Immigration and Visa Services Quick Reference

Descriptions of Visa Types

TYPE OF VISA	DESCRIPTION
A-1	Foreign Diplomatic Personnel
A-2	Individuals in the U.S. as employees of a foreign government, e.g., ambassador, minister, diplomat, or consular officer.
Dependent of A-1/A-2 Visa Holder	Immediate family members of foreign government officials. (Dependents also carry A-1/A- 2 status.)
A-3 Employee of Foreign Government Official	May be employed only by foreign government entity. Attendants, servants, or other personal employees of foreign governments officials.
B-1 Visitor for Business	Individuals in the U.S. for a short time to engage in business activities such as negotiating contracts for overseas employees, consulting with business associates, attending professional conferences, or conducting independent research.
B-2 Visitor for Tourism	Individuals in the U.S. for travel, tourism, or recreation.
B-2 Prospective Student or Prospective Scholar	Individual who enter the U.S. indicating a clear intent to study here or to change to J-1 Exchange Visitor Status. Consulate notation on visa page indicates "Prospective" status. Individual must apply for a change of status before the expiration date on the I-94.
C-1 Aliens in Transit	Individuals in transit from one country to another "stopping over" in the U.S.
D-l Alien Crewman
D-2	Crew members employed on a vessel or aircraft who are in the U.S. on "stopovers."
E-1 Treaty Trader	Individuals in the U.S. to conduct trade under a treaty between their country and the U.S., and keys employees of companies trading under such a treaty.
E-2 Treaty Investor	Individuals in the U.S. to develop and direct the operations of an enterprise in which they have invested substantial capital, and employees of companies making such investments. Must be based on a treaty between visa holder's country and the U.S.
F-1 Student	Individuals in the U.S. engaging in a full course of academic study in an accredited educational program. May include elementary school, academic high school, college/university, conservatory, or language training. (Students enrolled in vocational training are given M-1 visas.)
F-2 Dependents of F-1 Visa Holders	Individuals in the U.S. as dependents of an F-1 visa holder.
Visa Waiver for Business (VWB) and Tourism (VWT)	Individuals permitted to enter the U.S. without a visa for a stay limited to 90 days. Available only to citizens of countries designated by the U.S. State Department.
G-1	Representative of International Organization
G-2, G-3, and G-4	Individuals in the U.S. as representatives of an international organization-e.g., the United Nations and their dependents.
G-5 Personal employee of G-1, G-2, G-3, or G-4 Visa Holder	Individuals in the U.S. as personal employees of a representative of an international organization.
H-1A Registered Nurse	Individuals in the U.S. to perform professional nursing services for a specific employer for a fixed period of time.
H-1B Temporary Worker in a Specialty Occupation	Individuals in the U.S. to perform professional services for a sponsoring employer in a specific position for a fixed period of time. Employment authorization is granted for an initial period of up to 3 years. Extensions for an additional 3 years are possible.
H-2A Agricultural Worker	Individuals in the U.S. to perform agricultural work on a temporary basis.
H-2B Skilled or Unskilled Workers	Individuals in the U.S. in a temporary position for which a shortage of U.S. workers exists, working for a specific employer for a fixed period of time. Requires Alien Labor Certification approval.
H-3 Trainee	Individuals in the U.S. for a temporary period to participate in a training program provided by a specific employer.
H-4 Dependent of H Visa Holder	Individuals in the U.S. as dependents of an "H" visa holder.
I Representative of Foreign Information Media	Individuals in the U.S. as journalists or representatives of international media, and their dependents.
J-1 Exchange Visitor (Student)	Individuals in the U.S. as exchange visitors for the primary purpose of studying at an academic institution under the auspices of the United States Information Agency and a Designated Program Sponsor.
J-1 Exchange Visitor (Short-term Scholar, Professor Researcher, or Specialist)	Individuals in the U.S. as visiting researchers or professors under the auspices of the United States Information Agency and a Designated Program Sponsor.
J-1 Au Pair	Individuals in the U.S. under the auspices of the U.S. Information Agency and a Designated Program Sponsor to serve as a live-in child-care provider for a host family.
J-2 Dependents of J-1 Visa Holder	Individuals in the U.S. as a dependent (spouse or unmarried child under the age of 21) of a J-1 student or scholar.
L-1 Intracompany Transferee	Individuals in the U.S. who have been transferred from a subsidiary, affiliate, or branch office overseas to the U.S. to work in an executive, managerial, or specialist capacity, and their dependents.
L-2 Dependent of L-1 Visa Holder
M-1 Vocational Student	Individuals enrolled in a vocational school or program in the U.S.
M-2 Dependent of M-1 Visa Holder	Individuals in the U.S. as dependents of an M-1 student.
NATO 1-6 NATO Personnel	Individuals in the U.S. as members of the armed services of the nations of the North Atlantic Treaty Origination, staff members, attendants, servants, and personal employees of NATO personnel.
O-1 Person of Extraordinary Ability	Individual of extraordinary ability in the science, arts, education, business, or athletics who are in the U.S. to work for a sponsoring employer or organization (O-1), and their accompanying personnel (O-2).
O-2 Accompanying Personnel
O-3 Dependent of O-1 and O-2 Visa Holder	Individuals in the U.S. as dependents of O-1 and O-2 visa holders.
P-1 Internationally Recognized Athlete / Entertainment Group, Essential Support Personnel	Individuals in the U.S. as internationally recognized athletes competing individually or as part of a team, or individuals performing as part of an entertainment group that has been internationally recognized, and their essential support personnel.
P-2 Artist or Entertainer Under a Reciprocal Exchange Program.	Individuals in the U.S. as artists or entertainers, operating individually or as a group, who will be performing under a reciprocal exchange program between an organization in the U.S. and one in a foreign state.
P-3 Artist or Entertainer in a Culturally Unique Program	Individuals in the U.S. as artists or entertainers, individually or as a group, recognized for excellence in developing, interpreting, representing, coaching, or teaching a unique or traditional ethnic, folk, cultural, musical, theatrical, or artistic performance or presentation.
P-4 Dependent of P-1, P-2, or P-3 Visa Holder	Individuals in the U.S. as dependents of holder of a P-1, P-2, or P-3 visa.
Q Participant in an International Cultural Exchange Program	Individuals in the U.S. as participants in an international cultural exchange visitors program approved by the Attorney General to provide practical training, employment, and the sharing of the history, culture, and traditions of the foreign national's country ("Disney Visa").
R-l Religious Worker	Individuals in the U.S. as members of a bona fide religious denomination carrying out the activities of a religious worker.
R-2 Dependent of R-1 Visa Holder	Individuals in the U.S. as dependents of an R-1 visa holder.
TN Trade NAFTA (for citizens of Canada & Mexico)	Individuals in the U.S. to perform professional services for a sponsoring employer in a specific position for a fixed period of time.
T-D Dependent of TN Visa Holder	Individuals in the U.S. as dependents of the holder of a TN visa.