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Nonimmigrant Visa Unit

Visa Classification Chart

Please review the brief description of each visa classification in the first column of the below chart, choose the description that most closely matches your principal purpose of travel, and click on the corresponding visa symbol in the second column in order to obtain detailed instructions on how to apply for that type of visa.

The chart contains the visa classifications most commonly seen at the Nonimmigrant Visa Unit. If you do not see the kind of visa you need, please contact our Visa Information Center for further instructions.

Primary Purpose of Travel
Corresponding Visa Classification
Head of State or Government, Ambassador, public minister, career diplomatic or consular officer assigned to the United States, and members of immediate family
A-1
Foreign government officials on official business or employees of diplomatic or consular missions in the United States, and members of immediate family
A-2
Attendant, servant, or personal employee of A-1 and A-2 classes, and members of immediate family
A-3
Domestic employee
B-1
Temporary Visitor for Business or Pleasure
B-1/B-2
Alien in transit through the United States
C-1
Crew member (ship or aircraft)/transit
C-1/D
Foreign government officials, members of immediate family, attendant, servant, or personal employee in transit
C-3
Treaty trader, spouse and children
E-1
Treaty investor, spouse and children
E-2
Student (academic or language training program)
F-1
Spouse or child of F-1
F-2
Principal resident representative of recognized foreign member government to international organization, his/her staff, and members of immediate family on long-term assignment
G-1
Other representative of recognized foreign member government to international organization, and members of immediate family on temporary assignment
G-2
International organization officer or employee and members of immediate family
G-4
Attendant, servant, or personal employee of G-1, G-2, or G-4 class and members of immediate family
G-5
Temporary worker in a specialty occupation
H1-B
Temporary worker performing agricultural services unavailable in the United States
H2-A
Temporary worker performing non-agricultural services unavailable in the United States
H2-B
Industrial trainee
H-3
Dependent of H1, H2 or H3
H-4
Representative of foreign information media and dependents
I
Exchange visitor
J-1
Dependent of J-1
J-2
Fiancé(e) and certain spouses of a U.S. citizen, and their dependents
K
Intra-company transferee (executive, managerial, and specialized personnel continuing employment with an international firm or corporation)
L-1
Dependent of L-1
L-2
Vocational student
M-1
Dependent of M-1
M-2
Aliens with extraordinary ability in sciences, arts, education, business or athletics
O-1
Aliens accompanying and assisting O-1 in a professional capacity
O-2
Dependent of O-1 or O-2
O-3
Athletes and entertainers for a specific competition or performance
P-1
Artists and entertainers performing under a program that is culturally unique
P-3
Dependent of P-1 or P-3
P-4
Religious worker
R-1
Dependent of R-1
R-2