Nonimmigrant (Temporary) Visas: A to Z

A: Foreign embassy or consular diplomatic staff in the U.S.

B: Visitor for Business (B-1) or Pleasure (B-2).  Maximum six month entry. Can be extended for six months or changed to another category.

C: Transit (only necessary immediate and continuous transit through the U.S.).

D: Crew Member (usually planes and ships).

E: Treaty Trader (E-1) or Treaty Investor (E-2).  Valid for two years per entry, but can be extended as long as the company is operating in the United States.

F: Student.  Valid as long as the student maintains a full-time course load until graduation.  One year of practical training often is available after graduation.

G: Government employee of foreign international organization, i.e. U.N.

H: Specialty Worker (H-1B).  The job must normally require at least a bachelor’s degree in a specific field.  Valid up to six years with extensions, but even longer if applying for a green card too. Temporary agricultural worker (H-2A) or seasonal worker (H-2B) or temporary trainee (H-3).

I: Foreign media representative working in U.S. for media organization abroad; need press pass.

J: Exchange student or trainee.  Valid from a few months to a year and half depending upon the program.  No extensions.  Some programs have a two-year home country residence requirement before the trainee can change nonimmigrant status or apply for a green card.

K: Fiance of a U.S. citizen.  Must get married within 90 days of entry.

L: Intracompany transferee coming to the U.S. to work at a branch, subsidiary or affiliate in a managerial or executive position.  Must have worked for the parent company abroad for at least one year out of the last three.

M: Vocational student.  Valid for one educational objective only.  Max three years.

N: NATO personnel.

O: Extraordinary ability in the arts, sciences, business.  Person must be in the top few percentage points in his/her field.  Need awards, recognition, press, etc.  Valid for term of itinerary or three years, whichever is less.  Can be extended as long as the person will be performing duties in their field of endeavor.

P: Performer as an athlete, reciprocal exchange program, or in a culturally-unique performance. Professional sports athletes, circus performers, cultural artists included in this category.

Q: Exchange student in an international cultural exchange program.

R: Religious worker.  Must prove bona fide religion and religious occupation (minister, nun, monk, religious teacher, etc).  USCIS will visit the site (church, temple, etc. to investigate). Valid for two years.

S: Material witness in a criminal investigation or prosecution.

T: Victim of human trafficking in the U.S. who has cooperated with investigation/prosecution.

U: Victim of certain criminal mental or physical abuse in the U.S. who has cooperated with authorities.

V: Spouse or child of a lawful permanent resident whose petition was filed before 12/21/2000. 

 

There are no W, X, Y or Z visas.