Some countries use various letter codes to indicate the different reasons for visa applications, making it easier to identify and manage the visas issued. These letter codes are known as visa codes.
Currently, the United States has the most visa codes, with 18 types of non-immigrant visa codes, each further subdivided into multiple categories. The summary is as follows:
(1) A Class Visa (Diplomatic and Official Visa) is issued to:
A-1: Ambassadors, ministers, career diplomatic officials, consular officials, and their family members dispatched by foreign governments to the United States;
A-2: Other officials and employees of foreign governments and their family members;
A-3: Accompanying attendants, servants, private employees, and their family members of A-1 and A-2 visa holders.
(2) B Class Visa (Business and Tourist Visa) is issued to:
B-1: Short-term visitors for business, trade, or related matters;
B-2: Short-term visitors for family visits or tourism.
(3) C Class Visa (Transit Visa) is issued to:
C-1: Foreigners in transit;
C-2: Foreigners in transit to the United Nations headquarters in New York;
C-3: Foreign government officials, attendants, servants, private employees, and their family members in transit.
(4) D Class Visa (Crew and Seaman Visa) is issued to:
Crew members on international flights and seamen on ships.
(5) E Class Visa (Investor Visa under International Treaties or Agreements) is issued to:
E-1: Business persons and their spouses and children who are in the United States under international treaties or agreements;
E-2: Investors and their spouses and children who are in the United States under international treaties or agreements.
(6) F Class Visa (Student Visa) is issued to:
F-1: Students (i.e., self-funded students);
F-2: Spouses and children of F-1 visa holders.
(7) G Class Visa (International Organization Employee Visa) is issued to:
G-1: Chief representatives and staff of foreign governments recognized by the government assigned to international organizations, as well as their family members;
G-2: Representatives of foreign governments assigned to international organizations not recognized by the government and their family members;
G-3: Representatives of foreign governments assigned to international organizations not recognized by the government and their family members, or representatives of foreign governments who are not members of international organizations and their family members;
G-4: Officials and employees of international organizations and their family members;
