Immigration Law

Non-Immigrant Visas

Non-immigrant visas are issued to foreigners seeking to enter the U.S. temporarily.  This type of visa is for foreigners traveling to the U.S. for business, pleasure, medical treatment, temporary work, study, and educational or cultural exchange programs. The non-immigrant visa is given for a specific purpose and is valid only for a specific period of stay in the U.S.  Foreign diplomatic personnel and their families are issued this type of visa as are foreign crewmen of foreign vessels visiting the U.S. This type of visa is also used by U.S. citizens to bring their foreign fiancés and children to the U.S. for marriage, or to bring their foreign spouses or children to the U.S. after marriage in a foreign country, so that they may remain in the U.S. while they complete processing to immigrant (permanent resident) status.  There are over 80 sub-categories of the non immigrant visa type and therefore too numerous to list but some of the more common are listed in the following table.

Various Sub-Categories of the Non-Immigrant Visa
Category Description
A-1 High ranking diplomatic personnel (ambassadors, ministers, consular officers) and members of immediate family.
A-2 Foreign government officials or employees (other than above) and members of immediate family.
A-3 Attendants or servants of A-1 or A-2 and members of immediate family.
B-1 Temporary visitor for business.
B-2 Temporary visitor for pleasure.
F-1 Student.
F-2 Spouse or children of F-1 student.
H-1B Various specialty workers.
H-1C Nurses.
H-2A Temporary agricultural workers.
H-2B Skilled and unskilled temporary workers.
H-3 Trainee.
H-4 Spouse or children of H-1B, H-1C, H-2A, H-2B, or H3.
I Media personnel.
J-1 Exchange visitors.
J-2 Spouse or child of J-1 exchange visitor.
K-1 Fiancé of U.S. citizen.
K-2 Child of K-1 fiancé.
K-3 Spouse of U.S. citizen.
K-4 Child of K-3 spouse.
P-1 Individual athletes or entire teams, individual entertainers or entire groups.
P-2 Artists or entertainers in reciprocal exchange programs.
P-3 Artists or entertainers in culturally unique programs.
P-4 Spouse or children of P-1, P-2, or P-3.
R-1 Religious workers.
R-2 Spouse or children of R-1.

Background
Immigrant Visas
Non-Immigrant Visas: You are here.