VISA CATEGORIES
OVERVIEW
There are many ways by which a foreign national can gain admission to the United States. An individual who is not a U.S. citizen or U.S. national and who comes legally to the United States must have been prescreened by a consular officer and must have been issued a visa that gives him permission to seek admission at the border.
Generally, there are categories of visas for two types of entrants - nonimmigrant and immigrants (including refugees). Nonimmigrants enter the United States for a temporary purpose while immigrants and refugees enter with the intention of remaining permanently in the country.
NONIMMIGRANT VISAS
A foreign national visiting the United States requires a nonimmigrant visa. The type of visa a nonimmigrant needs depends on the purpose of travel and as there are many reasons to visit the United States temporarily so too are the many nonimmigrant visa classifications made available by the U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services. In short, there is an alphabet soup of nonimmigrant visas available to suit an alien's purpose for entering the country on a temporary basis. For further information on the various visa categories for nonimmigrants, please click here.
IMMIGRANT VISAS
Lawful permanent residence is a status that a foreign national may obtain by way of a family-based immigrant visa, employment-based immigrant visa, asylees and refugees, registry, cancellation of removal, diversity immigrant visa or legalization and other special relief. For further information on the various visa categories available for aliens intending to live and work permanently in the United States, please click here.
There are many ways by which a foreign national can gain admission to the United States. An individual who is not a U.S. citizen or U.S. national and who comes legally to the United States must have been prescreened by a consular officer and must have been issued a visa that gives him permission to seek admission at the border.
Generally, there are categories of visas for two types of entrants - nonimmigrant and immigrants (including refugees). Nonimmigrants enter the United States for a temporary purpose while immigrants and refugees enter with the intention of remaining permanently in the country.
NONIMMIGRANT VISAS
A foreign national visiting the United States requires a nonimmigrant visa. The type of visa a nonimmigrant needs depends on the purpose of travel and as there are many reasons to visit the United States temporarily so too are the many nonimmigrant visa classifications made available by the U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services. In short, there is an alphabet soup of nonimmigrant visas available to suit an alien's purpose for entering the country on a temporary basis. For further information on the various visa categories for nonimmigrants, please click here.
IMMIGRANT VISAS
Lawful permanent residence is a status that a foreign national may obtain by way of a family-based immigrant visa, employment-based immigrant visa, asylees and refugees, registry, cancellation of removal, diversity immigrant visa or legalization and other special relief. For further information on the various visa categories available for aliens intending to live and work permanently in the United States, please click here.