In this post we are discuss on how many types of us visa – How many different types of US visas are there?

Millions of people enter and leave the United States every year. It is a popular tourism and immigration destination. However, if you are not a resident of the United States, you will most likely need a visa to enter the country.

A US visa is a stamp that you get on your travel document, more specifically your passport, which means that you are eligible to enter the United States. Having a US Visa does not necessarily mean that you will enter the US, as this is at the discretion of the Department of Homeland Security (DHS), and the Customs and Borders Protection (CPB) Inspectors.

Also Read – The Most Different Types of U.S. Work Visas

What is a U.S. Visa?

A citizen of a foreign country who seeks to enter the United States generally must first obtain a U.S. visa, which is placed in the traveler’s passport, a travel document issued by the traveler’s country of citizenship.

Certain international travelers may be eligible to travel to the United States without a visa if they meet the requirements for visa-free travel. The Visa section of this website is all about U.S. visas for foreign citizens to travel to the United States.

How Can I Use a Visa to Enter the United States?

Having a U.S. visa allows you to travel to a port of entry, airport or land border crossing, and request permission of the Department of Homeland Security (DHS), Customs and Border Protection (CBP) inspector to enter the United States. While having a visa does not guarantee entry to the United States, it does indicate a consular officer at a U.S. Embassy or Consulate abroad has determined you are eligible to seek entry for that specific purpose. DHS/CBP inspectors, guardians of the nation’s borders, are responsible for admission of travelers to the United States, for a specified status and period of time. DHS also has responsibility for immigration matters while you are present in the United States.

US Visa Types

There are about 185 types of US visas, grouped into two main categories:

• Nonimmigrant visas. Issued for temporary visits to the United States such as for tourism, business, employment, family visit, and studying.
• Immigrant visas. Issued to people who will move permanently to the United States under immigrant investor schemes or family reunion.

Here are the main types of US visas:

Different Types of US Visas

The most common types of US Visa from India are as follows:

• Tourist or business Visa: This tourist or business visa is available in two different forms. The two categories are frequently combined and issued as one Visa. You must demonstrate to the consular official that your stay in the country is temporary and that you have the means to pay for your costs there. Additionally, evidence of living outside the US is required. Under this visa, you cannot accept employment.
  • B-1 for business associates, those attending scientific, educational, business conventions, settling an estate or negotiating contracts.
  • B-2 for pleasure or for medical treatment. This includes tourism, visiting friends and family, medical treatment, social or service activities.
• Immediate Relative & Family Sponsored Visas
  • Here are the categories of the Immediate relative and Family Sponsored visas:
  • The F2A and F2B visas are for the families of Lawful Permanent Residents, more specifically their spouses, minor children, or unmarried sons and daughters aged 21 and above.
  • IR-2 visa – for unmarried children under 21 years old
  • IR5 visa – for parents of US Citizens who are at least 21 years old
  • F1 – for unmarried sons and daughters and their minor children
  • F3 visa – for married sons and daughters and their minor children
  • F4 visa – for brothers and sisters of US Citizens, and their spouses and minor children.
  • The IR3, IH3, IR4, IH4 visas are for children from other countries who will be adopted by US citizen parent(s)
  • The SQ visa is for Iraqi or Afghan citizens who will be working for or on behalf of the US government and get Special Immigrant Visas (SIVs).
• Work Visa To work temporarily in the US, you need a certain Visa based on the type of work you’ll be doing. The USCIS must accept the petition of the applicant in order for them to be eligible for H, L, O, P, and Q. Form I-129 must be authorised before submitting a request for a work visa at the consulate. Form I-797, which serves as notice that your petition has been authorised, will subsequently be delivered to the employer. A copy of Form I-797 and Form I-129 must be brought with you when you visit the Consulate for your interview. The following list of work visas is provided:
  • H1-B for Specialty occupation : YFor you to be eligible for an H1-B visa, you must hold a Bachelor’s degree or higher in the field of specialisation. USCIS will determine whether your employment falls within this category and whether you are qualified to offer the required service. The employer is required to file a labour condition application to the Department of Labour regarding the conditions of the employment contract with you.  
  • H-1 B-1 – Work Visa on a Temporary Basis : Singaporean and Chilean citizens can apply visa in order to work in the U.S. on a temporary basis. However, individuals must already have a job offer in the US before they can apply for the visa.
  • H-2A for Seasonal agricultural workers : This Visa allows U.S. employers to bring foreign nationals to fill the temporary agricultural job for which U.S. workers are not available. Employer must file Form I-129 petition on your behalf. Indians are not eligible for this Visa.
  • H-2B for skilled and unskilled workers : This Visa is granted to those filling up a temporary or a seasonal job for which there is a shortage of U.S. workers. Indians are not eligible for this Visa.
  • H-3 for trainees : This is required if you are coming to the U.S. to receive training in any field from an employer for a period of up to two years. You can be paid for the training but it cannot be used to provide productive employment.
  • H-4 for dependents : If you are a holder of a valid H Visa, then your spouses and unmarried children under the ages of 21 may receive H-4 Visa so that they can accompany you to the U.S. But your spouse and children who hold this Visa are not permitted to work in the U.S.
  • L-1 for intra company transferees : f you work for an international firm and are temporarily transferred to the parent branch, an affiliate, or a subsidiary of the company, you need this visa. You must be at the managerial or executive level and possess specialised knowledge in the role you intend to occupy in the U.S. Company in order to be eligible for this visa. Within the three years before to submitting your application for admission to the United States, you must have worked continuously for one year for the multinational company.
  • L-2 for dependents : If you are a holder of a valid L Visa, your spouses and unmarried children under the age of 21 may receive L-2 Visa to enter the U.S. If your spouse wishes to seek employment in the U.S., they will have to submit a completed Form I-765 with the application fee. Your children will not be authorised to work in the United States.
  • Type O Visa : This type of Visa is offered to those with extraordinary ability in science, education, arts, business and athletics or extraordinary achievement in motion picture and television production.
  • Type P Visa : This Visa is offered to athletes, entertainer’s artist, and essential support personnel who come to perform in the United States.
  • Type Q Visa :This Visa is required if you are travelling to participate in international cultural exchange program in the U.S. for the purpose of providing training, employment, sharing history culture and traditions of your home country. The petition must be filed by the sponsor and is to be approved by USCIS.
• Temporary Work Visa –
  • Temporary Work Visas are issued for temporary work in the United States. Here are the categories of work visas:
  • H1B visa. For persons who have been employed in highly specialized fields.
  • H1B1 visa. For nationals of Chile and Singapore.
  • H-2A visa. Granted to temporary agricultural workers from selected countries in whom the US has some type of interest.
  • H-2B visa. Given to other types of temporary seasonal workers, who do non-agricultural work.
  • H-3 visa. Obtained by those who want to take advantage of training and education opportunities.
  • L1 visa. Issued to intracompany managers or executives.
  • People who have what is called an extraordinary ability in Arts, Science, Business, Education, or Athletics and want to temporarily work in their field of expertise need an O visa. There are three types of O visas:
  • O1 visa – for persons with extraordinary abilities.
  • O2 visa – for the assistants of O1 visa holders.
  • O3 visa – for dependents of O1 visa holders.
  • P visas. are issued to sportspersons and their coaching teams.
  • Temporary Religious Workers who want to practice within the US in religious capacities need to get the R1 visa type.
  • TN/TD visas. are for citizens of Canada or Mexico who will be working in the NAFTA organization.
  • E3 visas. For nationals of Australia. who will be working in specialty occupations.
  • I visa. For representatives of foreign media and journalists part of the press, film, radio, or print industries, who are visiting the US to work or participate in educational media activities.

• Student Visa 
    The institution or program must admit foreign nationals who come to the United States to pursue higher education. After being accepted, they will obtain the necessary permission documents to submit when applying for the student visa. The I-20’s commencement date gives the students 120 days to begin the visa application process, and they have 30 days after that to leave the country. Students may obtain the following visas:
  • F-1 Visa : People who desire to engage in academic programs at universities recognised by the United States or in programs to improve their English are granted this visa. You need this visa if your course requires more than 18 hours per week. This visa is available to secondary school students who are registered at a public institution.
  • M-1 Visa : Those who intend to pursue non-academic, vocational training or training in the United States are eligible for this visa. They can be enrolled in public secondary and elementary schools by non-immigrant visa holders who have an A, E, H-4, F-2, G, J-2, L-2, or M-2 visa, among others.If a student takes a break from their studies abroad for five months or longer, they risk losing their F-1 or M-1 status unless the activity was necessary for their study.
• Exchange Visitor Visa
  Foreign nationals are welcome to visit the US to take part in exchange programmes. However, the official programme sponsor must accept and approve you before you may apply for the Visa. The J Visa, which is intended to encourage the exchange of information and talents across a variety of areas, is given to the exchange visitor. Participants may include –
  • Teachers
  • Students at academic levels
  • Professors
  • Research scholars
  • Professional trainees
  • Visitors coming for travel, consultation, research purposes, etc.
• Ship Crew or Transit Visa : The two types of Visas offered for transit or ship crew are mentioned below:
  • Transit C Visa
    Foreign nationals who are travelling to another country via the United States are eligible for this visa. The tourist must request layover privileges if he wants to visit his friends or relatives. He or she must meet the requirements for a B-2 visa.
  • Crew D Visa
    A crew member who is working on a ship or an aeroplane is eligible for this visa. If a crew member is working aboard a ship within the Outer Continental Shelf, he or she is eligible for a modified B-1 Visa rather than a crew Visa. Crew members typically use the combination of transit or crew Visas, which are C-1 or D. Crew members need a B-1 or B-2 visa if they are visiting the country between flights or cruises. 
• Religious Worker Visa 
   R type Visa is offered to those who wish to work in a religious capacity in the U.S. on a temporary basis. The religious worker includes people who are authorised by a recognised entity to conduct religious activities.
• Domestic Employee Visa 
   Personal or domestic servants who accompany their employer to the U.S. are eligible for B-1 Visa. The domestic employees include:The domestic servants of a foreign diplomat or a government official is eligible for an A-3 or a G-5 Visa.
  • Housemaids
  • Valets
  • Footmen
  • Cooks
  • Butlers
  • Chauffeurs
  • Nannies
  • Mother’ helpers
  • Gardeners
  • Paid companions
• Media and Journalist Visa 
   Media (I) A nonimmigrant who works for a foreign media outlet is given a visa to enter the country temporarily so they can carry out their line of work. However, they are required to have a home office abroad. A visitor’s Visa is offered to the foreign citizen if he or she is travelling for the following purposes:
  • Attending a conference or a meeting
  • Guest lecture
  • Engaging in academic activities
  • Purchasing media equipment
  • Vacation
• Treaty Trader and Investor Visas.
  • The E visas are called Treaty Trader and Treaty Investor visas respectively, are for those who have treaties of commerce and navigation in the US. There are two types of this visa:
  • E1 Visa – treaty trader visa.
  • E2 Visa – treaty investor visa

Spouses and children under the ages of 21 are allowed to accompany the principal Visa holder under the B-2 Visa.

U.S. Immigrant Visas Application Process

The immigrant visa application process includes the applicant and the petitioner. For instance, if you want to apply to shift to the US through employment-based immigration, then you and your employer have to be involved in the entire application process. Employment-based immigration are different than a temporary work visa.

Step 1: In the first step, the petitioner is involved that the US citizen or a permanent resident in US who will sponsoring your immigration to the US. They should file the Form I-30 that the petition for Alien Relative.

Step 2: You and the petitioner will both be participating in the second phase. Your case will be forwarded to the National Visa Centre and recorded in the event that the petition is improved. You will receive a welcome letter once the procedure has been successfully finished. You will find the login information you need to access your case in the Consular Electronic Application Centre in the welcome letter. Additionally, this platform allows you to edit your account. You must next pay the fees and provide the necessary documentation.

Step 3: There are two types of processing fees which you need to pay:

•  Affidavit of Support Fee
• Immigrant Visa Application Processing Fee

You need the petitioner at this point of time because the payment needs to be made from a US savings account.

Step 4: In this step, only the petitioner will be involved. The petitioner will sign an Affidavit of Support and accept financial responsibility for the applicant. In such case, the petitioner will be the sponsorer. In case, the sponsor has insufficient income, a joint sponsor will be involved.

Step 5: The petitioner needs to gather the proof of their finance and other important documents.

Step 6: Here, the applicant will be involved. The person needs to fill in the online application form and make the fee payment. Once the payment is done, you need to take the printout of the receipt to appear for visa interview.

Step 7: You have to gather all the required civil documents which support your application stage.

Step 8: Both the parties should be present at this point of time. The documents should be saves for later. The file types should be in .jpg, .pdf, and .jpeg formats.

Step 9: Next, you have to upload the scanned copies of documents.

Step 10: You will receive a notification in your registered email address about the date and venues of your visa interview.

Step 11: Appear for your interview.

Processing Time

The processing time for a US immigrant visa is three to five weeks. On the other hand, in case od US non-immigrant visa, the processing time is seven to ten days. So, the applicants should apply for the visa three months in advance.

Also Read – The Most Different Types of U.S. Work Visas