Non-Immigrant Visas: Visas for Temporary Visitors
There are many types of non-immigrant visas for temporary visitors to travel to the U.S. when you are not a U.S. citizen or U.S. lawful permanent resident. The purpose of your intended travel and certain other facts will determine what type of visa is required under U.S. immigration law.
The chart below details many of the non-immigrant visa types.
Contact our office if you would like to learn more about any of these Visa types.
Visa Type |
Purpose of Travel to U.S. and Nonimmigrant Visas |
| A | Diplomats and Foreign Government Officials |
| A-2 NATO 1-6 | Foreign Military Personnel Stationed in the U.S. |
| B-1 | Athletes (amateur & professional-prize money only) Business Visitors Visa Domestic Employees or Nanny (accompanying a foreign national employer) |
| B-2 | Visitors Seeking Medical Treatment Tourism, Vacation, Pleasure Visitors |
| BCC | Border Crossing Card: Mexico |
| C | Transiting the United States |
| CW-1 | CNMI-only transitional worker |
| D | Crew Members Visa |
| E | Treaty Traders / Treaty Investors |
| E-3 | Australian Professional Specialty |
| F, M | Students: Academic, Vocational |
| G1-G5, NATO | Employees of a Designated International Organization, and NATO |
| H-1B | Specialty Occupations in Fields Requiring Highly Specialized Knowledge |
| H-1B1 – CHILE H-1BI – SINGAPORE |
Free Trade Agreement (FTA) Professionals: Chile, Singapore |
| H-2A | Temporary Agricultural Workers |
| H-2B | Temporary Workers Performing Other Services or Labor of a Temporary or Seasonal Nature. |
| H-3 | Training in a Program Not Primarily For Employmen |
| I | Media and Journalists |
| J | Media and Journalists Au pairs (exchange visitor) Exchange Visitors Professor, Scholar, Teacher (exchange visitor) |
| J, H-1B | Physician |
| L | Intra-company Transferees |
| O | Foreign Nationals with Extraordinary Ability in Sciences, Arts, Education, Business or Athletics |
| P | Performing Athletes, Artists, Entertainers |
| Q | International Cultural Exchange Visitors |
| R | Religious Workers |
| T | Victims of Human Trafficking |
| TN / TD | NAFTA professional workers: Mexico, Canada |
| U | Victims of Criminal Activity |
NOTE: There is no Visa required for Canadian NAFTA Professional workers. Also, K visas are for the purpose of marrying a U.S. citizen and immigrating or joining a U.S. citizen spouse in the United States while awaiting USCIS approval of Form I-130 for immigrant status.
