Non Immigrant Visa categories in USA 5


US Non Immigrant Visa categories

Purpose of Travel Visa Category Required: Before applying for visa*
Athlete, amateur or professional (competing for prize money only) B-1 (NA)
Au pair (exchange visitor) J SEVIS
Australian professional specialty E-3 DOL
Border Crossing Card: Mexico BCC (NA)
Business visitor B-1 (NA)
CNMI-only transitional worker CW-1 (USCIS)
Crewmember D (NA)
Diplomat or foreign government official A (NA)
Domestic employee or nanny – must be accompanying a foreign national employer B-1 (NA)
Employee of a designated international organization or NATO   G1-G5, NATO (NA)
Exchange visitor J SEVIS
Foreign military personnel stationed in the United States A-2
NATO1-6
(NA)
Foreign national with extraordinary ability in Sciences, Arts, Education, Business or Athletics O USCIS
Free Trade Agreement (FTA) Professional:
Chile, Singapore
H-1B1 – Chile
H-1B1 – Singapore
DOL
International cultural exchange visitor Q USCIS
Intra-company transferee L USCIS
Medical treatment, visitor for B-2 (NA)
Media, journalist I (NA)
NAFTA professional worker: Mexico, Canada TN/TD (NA)
Performing athlete, artist, entertainer P USCIS
Physician J , H-1B SEVIS
Professor, scholar, teacher (exchange visitor) J SEVIS
Religious worker R USCIS
Specialty occupations in fields requiring highly specialized knowledge H-1B DOL then USCIS
Student: academic, vocational F, M SEVIS
Temporary agricultural worker H-2A DOL then USCIS
Temporary worker performing other services or labor of a temporary or seasonal nature. H-2B DOL then USCIS
Tourism, vacation, pleasure visitor B-2 (NA)
Training in a program not primarily for employment H-3 USCIS
Treaty trader/treaty investor E (NA)
Transiting the United States C (NA)
Victim of Criminal Activity U USCIS
Victim of Human Trafficking T USCIS
Nonimmigrant (V) Visa for Spouse and Children of a Lawful Permanent Resident (LPR) V (NA)
Renewals in the U.S. – A, G, and NATO Visas (NA)

* The following is required before applying for a visa at a U.S. embassy or consulate:

  • 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 = U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS) approval of a petition or application (The required petition or application depends on the visa category you plan to apply for.)
  • SEVIS = Program approval entered in the Student and Exchange Visitor Information System (SEVIS)
  • (NA) = Not Applicable – Additional approval by another U.S. government agency is not required prior to applying for a visa

Important Notes:

  • Canadian NAFTA Professional workers – A visa not required; apply to U.S. Customs and Border Protection (CBP) at border port of entry.
  • K nonimmigrant visas – For U.S. citizen fiancé(e) and spouse for immigration related purposes.

For more information about US Non Immigrant Visa Categories 

Check for Immigrant Visa Categories


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5 thoughts on “Non Immigrant Visa categories in USA

  • george georgewill

    I am Canadian.My wife and have had a second home in the U S for 10 years and we go as a family once or twice a year.
    We have registered companies in the U S to do business (buy, renovate and sell or rent properties in the U S).

    Do we need visa to travel to the U S to do that? If so what category of Visa is needed?
    I inquired at the boarder crossing in OGDENBURG and they were not sure and referred me the Embassy.

  • Toros Panosian

    05/05/2019
    To U S Embassy Sofia Bulgaria
    Dear U S Embassy

    My name is Toros Panosian and I reside at 23702 Bower Cascade Pl. Diamond Bar, CA. 91765.

    The reason I’m sending this comment to you is about book” Phenomenal contact in Trichina’ written phenomena Elisaveta Loginova. The secret experiment call Sunshine Ray between human’s Bulgarian government and aliens was conducted 1991-1992 in Bulgaria. Elisaveta Loginova was connection between humane and aliens for first time in the world. I wish to connect Elizabetha with the rest of team Ancient Aliens show under History channel. Elizaveta was invited to travel within UFO. This is not a Disneyland story??? I would like to invite Elisaveta to come Alien con at LA convention June 21-23 as guest speaker to revel her extraordinary contacts and experience with aliens.

    Elisaveta and her husband need an invitation latter to apply for a none immigration visa from US Embassy Sofia-Bulgaria to be able to travel to USA. Together I would like to help Elisaveta and her husband Angel to come to USA for LA convention and hear the real live extraordinary story connections with aliens. I would like to see Elisaveta in Ancient Alien show with Erich Van D Nuken, Giorgio Tsoukalos and many more?

    I am reaching out for your hoping to help Elisaveta and her husband Angel to come to visit the United States for LA convention June 21-23.
    My invitation is privet!!!
    Alien Con invitation is a business more official presented to US Embassy officials in Sofia-Bulgaria.
    By passports their names are:
    Elisaveta Georgieva Loginova and husband: Angel Pavlov Zlatanov
    There e-mail is: angelpavlov@abv.bg
    Tel: 011-359-899439491
    My info: e-mail: panosiano@aol.com. Tel: (909) 860-1768

    Thank you for your time.
    Sincerely,
    Toros Panosian

  • Primitivo M. Balasbas

    My ten year B1B2 visa is going to expire in August 2022. I would like to renew this visa because i plan to visit the United States of America in May 2022. I am a filipino citizen but am a permanent resident in Japan. Ten years ago i had my USA visa renewed at the United States Consulate offices in Osaka, Japan. May I renew my ten year visa at the Osaka Consulate this month? Please help me. How to get my visa to the USA renewed. Thank your very much for your very kind consideration.