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United States visas are split into two primary categories:

1-nonimmigrant visas for temporary stays and

2-immigrant visas for permanent residence. Anyone traveling to the U.S. generally requires a visa.

Nonimmigrant Visas (Temporary Stays)

These visas allow foreign nationals to enter the country for specific, time-limited purposes. 

• Tourism and Business (B-1/B-2): B-1 visas cover short-term business trips, while B-2 visas are used for tourism, family visits, or medical treatments. 

• Specialty Employment (H-1B): Intended for specialty occupations requiring a university degree or equivalent technical expertise. 

• Intracompany Transfers (L-1): For managers, executives, or specialized knowledge employees transferring from an overseas office to a U.S. branch. 

• Student and Exchange (F-1/J-1): F-1 visas are for full-time academic studies, whereas J-1 visas host exchange visitors participating in approved work-and-study programs. 

• Extraordinary Ability (O-1): For individuals possessing an acclaimed national or international reputation in science, education, business, athletics, or the arts. [1]

 

Immigrant Visas (Permanent Residence)

Commonly referred to as Green Cards, these grant permanent residency and a pathway to citizenship. 

• Immediate Relatives & Family-Sponsored: For spouses, parents, and children of U.S. citizens. There is no annual cap for immediate family members.

• Employment-Based (EB-1 to EB-5): Preference categories ranging from priority workers (EB-1) and advanced degree professionals (EB-2) to specialized skilled workers (EB-3) and foreign investors (EB-5). Backlogs exist for highly populated source countries.