US Visa quick guide

Are you baffled by the variety of US visas and find it difficult to figure out which one is best for you? Check out the Global Visas quick-guide to American visas below.

Treaty Traders and Treaty Investors

E-1    Treaty Trader, spouse and children

E-2    Treaty Investor, spouse and children

Academic Students
F-1     Academic Student
F-2     Spouse or child of F-1

For Foreign Medical Graduates (see individual categories H-1B, J-1, O-1, TN, E-2)

Temporary Workers
H-1B     Specialty Occupations, DOD workers, fashion models
H-1C     Nurses going to work for up to three years in health professional shortage areas
H-2A     Temporary Agricultural Worker
H-2B     Temporary worker: skilled and unskilled
H-3       Trainee
H-4       Spouse or child of H-1, H-2, H-3

Foreign Media Representatives
I     Visas for foreign media representatives

Exchange Visitors
J-1     Visas for exchange visitors
J-2     Spouse or child of J-1

Fiancé(e) of US Citizen
K-1     Fiancé(e)
K-2     Minor child of K-1
K-3     Spouse of a U.S. Citizen (LIFE Act)
K-4     Child of K-3 (LIFE Act)

Intra-company Transfer (ICT)
L-1A     Executive, managerial
L-1B     Specialized knowledge
L-2     Spouse or child of L-1

Vocational and Language Students
M-1     Vocational student or other non-academic student
M-2     Spouse or child of M-1

Workers with Extraordinary Abilities
O-1     Extraordinary ability in Sciences, Arts, Education, Business, or Athletics
O-2     Alien's (support) accompanying O-1
O-3     Spouse or child of O-1 or O-2

Athletes and Entertainers
P-1     Individual or team athletes
P-1     Entertainment groups
P-2     Artists and entertainers in reciprocal Exchange programs
P-3     Artists and entertainers in culturally unique programs
P-4     Spouse or child of P-1, 2, or 3

International Cultural Exchange Visitors
Q-1     International cultural exchange visitors
Q-2     Irish Peace Process Cultural and Training Program (Walsh Visas)
Q-3     Spouse or child of Q-2

Religious Workers
R-1     Religious workers
R-2     Spouse or child of R-1

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