U.S. Nonimmigrant Visa
U.S. nonimmigrant visas are for those entering the United States for temporary purposes—tourism, study, employment, or business—rather than for permanent residency. They are divided into various categories by purpose of visit, such as tourism (B-2), student (F-1), and employment (H-1B), and come with a fixed period of stay, requiring the holder to depart on time or apply for an extension.
Nonimmigrant Visas
About Nonimmigrant Visas (Non-immigration Visa)
Nonimmigrant visas are categorized by the purpose of visit and eligibility.
| Type | Eligible Applicant | Details |
|---|---|---|
| A | Diplomats and government officials | Diplomats, government officials, and their immediate family members * Includes employees and their immediate family members, attendants and their immediate family members, and personal employees and their immediate family members |
| B | Business, tourism, medical treatment, visit | B-1: Business visitors, U.S. branch setup, and business investigation for E-2 visa preparation B-2: Tourism visitors, school information research, and medical treatment at U.S. hospitals B-1/B-2: Simple business or tourism purpose Eligible travelers may stay up to 90 days through the Visa Waiver Program |
| C | Transit | Persons transiting through the United States to a third country * Stay in the U.S. is allowed for up to 29 days |
| D | Crewmembers | Crewmembers, seafarers, and employees of international transportation companies * Stay in the U.S. is allowed for up to 29 days |
| E | Trade, investment | E-1: Treaty traders and their immediate family members * More than 50% of annual revenue must come from trade with the U.S., and substantial trade with the U.S. must be continuous E-2: Investors and their immediate family members * A semi-permanent visa that allows lawful stay in the U.S. while continuously operating the business |
| F | Students | International students in regular U.S. education programs and language trainees |
| G | International organization employees | Government representatives and employees assigned to international organizations in the U.S., and their immediate family members * Includes attendants and their immediate family members, and personal employees and their immediate family members |
| H | Temporary employment | H-1B: Specialty occupation workers with at least a bachelor's degree or equivalent experience/qualification H-1C: Nurses, subject to obtaining U.S. nursing qualification H-2A: Temporary agricultural workers for positions difficult to fill in the U.S. H-2B: Temporary non-agricultural workers, especially temporary construction workers H-3: Trainees limited to USCIS-approved programs H-4: Immediate family members of H visa holders |
| I | Media | Media and press professionals and their immediate family members |
| J | Exchange, cultural programs | Participants in U.S. Department of State-approved educational or cultural exchange programs and their immediate family members |
| K | Fiance, spouse | K-1: Fiance of a U.S. citizen, with marriage required within 90 days after entry K-2: Child of a K-1 visa holder K-3: Spouse of a U.S. citizen K-4: Child of a K-3 visa holder |
| L | Intracompany transferee | L-1: Executives or employees transferred from a foreign company to a related U.S. company * Limited to executives/managers or employees with specialized knowledge for a certain period L-2: Immediate family members of L visa holders |
| M | Vocational training | Persons receiving vocational education at vocational training institutions and their immediate family members |
| N | NATO treaty officials | Officials of NATO treaty countries entering for NATO-related work and their immediate family members |
| O | Extraordinary ability | Persons with extraordinary ability in science, art, athletics, business, or education, and their immediate family members |
| P | Athletic or cultural events | P-1: Internationally recognized athletes or performers P-2: Athletes, artists, or entertainers in reciprocal exchange programs P-3: Performers in culturally unique programs P-4: Immediate family members of P visa holders |
| Q | Cultural exchange workers | Persons employed for up to 15 months by a U.S. employer operating a cultural exchange program to learn U.S. culture, observe, or introduce Korean culture and history to the U.S. public |
| R | Religion | Religious workers who have been members of a religious organization for two years before visa application |
| V | Certain permanent resident spouses | Persons who filed an immigrant visa petition as a spouse or immediate family member of a permanent resident before December 21, 2000, but whose case has been delayed by USCIS for more than three years (temporary visa for spouses and immediate family members of permanent residents) |