Below is a comprehensive table listing the major types of U.S. visas along with a brief description and eligibility criteria for each:
| Visa Type | Description | Eligibility |
|---|---|---|
| B-1 | Business Visitor Visa | For individuals entering the U.S. for business activities like consultations, meetings, negotiations, etc., without entering the local labor market. |
| B-2 | Tourist Visa | For individuals entering the U.S. for tourism, vacation, visiting friends or relatives, medical treatment, and other activities of a recreational nature. |
| F-1 | Student Visa | For international students attending an accredited U.S. college or university or studying English at an English language institute. |
| J-1 | Exchange Visitor Visa | For individuals approved to participate in exchange visitor programs in the U.S., including students, scholars, and professionals. |
| H-1B | Specialty Occupations Visa | For workers in occupations requiring highly specialized knowledge and a bachelor’s degree or higher in the specific specialty, or its equivalent. |
| H-2A | Temporary Agricultural Workers Visa | For foreign nationals coming to the U.S. to perform agricultural labor or services of a temporary or seasonal nature. |
| H-2B | Temporary Non-agricultural Workers Visa | For foreign nationals coming to the U.S. to perform non-agricultural labor or services on a temporary basis. |
| L-1 | Intracompany Transferee Visa | For managers, executives, or specialized knowledge employees transferring to the U.S. from an affiliated foreign office. |
| O-1 | Individuals with Extraordinary Ability or Achievement Visa | For individuals with extraordinary ability in sciences, arts, education, business, or athletics, or extraordinary achievements in the motion picture and television field. |
| P-1 | Athletes and Entertainers Visa | For internationally recognized athletes, artists, and entertainers to perform at specific events or competitions. |
| R-1 | Religious Worker Visa | For individuals coming to the U.S. to work in a religious capacity on a temporary basis. |
| K-1 | Fiancé(e) Visa | For the foreign-citizen fiancé(e) of a U.S. citizen to enter the U.S. for the purpose of marriage. |
| E-1 | Treaty Trader Visa | For individuals involved in substantial trade, including trade in services or technology, between the U.S. and a treaty country. |
| E-2 | Treaty Investor Visa | For individuals who make a substantial investment in a U.S. business in which they are coming to the U.S. to develop and direct the operations of. |
| E-3 | Certain Specialty Occupation Professionals from Australia | For nationals of Australia coming to the U.S. to perform services in a specialty occupation. |
| TN | NAFTA Professionals Visa | For Canadian and Mexican citizens engaging in professional business activities on a temporary basis under the North American Free Trade Agreement (NAFTA). |
| C-1 | Transit Visa | For foreign nationals traveling through the U.S. to another country, with few exceptions. |
| T | Victims of Human Trafficking Visa | For victims of human trafficking who are present in the U.S. on account of trafficking and assist law enforcement in the investigation or prosecution of human trafficking cases. |
| U | Victims of Criminal Activity Visa | For victims of certain crimes who have suffered mental or physical abuse while in the U.S. and assist law enforcement in the investigation or prosecution of criminal activity. |
This table includes a variety of visa types to accommodate different purposes of visits to the U.S., ranging from temporary visits for tourism or business to more permanent arrangements for work and immigration. Each visa has specific eligibility criteria that must be met by applicants to qualify.