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Non-Immigrant Visas Overview
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Non-immigrant visas are for international travelers, (citizens of other countries), coming to the U.S. temporarily. These visas allow an individual to travel to a U.S. port-of-entry (airport, for example) and request permission of the Department of Homeland Security immigration inspector to enter the U.S. A visa does not guarantee entry into the United States.
International travelers come to the U.S. for a wide variety of reasons, including tourism, business, medical treatment and certain types of temporary work. The type of visa needed is defined by immigration law, and relates to the principal purpose of your travel. For an overview of the types of non-immigrant visas available under immigration law, please see below.
Non-immigrant visas processed or handled by ISS:
Type Description Detailed Information Document Requirements B-1 Individuals conducting general short-term business activities. Call us E-1 Designed for use by business owners, managers, and employees in order to allow them to oversee a business that is engaged in substantial trade in the U.S. Document Requirements E-2 Granted for applicants who want to enter the United States solely to develop and direct the operation of an enterprise in which they have invested a substantial amount of capital. An E-2 is also valid for their employees and members of their immediate family. Document Requirements E-3 E-3 visas are available to Australian nationals entering the United States temporarily to work in a specialty occupation. The term "specialty occupation" is defined in terms of the H-1B program. Spouses are also eligible for work authorization. Document Requirements H-1B The "Temporary Professional Worker" visas are available to individuals with at least a four-year bachelor's degree (or equivalent) from a U.S. or foreign college or university seeking a "Specialty Occupation" position with a United States employer. The employer can be a corporation owned entirely by the foreign professional and/or his/her family. The visa is available for a maximum of six years and also can lead to permanent residency. Document Requirements H-1B1 Similar to the E-3 but restricted to citizens of Singapore and Chile. Document Requirements H-2B An H-2B visa is issued to individuals coming to the U.S. to engage in non-agricultural employment which is seasonal, intermittent, to meet a peak load need, or for a one-time occurrence where U.S. workers are unavailable. Call us H-3 This visa is for workers coming to the U.S. to receive training which is not available in the applicant’s country, will not involve productive employment unless it is incidental and necessary to the training and will benefit the applicant in pursuing a career outside the U.S. Document Requirements H-4 The H1-B, H-2B or H-3 employee's spouse and unmarried children under 21 years old may be granted an H-4 visa. An H-4 visa holder is not permitted to work in the United States. They may, however, attend school. Call us K-1 The K-1 visa is issued to a fiancé(e) of a United States citizen who is entering the United States planning to marry within 90 days. Call us K-3 The K-3 visa is issued to a foreign spouse of a United States citizen who is entering the United States while a petition for an immigrant visa (Green Card) is pending with the CIS. Call us L-1A
L-1B
L-2The L-1 nonimmigrant visa category is for international companies with an existing branch, subsidiary or affiliate office located within the United States, wanting to transfer foreign employees to their operations in the United States. Companies may also open a new branch, subsidiary or affiliate office and still qualify, with certain additional requirements.
The foreign employees to be transferred to work in the United States office must qualify as executives or senior managers to obtain the L-1A, or specialized knowledge personnel to obtain the L-1B.
Spouses and minor children of L-1 visa holders may accompany the L-1 holder to the US and are eligible for the L-2 visa.Document Requirements O-1
O-2
O-3The O-1 visa is for individuals with extraordinary ability in the sciences, arts, education, business, or athletics, or with a record of extraordinary achievement in television or motion pictures. This visa classification is severely limited to other individuals who can clearly demonstrate that they are at the very top of their profession or field.
The O-2 visa is for people that accompany and assist an O-1 visa holder in a specific athletic or artistic event or in the motion picture or television industry. O-2 visas are not available for those who accompany or assist O-1 visa holders in education, science, or business.
O-3 visa is for the spouse and children of an O-1 or O-2 visa holderCall us P-1
P-2
P-3
P-4Artist, athlete or performer of international recognition may obtain a P-1, those in reciprocal exchange program obtain a P-2, or culturally unique P-3, & dependents P-4
Call us R-1
R-2The R-1 visa is for religious workers coming to the United States on a temporary basis.
The R-2 visa is for dependents of R-1 religious workers coming to the United States on a temporary basisDocument Requirements TN-1 and
TD
TN-2
andThe TN visa is for Canadian citizens (TN-1) and for Mexican citizens (TN-2) to work in the United States in very specific occupations. For each of these occupations there are certain educational requirements.
The TD visa is for spouses and unmarried minor children of TN visa holders.
Citizens of Mexico are also eligible for TN-2 visas. Applicants for the TN-2 (Mexican citizens) must appear at the US Consulate before the visa can be issued.
Document Requirements - Canadian Document Requirements - Mexican
Other non-immigrant visa classifications:
Type Description Detailed Information Document Requirements A Diplomats & their dependents (A-1), other government officials or employees & their dependents (A-2); attendants, servants and personal employees or close relatives (A-3). C The "C" visa is intended for those individuals whose travel takes them through the U.S., without intending to actually enter the U.S.
The specific visa codes are:
- C-1 – Alien in transit directly through U.S.
- C-1D – Combined transit and crewman visa
- C-2 – Alien in transit to UN headquarters district under Section 11.(3), (4), or (5) of the Headquarters Agreement
- C-3 – Foreign government officials, members of immediate family, attendants, servants, or personal employees, in transit
- C-4 – Transit without Visa
Call us D Crew member (ship or aircraft). F-1
F-2Individuals who pursue a full course of academic study at a U.S. college, university, high school, primary, or elementary school.
The F-2 is issued to the spouse and unmarried children of an F-1 holder.Call us G Government representative to international organization Call us I Information media/press. J-1
J-2A J-1 visa is issued to individuals who have been accepted to participate in exchange visitor programs, designated by the United States Information Agency (USIA). This may include students, scholars, trainees, teachers, professors, specialists, foreign medical graduates, international visitors, government visitors, camp counselors, au pairs, and participants in summer travel/work programs.
A J-2 visa is issued to spouses and minor children of a J-1 visa holder.Call us M Student in vocational program (M-1) & dependents (M-2) Call us N Relatives of employees of International Organizations Q-1 The Q-1 visa is for participants in international cultural exchange program(s) in the U.S. The cultural exchange program can provide practical training, employment, and the sharing of the culture of the Q-1 visa applicant’s country of nationality. Call us S People who provide information or other assistance to U.S. law enforcement agencies. Call us T Human trafficking victims who cooperate with law enforcement in the investigation or prosecution of human trafficking U Victims of criminal activities such as rape, torture, trafficking, incest, domestic violence, prostitution, etc. Call us V Spouse (V-1) and unmarried children (V-2 or V-3) of permanent residents who have been waiting (either in the U.S. or outside the U.S.) for permanent residence for three years or more under the family based second preference classification who filed by December 21, 2000
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