The type of visa needed by a person is dependent upon the reason they are travelling to the United States. For example, a us tourist visa is granted to an applicant if they fulfill all the requirements under this category of visa. The U.S. embassy or consulate decides if an applicant is eligible for the visa or not. For example, based on the prescribed laws a consular officer can deem an applicant eligible for work visa USA.
The task of the applicant is to ensure that when filling the application form, the right category of Visa is chosen. Given underneath are two lists of all visa types needed in the US. The first chart contains Non-immigrant categories of visa. These are required for temporary travel to the country.
| Visa Type | Reason For Travel |
|---|---|
| B-1 | Athlete or amateur or professional competing for prize money only |
| J | Au pair, Professor, scholar, teacher (exchange visitor) |
| E-3 | Australian professional specialty |
| BCC | Border Crossing Card: Mexico |
| B-1 | Business visitor |
| CW-1 | CNMI-only transitional worker |
| D | Crewmember |
| A | Diplomat or foreign government official |
| B-1 | Domestic employee or nanny – must be accompanying a foreign national employer |
| G1-G5 | Employee of a designated international organization |
| A-2 NATO1-6 | Foreign military personnel stationed in the United States |
| O | Foreign national with extraordinary ability in Sciences, Arts, Education, Business or Athletics |
| H-1B1 | Free Trade Agreement (FTA) Professional: Chile, Singapore |
| Q | International cultural exchange visitor |
| L | Intra-company transferee |
| B-2 | Medical treatment visitor |
| I | Media or journalist |
| TN/TD | NAFTA professional worker from Mexico or Canada |
| P | Performing athlete, artist, entertainer |
| R | Religious worker |
| H-1B | Specialty occupations in fields requiring highly specialized knowledge such as Physician |
| F, M | Student: academic, vocational |
| H-2A | Temporary agricultural worker |
| H-2B | Temporary worker performing other services or labour of a temporary or seasonal nature. |
| B-2 | Tourism, vacation, pleasure visitor |
| H-3 | Training in a program not primarily for employment |
| E | Treaty trader or treaty investor |
| C | Transiting the United States |
| U | Victim of Criminal Activity |
| T | Victim of Human Trafficking |
| V | Spouse and Children of a Lawful Permanent Resident (LPR) |
The categories for Immigrant Visa Types are:
| Category | Reason for Immigration |
|---|---|
| IR1, CR1 | Spouse of a U.S. Citizen |
| K-3 * | Spouse of a U.S. Citizen awaiting approval of an I-130 immigrant petition |
| K-1 * | Fiancé to marry U.S. Citizen & live in U.S. |
| IR3, IH3, IR4, IH4 | Intercountry adoption of orphan children by U.S. Citizens |
| IR2, CR2, IR5, F1, F3, F4 | Certain Family Members of U.S. Citizens |
| F2A, F2B | Certain Family Members of Lawful Permanent Residents |
| E1 | Priority workers |
| E2 | Professionals Holding Advanced Degrees and Persons of Exceptional Ability |
| E3, EW3 | Professionals and Other Workers |
| C5, T5, R5, I5 | Employment Creation/Investors |
| S | Certain Special Immigrants |
| SD, SR | Religious Workers |
| SI | Iraqi and Afghan Translators/Interpreters |
| SQ | Iraqis Who Worked for/on Behalf of the U.S. Government |
| SQ | Afghans Who Worked for/on Behalf of the U.S. Government |
| DV | Diversity Immigrant Visa |
| SB | Returning Resident |
It is important to note that a particular category may have further subdivisions. Read thoroughly about each visa type before choosing the final option.