The United States is a popular destination for tourism and immigration. How does the U.S. manage foreign nationals entering the country, and what types of visas are available?
Visas are travel documents issued by countries to citizens of other nations. Typically affixed to a passport, they permit a foreign citizen to enter the country for activities such as business, vacation, study, or to reside in that country.
Depending on the purpose of travel and the traveler's country of origin, the United States offers dozens of different visas, which fall into two main categories: non-immigrant visas for tourists and short-term workers, and immigrant visas for those moving to the United States. This article focuses on several common types of U.S. non-immigrant visas.
Non-immigrant visas are primarily for "short-term" or "visitor" purposes, allowing you to stay in the United States only temporarily, although a "short-term" stay can sometimes last for several years. Non-immigrant visa categories are mainly determined by the applicant's primary purpose for visiting the U.S. With very few exceptions, individuals visiting the U.S. on a non-immigrant visa may only engage in activities related to their specific visa category while in the country.
B1/B2 Visas
B1 and B2 visas are the most common types and are the most frequently issued U.S. visas. Common applications for tourism, business, and visiting friends and relatives fall under the B1/B2 category. The reasons for travel are quite broad; individuals may apply for B1/B2 visas for sightseeing, business, entertainment, visiting relatives and friends, medical treatment, attending conferences, participating in exhibitions, or handling personal matters. Validity periods can range from three months to one year, three years, five years, ten years, or be permanently valid. Entry provisions may be limited to a single entry or multiple entries.
C1/D Visas
The C1/D visa is known as the U.S. transit/crewmember visa. The C1 visa is the standard U.S. transit visa, while the D visa is for crewmembers. If you are transiting through the U.S. while en route to a third country, or if you are a sea or air crewmember, you must hold a U.S. C1/D visa.
F1/F2 Visas
The F1 visa is for academic study in the U.S. All F1 applicants must present a valid Form I-20 issued by their admitting institution. The F2 visa is issued to the spouses and children of F1 visa holders.
J1/J2 Visas
The J1 visa is issued to exchange visitors traveling to the U.S. Eligible participants include primary, secondary, and university students; individuals participating in corporate or institutional on-the-job training; teachers at primary, secondary, and professional technical schools; professors teaching or conducting research at higher education institutions; research scholars; medical professionals undergoing specialized training; and exchange visitors participating in programs for the purpose of research, training, or demonstrating specialized knowledge or skills.
The J2 visa is issued to the spouses and children of exchange visitors (J1 visa holders).
H Visas
The H visa is a short-term work visa issued to foreign nationals coming to the U.S. to perform professional services for a U.S. employer. The position offered by the U.S. employer must be in a "specialty occupation," such as an engineer, attorney, accountant, or architect.