Applying for a U.S. Visa
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A visa is a passport endorsement that permits foreigners to enter the U.S. The majority of visa-holders in California are sponsored by U.S.-based relatives or employers.
The U.S. offers about 185 different types of visas. Each has its own application requirements, costs, processing times, and expiration dates. The type of visa is determined by the purpose of your travel to the United States.
| Type Of Visa | Purpose |
|---|---|
| An immigrant visa (IV) | To live permanently in the U.S. |
| A nonimmigrant visa (NIV) | Temporary basis for tourism, medical treatment, business, temporary work or study, as examples. |
Immigrant Visa
Also known as permanent resident, immigrant, green card holder, and resident alien.
The United States may issue immigrant visas to foreigners who wish to settle in the United States and make it their permanent home. Those with Lawful Permanent Resident (LPR) or immigrant status may work and live legally within the United States with most of the privileges and rights as a U.S. citizen. To become a permanent resident you would need to acquire an immigrant visa through sponsorship by a U.S. based individual. Typically, these are family members who are either U.S. citizens, permanent residents or U.S. based employers.
| Immediate Relative & Family Sponsored | Visa Category |
|---|---|
| Spouse of a U.S. Citizen | IR1, CR1 |
| Spouse of a U.S. Citizen awaiting approval of an I-130 immigrant petition | K-3 |
| Fiancé(e) to marry U.S. Citizen & live in U.S. | K-1 |
| Intercountry Adoption of Orphan Children by U.S. Citizens | IR3, IH3, IR4, IH4 |
| Certain Family Members of U.S. Citizens | IR2, CR2, IR5, F1, F3, F4 |
| Certain Family Members of Lawful Permanent Residents | F2A, F2B |
| Other Immigrants | Visa Category |
|---|---|
| Diversity Immigrant Visa | DV |
| Returning Resident | SB |
Non-Immigrant
The U.S. government grants other foreign-born individuals a nonimmigrant visa for the purposes of a temporary visit to the United States. Generally, the terms of a nonimmigrant visa require that the visa holder depart the U.S. within a certain time frame. The purpose for the visit may be tourism, business, temporary work, or school. Once a person has entered the U.S. in nonimmigrant status, they are restricted to the activity or reason for which they were allowed entry. For example, someone with a student visa must continue to be enrolled in school to keep within the terms of the visa. Most nonimmigrant visas are issued only to applicants who can demonstrate their intentions to return to their home country.
| Purpose of Travel | Visa Category | Required: Before applying for visa |
|---|---|---|
| Athlete, amateur or professional (competing for prize money only) | B-1 | (NA) |
| Au pair (exchange visitor) | J | SEVIS |
| Australian professional specialty | E-3 | DOL |
| Border Crossing Card: Mexico | BCC | (NA) |
| Business visitor | B-1 | (NA) |
| CNMI-only transitional worker | CW-1 | (USCIS) |
| Crewmember | D | (NA) |
| Diplomat or foreign government official | A | (NA) |
| Domestic employee or nanny – must be accompanying a foreign national employer | B-1 | (NA) |
| Employee of a designated international organization or NATOr | G1-G5, NATO | (NA) |
| Exchange visitor | J | SEVIS |
| Foreign military personnel stationed in the United States | A-2 NATO1-6 |
(NA) |
| Free Trade Agreement (FTA) Professional: Chile, Singapore |
H-1B1 – Chile H-1B1 – Singapore |
DOL |
| International cultural exchange visitor | Q | USCIS |
| Intra-company transferee | L | USCIS |
| Medical treatment, visitor for | B-2 | (NA) |
| Media, journalist | I | (NA) |
| NAFTA professional worker: Mexico, Canada | TN/TD | (NA) |
| Performing athlete, artist, entertainer | P | USCIS |
| Physician | P | USCIS |
| Professor, scholar, teacher (exchange visitor) | J | SEVIS |
| Religious worker | R | USCIS |
| Specialty occupations in fields requiring highly specialized knowledge | H-1B | DOL then USCIS |
| Specialty occupations in fields requiring highly specialized knowledge | H-1B | DOL then USCIS |
| Student: academic, vocational | F, M | SEVIS |
| Temporary agricultural worker | H-2A | DOL then USCIS |
| Temporary worker performing other services or labor of a temporary or seasonal nature. | H-2B | DOL then USCIS |
| Training in a program not primarily for employment | H-3 | USCIS |
| Treaty trader/treaty investor | H-3 | USCIS |
| Transiting the United States | C | (NA) |
| Victim of Criminal Activity | U | USCIS |
| Victim of Human Trafficking | T | USCIS |
| Nonimmigrant (V) Visa for Spouse and Children of a Lawful Permanent Resident (LPR) | V | (NA) |
