Types of Nonimmigrant Visas
Chicago Immigration Lawyers | ||
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Visa | Visa Eligibility | Employment Eligibility |
A-1 | Ambassador, public minister, career, diplomatic or consular officer, and immediate family. | Employer-specific; Certain dependents from countries with special bilateral agreements are eligible for EAD incident to status; other dependents must apply for employment authorization. |
A-2 | Other foreign government official or employee and immediate family. | Employer-specific; Certain dependents from countries with special bilateral agreements are eligible for EAD incident to status; other dependents must apply for employment authorization. |
A-3 | Personal employee of A-1, A-2, and immediate family. | Employer-specific; Dependents are not eligible for employment. |
B-1 | Temporary Visitor for Business | Not eligible for employment, except servants of holders of B, E, F, H, I, J, L, NAFTA visas or a U. S. citizen residing in a foreign country and certain employees of airlines not eligible for E-1 status. Such servants must apply for employment authorization. |
B-2 | Temporary Visitor for Pleasure | Not eligible for employment |
C-1 | Noncitizen in transit directly through U.S. | Not eligible for employment |
C-2 | Noncitizen in transit to United Nations Headquarters. | Employer-specific |
C-3 | Foreign government official, immediate family, or personal employee in transit. | Employer-specific |
C-4 | Transit without visa (see also TWOV) | Not eligible for employment |
D-1 | Crewmember | Employer-specific |
D-2 | Crewmember departing by means other than arriving vessel. | Employer-specific |
E-1 | Treaty Trader and employees, spouse, and children. | Employer-specific; Spouses in same classification are eligible for EAD incident to status; children are not eligible for employment, except unmarried dependent children of E-1 employees of the Coordination Council for North American Affairs who may apply for employment authorization. |
E-2 | Treaty Investor and employees, spouse, and children. | Employer-specific; Spouses in same classification are eligible for EAD incident to status; children are not eligible for employment. |
F-1 | Academic Student (except Border Commuters from Canada or Mexico, see below) | Eligible for on campus employment and curricular practical training incident to status (no separate EAD necessary). Must apply for employment authorization for optional practical training or to work off-campus. |
F-1/F-3 | Border Commuter Academic Students from Canada and Mexico | Must apply for employment authorization for curricular practical training or post-completion optional practical training. |
F-2 | Spouse or child of F-1 | Not eligible for employment. |
G-1 | Principal resident representative of recognized foreign member government to international organization, staff, and immediate family. | Employer-specific; Certain dependents from countries with special bilateral agreements must apply for employment authorization. |
G-2 | Other representative of recognized foreign member government to international organization, and immediate family. | Employer-specific; Dependents are not eligible for employment. |
G-3 | Representative of non-recognized or non-member government to international organization, and immediate family. | Employer-specific; Certain dependents from countries with special bilateral agreements must apply for employment authorization. |
G-4 | International organization officer or employee, and immediate family. | Employer-specific; Dependents must apply for employment authorization. |
G-5 | Attendant, servant, or personal employee of G-1, G-2, G-3, G-4, and immediate family. | Employer-specific; Dependents are not eligible for employment. |
H-1b | Noncitizen in Specialty Occupation (profession) | Employer-specific |
H-1c | Registered Nurse serving in underserved area | Employer-specific |
H-2a | Temporary worker performing Agricultural Services unavailable in the United States (Petition filed on or after 06/01/87). | Employer-specific |
H-2b | Temporary worker performing other services unavailable in the United States (petition filed on or after 06/01/87). | Employer-specific |
H-3 | Trainee | Employer-specific |
H-4 | Spouse or child of H-1, H-2, or H-3 | Not eligible for employment, except in the case of a battered spouse (eligible for EAD). |
I | Information Media Representatives and immediate family. | Employer-specific; dependents are not eligible for employment. |
J-1 | Exchange Visitor | Employer-specific |
J-2 | Spouse or child of J-1 | Must apply for employment authorization. |
K-1 | Fiance (e) | Eligible for EAD incident to status |
K-2 | Minor child of K-1 | Eligible for EAD incident to status |
K-3 | Spouse of US citizen | Eligible for EAD incident to status |
K-4 | Child of K-3 | Eligible for EAD incident to status |
L-1A | Intracompany Transferee (manager or executive) | Employer-specific |
L-1B | Intracompany Transferee (specialized knowledge noncitizen) | Employer-specific |
L-2 | Spouse or child of L-1 | Spouses of L-1s are eligible for EAD incident to status; Children are not eligible |
M1 | Non-academic student (except Border Commuters from Canada or Mexico, see below) | Must apply for employment authorization for post-completion optional practical training. |
M-1/M-3 | Border Commuter Non-Academic Students from Canada and Mexico | Must apply for employment authorization for post-completion optional practical training. |
M-2 | Spouse or child of M-1 | Not eligible for employment. |
N-8 | Parent of an SK-3 Special Immigrant | Eligible for EAD incident to status |
N-9 | Child of N-8, SK-1, SK-2 or SK-4 Special Immigrant | Eligible for EAD incident to status |
NATO-1 | Principal Permanent Representative of Member State to NATO, official staff, and immediate family. | Employer-specific; Certain dependents from countries with special bilateral agreements must apply for employment authorization. |
NATO-2 | Other Representative of Member State to NATO and immediate family; Dependents of Member of a Force Entering in Accordance with the Provisions of the NATO Status-of-Forces Agreement or in Accordance with the provisions of the Protocol on the Status of International Military Headquarters; Members of such a Force if issued visas and immediate family. | Employer-specific; Certain dependents from countries with special bilateral agreements must apply for employment authorization. |
NATO-3 | Official clerical staff accompanying representative of member state to NATO and immediate family. | Employer-specific; Certain dependents from countries with special bilateral agreements must apply for employment authorization. |
NATO-4 | NATO official other than those qualified as NATO-1 and immediate family. | Employer-specific; Certain dependents from countries with special bilateral agreements must apply for employment authorization. |
NATO-5 | NATO expert other than those qualified as NATO-4 employed in NATO missions and immediate family. | Employer-specific; Certain dependents from countries with special bilateral agreements must apply for employment authorization. |
NATO-6 | Member of civilian component accompanying a force entering in accordance with NATO Status-of-Forces Agreement or attached to Allied Headquarters under "Protocol on the Status of International Military Headquarters" set up pursuant to the North Atlantic Treaty and immediate family. | Employer-specific; Certain dependents from countries with special bilateral agreements must apply for employment authorization. |
NATO-7 | Personal employee of NATO-1, NATO-2, NATO-3, NATO-4, NATO-5, and NATO-6, and immediate family. | Employer-specific; Certain dependents from countries with special bilateral agreements must apply for employment authorization. |
O-1 | Noncitizen with Extraordinary Ability in sciences, arts, education, business, or athletics | Employer-specific |
O-2 | Noncitizens accompanying/assisting O-1 performers or athletes. | Employer-specific |
O-3 | Spouse or child of O-1 or O-2 | Not eligible for employment under this category |
P-1 | Individual or Team Athletes, and Group Entertainers. | Employer-specific |
P-2 | Individual/Group Artist/ Entertainer under Reciprocal Exchange Program. | Employer-specific |
P-3 | Artist or Entertainer in Culturally Unique Program. | Employer-specific |
P-4 | Spouse or child of P-1, P-2, or P-3 | Not eligible for employment under this category |
Q-1 | International Cultural Exchange Visitor | Employer-specific |
Q-2 | Irish Peace Process Cultural and Training Program (Walsh visas) | Employer-specific |
Q-3 | Spouse or child of Q-2 | Not eligible for employment |
R-1 | Religious Worker | Employer-specific |
R-2 | Spouse or child of R-1 | Not eligible for employment |
S-5 | Witness or informant regarding criminal organization. | Must apply for employment authorization. |
S-6 | Witness or informant regarding terrorism | Must apply for employment authorization. |
S-7 | Spouse, children, or parent of S-5 or S-6 | Must apply for employment authorization. |
T-1 | Victim of a severe form of trafficking in persons. | Eligible for EAD incident to status |
T-2 | Spouse of trafficking victim | Must apply for employment authorization. |
T-3 | Child of trafficking victim | Must apply for employment authorization. |
T-4 | Parent of trafficking victim under 21 | Must apply for employment authorization. |
TN-1 | Canadian NAFTA Professional | Employer-specific |
TN-2 | Mexican NAFTA Professional | Employer-specific |
TD | Spouse or child of TN-1 or TN-2 | Not eligible for employment |
TWOV | Transit without a visa (Passenger or crew admitted temporarily) (see also C-4) | Not eligible for employment |
U-1 | Victim of certain criminal activity | Eligible for EAD incident to status |
U-2 | Spouse of U-1 victim | Must apply for employment authorization. |
U-3 | Child of U-1 victim | Must apply for employment authorization. |
U-4 | Parent of U-1 victim under 21 | Must apply for employment authorization. |
V-1 | Spouse of Lawful Permanent Resident who is the principal beneficiary of a family-based petition. | Eligible for EAD incident to status |
V-2 | Child of Lawful Permanent Resident who is the principal beneficiary of a family-based petition. | Eligible for EAD incident to status |
V-3 | Derivative child of a V-1 or V-2 | Eligible for EAD incident to status |
We can help you determine the most appropriate visa classification depending on your personal and business goals.
Call us at 773-516-4100 or contact us online for a consultation to discuss your immigration law issues or questions.