Every person seeking entry into the United States whether by land, sea or air is considered to be an applicant for admission. Applicants for admission apply for entry at designated ports of entry.
All applicants for admission are considered to be either United States citizens or aliens. An alien is any person not a national or citizen of the United States.
| Nonimmigrant Classifications and Visas |
Time Limit of Stay |
| |
Foreign Government Officials |
| A-1 |
Ambassador, public minister, career, diplomatic or consular officer, and members of immediate family. |
Duration of Status |
| A-2 |
Other foreign government official or employee, and members of immediate family. |
Duration of Status |
| A-3 |
Attendant, servant, or personal employee of A-1 and A-2, and members of immediate family. |
3 Years initially; 2 year extensions |
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Visitors |
| B-1 |
Temporary visitor for business |
Up to 1 year initially; 6 mos. extensions |
| B-2 |
Temporary visitor for pleasure |
Usually 6 mos. Can be 1 year; 6 mos. extensions |
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Visa Waiver Program |
90 days; no extensions |
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Aliens in Transit |
| C-1 |
Alien in transit directly through U.S. |
29 days for any entry |
| C-1D |
Combined transit and crewman visa |
29 days for any entry |
| C-2 |
Alien in transit to UN headquarters district under Section 11.(3), (4), or (5) of the Headquarters Agreement |
29 days for any entry |
| C-3 |
Foreign government official, members of immediate family, attendant, servant, or personal employee, in transit |
No specific limit but short |
| C-4 |
Transit without Visa, see TWOV |
Very Short |
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| |
Crewmen |
| D-1 |
Crewmember departing on same vessel of arrival |
29 days for any entry |
| D-2 |
Crewmember departing by means other than vessel of arrival |
29 days for any entry |
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Treaty Traders and Treaty Investors |
| E-1 |
Treaty Trader, spouse and children |
Initial stay and extensions usually 2 years, regardless of visa expiration date |
| E-2 |
Treaty Investor, spouse and children |
Initial stay and extensions usually 2 years, regardless of visa expiration date |
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Academic Students |
| F-1 |
Academic Student |
Duration of Status |
| F-2 |
Spouse or child of F-1 |
Duration of Status |
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For Foreign Medical Graduates (see individual categories H-1B, J-1, O-1, TN, E-2) |
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Foreign Government Officials to International Organizations |
| G-1 |
Principal resident representative of recognized foreign member government to international organization, and members of immediate family. |
Duration of Status |
| G-2 |
Other representative of recognized foreign member government to international organization, and members of immediate family. |
Duration of Status |
| G-3 |
Representative of non-recognized or nonmember government to international organization, and members of immediate family |
Duration of Status |
| G-4 |
International organization officer or employee, and members of immediate family |
Duration of Status |
| G-5 |
Attendant, servant, or personal |
3 years initially; 2 year extensions |
| |
Employee of G-1, G-2, G-3, G-4, or members of immediate family |
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Temporary Workers |
| H-1B |
Specialty Occupations, DOD workers, fashion models |
Initially 3 years; 3 year extensions; maximum total of 6 years with no further H or L status unless 1 year absence from the U.S. |
| H-1C |
Nurses going to work for up to three years in health professional shortage areas |
3 years; no extensions |
| H-2A |
Temporary Agricultural Worker |
Initially same as validity of labor certification up to 1 year; same rule for extensions. Maximum 3 years with new maximums effective after 3 mos. Absence from U.S. |
| H-2B |
Temporary worker: skilled and unskilled |
1 Year initially; 1 year extensions 3 year total, with no further H or L status until 6 mos. Absence from the U.S. |
| H-3 |
Trainee |
Initial and total stay limited to 2 years but 18 mos. For special education trainees |
| H-4 |
Spouse or child of H-1, H-2, H-3 |
Same as H-1, H-2 and H-3 |
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Foreign Media Representatives |
| I |
Visas for foreign media representatives |
|
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Exchange Visitors |
| J-1 |
Visas for exchange visitors |
Varies widely depending on type of program |
| J-2 |
Spouse or child of J-1 |
Varies widely depending on type of program |
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Fiance(e) of US Citizen |
| K-1 |
Fiance(e) |
90 days in which to marry U.S. Citizen and apply for permanent residency |
| K-2 |
Minor child of K-1 |
Same as K-1 |
| K-3 |
Spouse of a U.S. Citizen (LIFE Act) |
2 years with extensions to complete adjustment of status |
| K-4 |
Child of K-3 (LIFE Act) |
Same as K-3 |
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Intracompany Transferee |
| L-1A |
Executive, managerial |
3 years initially; 2 year extensions; maximum total of 5 years for specialized knowledge employee and 7 years for manager or executive |
| L-1B |
Specialized knowledge |
Same as L-1A |
| L-2 |
Spouse or child of L-1 |
Same as L1-A |
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| |
Vocational and Language Students |
| M-1 |
Vocational student or other nonacademic student |
1 year initially; 1 year extensions |
| M-2 |
Spouse or child of M-1 |
Same as M-1 |
| |
| N-8 |
Parent of alien classified SK-3 "Special Immigrant" |
3 years initially; 3 year extensions |
| N-9 |
Child of N-8, SK-1, SK-2, or SK-4 "Special Immigrant" |
3 years initially; 3 year extensions |
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| NAFTA |
North American Free Trade Agreement (NAFTA) (see TN, below) |
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North Atlantic Treaty Organization |
| NATO-1 |
Principal Permanent Representative of Member State to NATO and resident members of official staff or immediate family |
Duration of Status |
| NATO-2 |
Other representatives of member State; Dependents of Member of a Force entering in accordance with the provisions of NATO Status-of-Forces agreement; Members of such a Force if issued visas |
Duration of Status |
| NATO-3 |
Official clerical staff accompanying Representative of Member State to NATO or immediate family |
Duration of Status |
| NATO-4 |
Official of NATO other than those qualified as NATO-1 and immediate family |
Duration of Status |
| NATO-5 |
Expert other than NATO officials qualified under NATO-4, employed on behalf of NATO and immediate family |
Duration of Status |
| NATO-6 |
Member of civilian component who is either accompanying a Force entering in accordance with the provisions of the NATO Status-of-Forces agreement; attached to an Allied headquarters under the protocol on the Status of International Military headquarters set up pursuant to the North Atlantic Treaty; and their dependents |
Duration of Status |
| NATO-7 |
Servant or personal employee of NATO-1, NATO-2, NATO-3, NATO-4, NATO-5, NATO-6, or immediate family |
Employees of Nato 1 - 4: Duration of Status
Employees of Nato 5 and Nato 6: 2 years initially; 1 year extensions |
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Workers with Extraordinary Abilities |
| O-1 |
Extraordinary ability in Sciences, Arts, Education, Business, or Athletics |
3 years initially; 1 year extensions |
| O-2 |
Alien's (support) accompanying O-1 |
Same as O-1 |
| O-3 |
Spouse or child of O-1 or O-2 |
Same as O-1 and O-2 |
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Athletes and Entertainers |
| P-1 |
Individual or team athletes |
Individual athlete; 5 years initially; 5 year extensions. Total limit of 10 years Groups/Teams: 1 year initially; 1 year extensions, no limit |
| P-1 |
Entertainment groups |
1 year initially; 1 year extensions |
| P-2 |
Artists and entertainers in reciprocal Exchange programs |
1 year initially; 1 year extensions |
| P-3 |
Artists and entertainers in culturally unique programs |
1 year initially ; 1 year extensions |
| P-4 |
Spouse or child of P-1, 2, or 3 |
Same as P-1, P-2 and P-3 |
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International Cultural Exchange Visitors |
| Q-1 |
International cultural exchange visitors |
15 mos. Maximum until absence from U.S. for 1 year |
| Q-2 |
Irish Peace Process Cultural and Training Program (Walsh Visas) |
36 mos. Maximum |
| Q-3 |
Spouse or child of Q-2 |
Same as Q-2 |
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Religious Workers |
| R-1 |
Religious workers |
3 years initially; 2 year extension; 5 years total |
| R-2 |
Spouse or child of R-1 |
Same as R-1 |
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| |
Witness or Informant |
| S-5 |
Informant of criminal organization information |
3 years |
| S-6 |
Informant of terrorism information |
3 years |
| |
| T |
Victims of a Severe Form of Trafficking in Persons |
|
| T-1 |
Victim of a severe form of trafficking in persons |
No time limit |
| T-2 |
Spouse of a victim of a severe form of trafficking in persons |
No time limit |
| T-3 |
Child of victim of a severe form of trafficking in persons |
No time limit |
| T-4 |
Parent of victim of a severe form of trafficking in persons (if T-1 victim is under 21 years of age) |
No time limit |
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North American Free Trade Agreement (NAFTA) |
| TN |
Trade visas for Canadians and Mexicans |
1 year initially; 1 year extensions |
| TD |
Spouse or child accompanying TN |
Same as TN |
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Transit Without Visa |
| TWOV |
Passenger |
Very short |
| TWOV |
Crew |
Very short |
| |
| U |
Victims of Certain Crimes |
| U-1 |
Victim of Certain Criminal Activity |
No time limit |
| U-2 |
Spouse of U-1 |
No time limit |
| U-3 |
Child of U-1 |
No time limit |
| U-4 |
Parent of U-1, if U-1 is under 21 years of age |
No time limit |
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Certain Second Preference Beneficiaries |
| V-1 |
Spouse of an LPR who is the principal beneficiary of a family-based petition (Form I-130) which was filed prior to December 21, 2000, and has been pending for at least three years |
No time limit |
| V-2 |
Child of an LPR who is the principal beneficiary of a family-based visa petition (Form I-130) that was filed prior to December 21, 2000, and has been pending for at least three years. |
No time limit |
| V-3 |
The derivative child of a V-1 or V-2 |
No time limit |
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Humanitarian Parole |
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Temporary Protected Status (TPS) |
| TP |
Temporary Protected Status |
Duration of TPS period |
