The purpose of your intended travel and other facts will determine what type of visa is required under U.S. immigration law. As a visa applicant, you will need to establish that you meet all requirements to receive the category of visa for which you are applying. When you apply at a U.S embassy or consulate, a consular officer will determine based on laws, whether you are eligible to receive a visa, and if so, which visa category is appropriate.
The chart below contains many different purposes of temporary travel and the related nonimmigrant visa categories available on this website. Select a visa category below to learn more:
Purpose of Travel |
Visa Category |
Required: Before applying for visa* |
Athlete, amateur or professional (competing for prize money only) |
(NA) |
|
Au pair (exchange visitor) |
SEVIS |
|
Australian professional specialty |
DOL |
|
Border Crossing Card: Mexico |
(NA) |
|
Business visitor |
(NA) |
|
CNMI-only transitional worker |
(USCIS) |
|
Crewmember |
(NA) |
|
Diplomat or foreign government official |
A
|
(NA) |
Domestic employee or nanny - must be accompanying a foreign national employer |
(NA) |
|
Employee of a designated international organization or NATO |
(NA) |
|
Exchange visitor |
SEVIS |
|
Foreign military personnel stationed in the United States |
(NA) |
|
Foreign national with extraordinary ability in Sciences, Arts, Education, Business or Athletics |
USCIS |
|
Free Trade Agreement (FTA) Professional: |
H-1B1 - Chile H-1B1 - Singapore |
DOL |
International cultural exchange visitor |
USCIS |
|
Intra-company transferee |
USCIS |
|
Medical treatment, visitor for |
(NA) |
|
Media, journalist |
(NA) |
|
NAFTA professional worker: Mexico, Canada |
(NA) |
|
Performing athlete, artist, entertainer |
USCIS |
|
Physician |
SEVIS |
|
Professor, scholar, teacher (exchange visitor) |
SEVIS |
|
Religious worker |
USCIS |
|
Specialty occupations in fields requiring highly specialized knowledge |
DOL then USCIS |
|
Student: academic, vocational |
SEVIS |
|
Temporary agricultural worker |
DOL then USCIS |
|
Temporary worker performing other services or labor of a temporary or seasonal nature. |
DOL then USCIS |
|
Tourism, vacation, pleasure visitor |
(NA) |
|
Training in a program not primarily for employment |
USCIS |
|
Treaty trader/treaty investor |
(NA) |
|
Transiting the United States |
(NA) |
|
Victim of Criminal Activity |
USCIS |
|
Victim of Human Trafficking |
USCIS |
|
| Nonimmigrant (V) Visa for Spouse and Children of a Lawful Permanent Resident (LPR) | V | (NA) |
|
(NA) |
*What the abbreviations above mean - Before applying for a visa at a U.S. embassy or consulate, the following is required:
Important Notes:
The chart below contains different purposes for immigrating to the United States, and the related immigrant visa categories for which information is available on this website. Select a visa category below to learn more:
Immediate Relative & Family Sponsored |
|
Spouse of a U.S. Citizen |
|
Spouse of a U.S. Citizen awaiting approval of an I-130 immigrant petition |
K-3 * |
Fiancé(e) to marry U.S. Citizen & live in U.S. |
K-1 * |
Intercountry Adoption of Orphan Children by U.S. Citizens |
|
Certain Family Members of U.S. Citizens |
|
Certain Family Members of Lawful Permanent Residents |
|
Employer Sponsored – Employment |
|
Employment-Based Immigrants, including (preference group):
|
E1 E2 E3, EW3 C5, T5, R5, I5 S (many**) |
Religious Workers |
|
Iraqi and Afghan Translators/Interpreters |
|
Iraqis Who Worked for/on Behalf of the U.S. Government |
|
Afghans Who Worked for/on Behalf of the U.S. Government |
|
Other Immigrants |
|
Diversity Immigrant Visa |
|
Returning Resident |
Important Notes:
*K Visas – Listed with immigrant visas because they are for immigration related purposes.
About this chart - This chart is a list of many immigrant visa categories, but not every immigrant visa category.
**Refer to the Foreign Affairs Manual, 9 FAM 502.1 for a listing of all immigrant visa categories.
