Types of U.S. Visas

Tourist and business visitor visas

These are the most commonly used visas for short trips to the U.S.:

• B-1 visa (business): Meetings, contract negotiations, conferences.
• B-2 visa (tourism): Tourism, family visits, shopping, or medical treatment.

Note: If your country is in the VWP you can travel with ESTA authorization and don’t need a B-1/B-2 visa.

Temporary worker visas

They allow you to work in the U.S. for a limited time. Widely used by companies, sponsors, and seasonal programs:

• H-1B and H-1B1 (Chile and Singapore): Specialty occupations.
• H-2A: Temporary agricultural work.
• H-2B: Temporary non-agricultural work.
• H-3: Training not available in your home country.
• E-3: Australian professionals in specialty occupations.
• L-1: Intracompany transferees (L-1A executives, L-1B specialized knowledge).
• O-1: Individuals with extraordinary ability.
• O-2: Essential support personnel for O-1 holders.
• O-3: Spouse and children of O-1/O-2.
• P visas: Athletes and artists (P-1, P-2, P-3) and their P-4 dependents.
• R-1: Religious workers.
• I visa: Foreign media and journalists.
• Q visa: International cultural exchange visitors.
• H-4: Dependents of H-1B/H-2 (some H-4 spouses can work with an approved EAD).
• L-2: Spouses and children of L-1 (L-2 spouses are work-authorized by status with “S” annotation).
• E dependents (E-1/E-2/E-3): Spouse and children of E principals (E spouses are work-authorized by status with “S” annotation on the I-94).
• TN: Professionals from Mexico and Canada under USMCA/T-MEC; TD for dependents.

2026 update: L-2 and E spouses are generally work-authorized by status (based on their I-94); H-4 spouses typically need an approved EAD if they want to work.

Permanent worker visas

These employment-based visas lead to a Green Card and permanent residence in the U.S.:

• EB-1: Extraordinary ability, outstanding professors, executives.
• EB-2 (includes NIW – National Interest Waiver): Advanced degree or exceptional ability; may request waiver of employer sponsorship.
• EB-3: Professionals or skilled workers. Requires a job offer and, in most cases, an approved PERM labor certification from the Department of Labor.
• EB-4: Certain special immigrants (includes SIV for Iraqi/Afghan nationals and SIJS cases).
• EB-5: Investors.

Student and exchange visitor visas

For studying or joining exchange programs in the U.S. Depending on the field or program, you may obtain one of the following U.S. student visas:

• F-1: Academic students.
• F-2: Spouse and children of F-1.
• F-3: Border commuters from Mexico or Canada.
• M-1: Vocational studies.
• M-2: Spouse and children of M-1.
• J-1: Exchange programs.
• J-2: Dependents of J-1 holders.

Family visas

These allow U.S. citizens and permanent residents to reunite with family through a family-based immigration petition. This process starts by filing Form I-130, where the citizen or resident officially petitions their relative with USCIS. See here how to fill out Form I-130.

• V visas: Created by the LIFE Act (2000) to let spouses and children of residents reunite while the immigrant visa was pending. No new V visas have been issued since 2001.
• IR-1 and CR-1: Spouses of U.S. citizens (depending on marriage length). Includes IR-2 for children.
• K-1 fiancé(e), K-2 for the fiancé(e)’s children, and K-3 and K-4 for spouses and children.
• Citizen family preference (F1 to F4): Unmarried children, married children, and siblings of the citizen.
• Resident family categories (F2A and F2B): Spouses and minor children (F2A) and unmarried adult children (F2B) of residents.
• Adoption visas: IR-3, IR-4, IH-3, IH-4.

Transit and crewmember visas

For foreigners transiting through the U.S. or working aboard:

• C visa: Transit through the U.S. to a third country.
• D visa: Crewmembers of international aircraft or vessels.
• Combined C-1/D: Common for crews who enter, transit, and embark.
• C-2 / C-3: Diplomatic transit (UN and foreign governments).

Note: The Border Crossing Card (BCC) acts as a B-1/B-2 visa but only for Mexican citizens and residents.

Visas for diplomats or foreign government officials

Issued for official travel or to work at international organizations:

• Diplomatic A-1 and A-2 visas: Diplomats and officials on official duty.
• A-3: Personal or domestic employees of A-1/A-2 holders.
• G visas (G-1 to G-5): Representatives and employees of international organizations; G-5 for domestic staff.
• NATO visas: NATO personnel and family members traveling for official functions.

Note: These normally include immediate family, except certain subcategories such as G-5.

Trader and investor visas in the United States

For nationals of treaty countries who trade with or invest in the U.S.:

• E-1: Treaty traders engaged in substantial trade.
• E-2: Treaty investors who develop and direct an investment in the U.S.

CNMI note: In the Northern Mariana Islands there are specific classifications: CW-1 (CNMI-only transitional worker) and E-2C (CNMI investor by treaty).

Visas for victims of crime, violence and abuse

For foreigners who suffered crimes or abuse and need immigration protection:

• T visa: Victims of human trafficking.
• U visa: Victims of certain crimes who cooperate with authorities.
• VAWA (self-petition for domestic violence): Not a visa per se, but a protection under the Violence Against Women Act that allows applying for residence via Form I-360 when the applicant suffered abuse by a citizen or resident spouse/relative.

Additionally, in certain humanitarian cases, the government may grant humanitarian parole to remain temporarily in the country while the case is resolved.

Our attorneys are not only immigration specialists, they are also criminal defense lawyers in Los Angeles.

Other visa types in the United States

Some visas don’t fit the earlier groups but are useful for specific cases:

• Special Immigrant Juvenile Status (SIJS): A special classification for minors who suffered abuse, neglect, or abandonment. It can lead to a Green Card under the EB-4 category when a visa is available.
• Diversity Visas: Annual lottery for countries with low immigration to the U.S.
• SB-1 visa: For permanent residents who stayed abroad over one year for reasons beyond their control.
• S visas: For witnesses/informants who assist law enforcement.

There are other very specific categories (for example, certain CNMI-only classifications) that consulates evaluate case by case. If your situation doesn’t fit the categories above, talk to us.