
Nonimmigrant Visa Categories
- Overview. Nonimmigrant visas are for people who wish to go to the United States on a temporary basis for tourism, business, temporary work, study, or medical treatment.
- Visitor Visa Categories. ...
- Study Visa Categories. ...
- Work Visa Categories. ...
- Other Nonimmigrant Visa Categories. ...
What is the difference between immigrant and nonimmigrant visa?
The key difference between an immigrant visa and a nonimmigrant visa is very basic: Immigrant visas are issued to foreign nationals who intend to live permanently in the United States. Nonimmigrant visas are for foreign nationals who want to enter the United States on a temporary basis – as tourists, for medical treatment, on business, for temporary work, to study, or other similar reasons. Immigrant Visas
What is the difference between immigrant and non immigrant?
The two main classes are immigrant and nonimmigrant and they connote the intent of the individual seeking entry and stay in the country. An immigrant is someone from a foreign country who relocates to live in another country. They may or may not be citizens. Non-immigrants move on their own volition for a certain duration but not permanently.
How to apply for nonimigrant US visa?
How to Apply for a Nonimmigrant Visa. 1. Determine Which Type Of Visa You Need. Use the visa wizard on travel.state.gov’s visa pages to determine which type of travel authorization is appropriate for your purpose of travel. U.S. law prohibits pre-application consultations. We cannot determine your qualification or eligibility for a visa until you have paid the non-refundable visa application ...
Where can I Find my non immigrant visa number?
Where can I find my nonimmigrant visa number? The visa number, also called a visa foil number, is a red number that is generally printed on the bottom right side of newer visa documents. In most cases, the U.S. visa number contains eight numeric characters. In some cases, the number contains one letter followed by seven numeric characters.

What are 3 types of non immigrant visas?
What are the nonimmigrant visa types? There are three primary nonimmigrant visa categories. You can visit the United States for temporary tourism or business, study, and work.
What is an example of a non immigrant visa?
Nonimmigrant visas, such as tourist and student visas, permit you to enter the U.S. for a short time. By Ilona Bray, J.D. If you're planning a short trip to the United States, you must, with certain exceptions, obtain a "nonimmigrant" (temporary) visa.
What is considered a non immigrant?
Nonimmigrants are foreign nationals admitted temporarily to the United States within classes of admission that are defined in section 101(a)(15) of the Immigration and Nationality Act (INA).
What are the 4 types of visas?
Which type of visa do you need? Probably one of the four main types: tourist, immigration, student, or work.
What is B1 and B2 visa?
B1 and B2 visas are generally referred to as “B visas”, and they are the most common types of visa issued for a wide range of uses in the United States. The B1 visa is issued mainly for short-term business trips, while the B2 visa is issued mainly traveling for tourism purposes.
What are the 3 types of immigration?
When immigrating to the US, there are four different immigration status categories that immigrants may fall into: citizens, residents, non-immigrants, and undocumented immigrants.
How do I get a non immigrant visa for USA?
In general, you will need: To complete online form DS-160, the nonimmigrant visa application form. A photo. A visa application fee....How to Apply Online for a Business or Tourism Visitor Visa to the U.S.Find out if you need a visa. ... Determine which visa you might need for your visit. ... Apply for a visa.
How many types of US visa are there?
There are two general types of US visas: non-immigrant visas and immigrant visas. Non-immigrant visas are travel documents that enable foreigners to travel to the United States for a finite temporary period of time.
How long does a non immigrant visa last?
Depending on your nationality, the validity of your visa can vary between 3 months and 10 years. This is the period of time that you can use your visa to enter the United States, and you can make multiple entries to the United States during that time period.
Which visa is easy to get?
Singapore A beautiful concrete jungle, Singapore is amongst the most expensive cities in the world, yet the easiest to travel to for Indians. With well-connected flights and a quick and straightforward E- visa application process, Singapore should be on the top of your travel list. Singapore has a lot to offer.
Is h1b a non immigrant visa?
What is the H-1B Visa Category? The H-1B is a temporary (nonimmigrant) visa category that allows employers to petition for highly educated foreign professionals to work in “specialty occupations” that require at least a bachelor's degree or the equivalent.
Is Green Card an immigrant visa?
Green cards are technically a type of visa that allows for permanent residence. Green cards are issued after arrival in the United States. To qualify for a green card, the applicant must have an immigrant visa already, and applications are made to U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS).
What is an example of an immigrant visa?
Foreign nationals can apply for various kinds of immigrant visas, including immediate relative visas, family preference visas, diversity visas, and employment-based visas.
What is difference between immigrant and non immigrant visa?
An immigrant visa allows a qualified applicant with an approved petition to reside in the US permanently. A nonimmigrant visa is granted to individuals visiting the US for purposes such as business, vacation, medical treatment and more.
Is b1 b2 non immigrant visa?
The B-1/B-2 visa is a temporary, non-immigrant visa that allows the holder to travel to the United States for either business or tourism purposes.
Is a green card a non immigrant visa?
Green cards are technically a type of visa that allows for permanent residence. Green cards are issued after arrival in the United States. To qualify for a green card, the applicant must have an immigrant visa already, and applications are made to U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS).
What is a nonimmigrant visa?
A nonimmigrant visa is the visa issued to foreign nationals, or aliens, with permanent residence outside the United States, but who wish to, visit, study, live and or work in the U.S. for a specific temporary period of time. A nonimmigrant visa is issued based on a specific category. However, it does not guarantee admission into the United States, ...
How long is a nonimmigrant visa valid?
A nonimmigrant visa can be valid anywhere from 30 days to 10 years. Visas may be limited to a single entry or may be valid for multiple entries during the period of their validity. The period of time which an alien is allowed to stay on a nonimmigrant visa is indicated on Form I-94 (Departure Record) which is stapled into the foreign national's passport. There are a large variety of nonimmigrant categories, and each exists for a specific purpose and has specific terms and conditions. Nonimmigrant classifications include:
What are nonimmigrant categories?
Nonimmigrant classifications include: Foreign government officials; Visitors for business and for pleasure; Foreign nationals in transit through the United States; Treaty traders and investors;
What are the categories of nonimmigrant visas?
There are three primary nonimmigrant visa categories. You can visit the United States for temporary tourism or business, study, and work.
Who needs a nonimmigrant visa?
If you are not a U.S. citizen or lawful permanent resident and plan to temporarily come to the United States, you need a nonimmigrant visa.
What is a M visa?
Another type of student visa is the M visa, for students at vocational or other accredited nonacademic institutions. However, language training programs fall under the F visa category.
Where to schedule an interview for a visa?
The next step for visa applicants is to schedule an interview at a U.S. consulate or embassy. You should check ahead of time through the U.S. Department of State about appointment wait times. Check that there are no current travel restrictions, such as coronavirus pandemic-related ones. Your visa appointment wait time will depend on the U.S. Consulate General location you choose.
Is immigration help free?
At ImmigrationHelp.org, we believe that immigrants make America great. We’re on a mission to make immigrating to the United States easy, safe, and free by combining the power of technology with attorneys to help you achieve the American dream. If you’d like to connect with us, please email [email protected]. If you’d like to support our work, you can make a tax-deductible donation here. ImmigrationHelp.org is a DBA of Immigrants Like Us, a 501 (c) (3) nonprofit organization . Neither ImmigrationHelp.org nor Immigrants Like Us is a law firm. By using this website, you do not enter any form of attorney-client relationship with ImmigrationHelp.org or Immigrants Like Us. Your access to the website is subject to our Terms of Service and Privacy Policy.
What are the two categories of visas?
There are two categories of U.S. visas: immigrant and nonimmigrant. Immigrant visas are issued to foreign nationals who intend to live permanently in the United States.
Who can petition on behalf of an individual?
Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS). Certain applicants such as workers with extraordinary ability, investors, and certain special immigrants can petition on their own behalf.
Can you travel to a foreign country with a round trip ticket?
Be in possession of a round-trip ticket that will transport the individual out of the United States to any other foreign port or place as long as the trip does not terminate in contiguous territory or an ; except that the round trip ticket may transport the traveler to contiguous territory or an , if the traveler is a resident of the country of destination or if arriving at a land border, provide evidence of financial solvency and a domicile abroad to which the traveler intends to return;
What is DS 160?
The DS-160, Online Nonimmigrant Visa Application form, is for temporary travel to the United States, and for K (fiancé (e)) visas. Form DS-160 is submitted electronically to the Department of State website via the Internet. Consular Officers use the information entered on the DS-160 to process the visa application and, combined with a personal interview, determine an applicant’s eligibility for a nonimmigrant visa.
What browsers are supported for DS 160?
Use only Internet Explorer 11 or higher, Firefox, or Google Chrome 58 when completing your application. Safari and Microsoft Edge are not supported. The DS-160, Online Nonimmigrant Visa Application form, is for temporary travel to the United States, and for K (fiancé (e)) visas.
What is an F-1 visa?
F-1 visa classification is for a full-time international student pursuing academic studies.
What determines the type of student visa you need?
Your course of study, the school you plan to attend, or the exchange program you will be with will determine the type of student visa you will need.
What is ESTA in travel?
Fill out the (ESTA) online application. ESTA determines the eligibility of a visitor to travel to the U.S. under the VWP.
What is transit C visa?
Transit C visa classification is for foreign nationals traveling through the U.S. to another country and stopping briefly in the U.S. as part of their travel to the next foreign destination.
What happens if you violate your work visa?
If you violate the terms of your work visa, it could be revoked. You could be deported, arrested, or denied re-entry into the U.S.
Do you need an authorization to travel under VWP?
If you plan to visit the U.S. under the VWP, you must get an approved travel authorization prior to your trip. Authorization approvals are determined using the Electronic System for Travel Authorization (ESTA) .
Can an international student apply for a student visa?
An international student can apply for a student or exchange visitor visa only after being accepted by a school certified in the Student and Exchange Visitor Program (SEVP). Students’ records are kept in the Student and Exchange Visitor Information System (SEVIS). Learn more about SEVP and SEVIS, and about the SEVIS fee.
What is the difference between a nonimmigrant visa and an immigrant visa?
In short, the United States grants an immigrant visa to people that intend to work and live permanently in the United States and issues a nonimmigrant visa to people who are temporarily visiting the U.S.
What is the purpose of a nonimmigrant visa?
within a certain time frame. The purpose for the visit may be tourism, business, temporary work, or school.
What is an immigrant visa?
The U.S. government grants an immigrant visa to foreign-born individuals who intend make the United States a permanent home. Synonymous terms for immigrant visa include: permanent resident, immigrant, green card holder, and resident alien.
Can an immigrant work in the US?
Those with immigrant status may work in the United States and live within the U.S. with most of the privileges and rights as U.S. citizens. To acquire an immigrant via, most people are sponsored by a family member or employer in the United States.
What form do I need to file for a change of status?
Spouses and children requesting a change of status or extension of stay in a dependent nonimmigrant classification must file Form I-539, Application to Extend/Change Nonimmigrant Status . Please see the Form I-539 instructions for further information on filing procedures for this application.
Do aliens have to pay taxes?
Aliens employed in the U.S. may have a U.S. tax obligation. See the Taxation of Nonresident Aliens page on the Internal Revenue Service (IRS) website for more information.
Does the INA cover dependents?
4 Though the Immigration and Nationality Act (INA) does not provide a specific nonimmigrant classification for dependents of Q-1 nonimmigrants, this does not preclude the spouse or child of a Q-1 from entering the U.S. in another nonimmigrant classification.
What is a nonimmigrant visa?
A nonimmigrant visa (NIV) is issued to a person with permanent residence outside the United States, but wishes to be in the U.S. on a temporary basis for tourism, medical treatment, business, temporary work or study , as examples. Note: There are more than 20 different categories of nonimmigrant visa classifications.
How many different categories of nonimmigrant visas are there?
Note: There are more than 20 different categories of nonimmigrant visa classifications.
What determines what type of visa is required?
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.
What is a K visa?
K nonimmigrant visas – For U.S. citizen fiancé (e) and spouse for immigration related purposes. Refer to Immigrant Visa Categories.
What does a consular officer determine when applying for a visa?
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. ALL / ALL /.
