Visa Status

Guide

U.S. visa types, explained

The United States issues many kinds of visas. Most visitors, students and temporary workers use a nonimmigrant visa. People who want to live permanently use an immigrant visa. Here are the most common nonimmigrant ones.

Visiting

  • B1/B2: visitor for business (B-1) or tourism and visiting family (B-2).
  • Border crossing cards and similar visas are used near the Mexico border.

Studying and exchange

  • F1: academic student at a university or school.
  • J1: exchange visitor, for programs such as research, au pair, internship or exchange study.

Working temporarily

  • H1B: specialty occupation workers. Most new cases are limited by an annual cap.
  • L1: employees of a company moving to a U.S. office.
  • O1: people with extraordinary ability in science, arts, business or sports.
  • H2A: temporary agricultural workers.

Family and fiancé(e)s

  • K1: fiancé(e) of a U.S. citizen, who must marry within 90 days of arriving.

Nonimmigrant vs immigrant visas

Nonimmigrant visas are for a limited stay. Immigrant visas lead to a green card. Immigrant visas have waiting lines, which you can follow in the monthly Visa Bulletin. This site's issuance numbers cover nonimmigrant visas.

A visa is not the same as admission

A visa lets you travel to a U.S. port of entry and ask to enter. The officer at the border decides whether to admit you and for how long. This guide is general information, not legal advice.

Related

Visa Status is an unofficial site. This guide is general information, not legal advice. Check the State Department and USCIS for your own case.