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 does non immigrant visa mean?
A nonimmigrant visa (NIV) is issued to a person with permanent residence outside the United States but wishes to be in the United States on a temporary basis for tourism, medical treatment, business, temporary work, or study, as examples.
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 the difference between immigrant and non immigrant US 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.
How long does non immigrant visa last?
U.S. immigration at the port of entry determines how long a person may remain in the United States. The holder of a B-2 visa may be admitted for an initial period of six months, which is extendable in six month increments.
How much does a nonimmigrant visa cost?
The application fees are listed below and apply to one visa application. The application fee for the most common nonimmigrant visa types is US$160. This includes tourist, business, student, and exchange visas. Most petition-based visas, such as work and religious visas, are US$190.
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 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.
Who is classified as 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).
Who is called a non immigrant?
Compared to immigrants, nonimmigrants are aliens who enter the United States without a permanent living purpose, but instead are based on temporary travel, work, or study plans. Getting a nonimmigrant visa is a prerequisite for a nonimmigrant to legally enter and stay in the United States for a limited period.
What disqualifies you from getting a US visa?
An applicant's current and/or past actions, such as drug or criminal activities, as examples, may make the applicant ineligible for a visa. If denied a visa, in most cases the applicant is notified of the section of law which applies.
Can a non immigrant work in the US?
If you wish to work in the United States for a temporary period you will require a nonimmigrant work visa. You cannot work on a visitor or business visa, or under the Visa Waiver Program (VWP). Unlike some countries, the United States government does not issue work visas for casual employment.
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.
What are the 4 types of visa?
Probably one of the four main types: tourist, immigration, student, or work.
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.
What are the types of nonimmigrant status?
Examples of nonimmigrant classes of admission include foreign government officials, temporary visitors for business and pleasure, aliens in transit, treaty traders and investors, academic and vocational students, temporary workers, exchange visitors, athletes and entertainers, victims of certain crimes, and certain ...
Is H-1B 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.
What is a non-immigrant visa?
Non-immigrant visas are temporary visas for the purpose of business, work or tourism. If you are planning to travel to the United States for a temporary stay, you may need a visa. The chart below lists all the non-immigrant visas, descriptions and any required documents/applications.
What is USCIS approval?
USCIS approval of a petition or application (The required petition or application depends on the visa category you plan to apply for.) 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.)
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.
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;
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.
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 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.
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.
What questions do consular officers ask?
The consular officer will review your application and documents. They may ask questions about why you want to visit, your itinerary, and how you will pay for it. The interview may be short or long. It is essential to give accurate answers.
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.
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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 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 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.
Do you have a question?
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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 an F-1 visa?
F-1 visa classification is for a full-time international student pursuing academic studies.
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.
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 a Thailand Non-Immigrant Visa?
The Non-immigrant Visa for Thailand is the type of visa you have to apply for if you want to live in Thailand long-term or if you want to travel there for a reason other than tourism or transit. For example, if you want to study, work, invest, receive medical treatment, join your Thai spouse, etc, you have to apply for a Thai Non-Immigrant Visa.
What is a non-immigrant visa in Thailand?
The Thai Non-Immigrant Visa R, also referred to as a visa “R -A” is issued for religious purposes. You need this type of visa if you are traveling to Thailand to do missionary work or other religious activities with the approval of the relevant Thai Ministries or Government Departments.
What is a Category F visa?
The Category F of the Thai Non-Immigrant Visa is issued to foreigners who hold an ordinary passport and who are traveling for official duties, such as work with a government agency, embassy or consulate, an international organization or a state enterprise in Thailand.
How long is a Thai non-immigrant visa good for?
Thai Non-Immigrant Visa O-A is issued to foreigners over the age of 50 from all countries. It is valid for a maximum of 1 year, and renewable.
Where can I get a Thai visa?
You have to apply for a Thai Non-Immigrant Visa from a Thai Embassy or Consulate in your country.
How long is a passport valid for?
Your passport, which must be valid for at least another six months and have at least two blank visa pages. If you’re applying for a one-year visa, your passport should be valid for at least another 18 months.
How long can a visa be issued?
Multiple-entry, for up to three months. However, in some cases, such as for business or retirement, the visa can be issued for multiple entries for up to one year.
