IR3, IH3, IR4, IH4: These categories are for U.S. citizens adopting orphaned children from other countries. |
| IR2, CR2, IR5, F1, F3, F4 | Certain Family Members of U.S. Citizens IR2, CR2, IR5, F1, F3, F4: These categories cover various family members of U.S. citizens, including unmarried children, parents, and siblings. |
| F2A, F2B | Certain Family Members of Lawful Permanent Residents F2A, F2B: This category includes family members of lawful permanent residents, such as spouses and unmarried children. |
| Employer Sponsored – Employment: | |
| E1 | Priority workers [First] E1: This category is for priority workers with extraordinary abilities, outstanding professors, or multinational managers and executives. |
| E2 | Professionals Holding Advanced Degrees and Persons of Exceptional Ability [Second] E2: This category is for professionals with advanced degrees or individuals with exceptional abilities in their fields. |
| E3, EW | Professionals and Other Workers [Third] E3, EW: This category covers skilled workers, professionals, and unskilled workers. |
| SD, SR, SE, SQ, SI | Certain Special Immigrants: [Fourth] SD, SR, SE, SQ, SI: These categories include various special immigrants, such as religious workers, retired NATO-6 employees, and others. |
| T5, C5 | Employment Creation/Investors [Fifth] T5, C5: This category is for immigrant investors and entrepreneurs creating jobs in the United States. |
| SD, SR | Religious Workers SD, SR: This category is for religious workers who are coming to the United States for religious employment. |
| SI | Iraqi and Afghan Translators/Interpreters SI: This category is for Iraqi and Afghan translators and interpreters who have worked with the U.S. government. |
| SQ | Iraqis Who Worked for/on Behalf of the U.S. Government SQ: This category is for Iraqis who have worked for or on behalf of the U.S. government. |
| SQ | Afghans Who Worked for/on Behalf of the U.S. Government SQ: This category is for Afghans who have worked for or on behalf of the U.S. government. |
| Other Immigrants: | |
| DV | Diversity Immigrant Visa DV: This category is for individuals from countries with low rates of immigration to the U.S. It’s a lottery program. |
| SB | Returning Resident SB: This category is for lawful permanent residents who left the United States and wish to return after a prolonged absence. |
For more detailed information on all visa categories, click here