Visa policy of the United States - wikipedia Visa policy of the United States An automated process has detected links on this page on the local or global blacklist. If the links are appropriate you may request whitelisting by following these instructions ; otherwise consider removing or replacing them with more appropriate links. ( To hide this tag, set the `` invisible '' field to `` true '' ) List of blacklisted links : http://www.nolo.com/legal-encyclopedia/free-books/fiance-marriage-visa-book/chapter2-7.html Triggered by \bnolo . com \b on the local blacklist A US visa specimen Entry passport stamp for the United States issued to a citizen of Singapore by the U.S. Customs and Border Protection at Detroit Metropolitan Airport. The visa policy of the United States deals with the requirements which a foreign national wishing to enter the United States must meet to obtain a visa, which is a permit to travel to, enter, and remain in the United States. Visitors to the United States must obtain a visa from one of the United States diplomatic missions unless they come from one of the visa exempt countries or Visa Waiver Program countries. The same rules apply to Puerto Rico and the United States Virgin Islands while different rules apply to Guam, Northern Mariana Islands and American Samoa. Contents 1 Overview 1.1 Entry visas 1.2 Exit visas 2 Visa policy map 3 Visa exemption 3.1 General exemption 3.2 Visa Waiver Program 3.3 Other arrangements 3.4 Visa waiver programs of Guam and the Northern Mariana Islands 3.5 American Samoa 3.6 Alaska 3.7 Summary of visa exemptions 4 Visa or entry refused to nationals of certain countries 4.1 Visa refused ( partly suspended ) 4.2 Visa issuance restricted 4.3 Visa refused ( superseded ) 4.4 Admission refused ( superseded ) 5 Outlying islands 6 Qualification process 7 Visitor visa statistics 8 Admission statistics 9 Classes of visas 9.1 Nonimmigrant visas 9.1. 1 A visa 9.1. 2 B - 1 and B - 2 9.1. 2.1 Validity period 9.1. 2.2 Adjusted Visa refusal Rate 9.1. 2.3 Overstay rate 9.1. 3 Use for other countries 9.1. 4 C visa 9.1. 5 D visa 9.1. 6 E visa 9.1. 7 F visa 9.1. 8 G visa 9.1. 9 NATO visa 9.1. 10 H visa 9.1. 11 I visa 9.1. 12 J visa 9.1. 13 K visa 9.1. 14 L visa 9.1. 15 M visa 9.1. 16 O visa 9.1. 17 P visa 9.1. 18 Q visa 9.1. 19 R visa 9.1. 20 S visa 9.1. 21 TN visa 9.1. 22 U and T visas 9.1. 23 V visa 9.2 List of US visa types 9.2. 1 Immigrant visas 9.2. 2 Nonimmigrant visas 9.2. 3 Dual Intent Visas 10 Visa denial 11 Exceptions 12 See also 13 References 14 External links Overview Entry visas A foreign national wishing to enter the U.S., Puerto Rico or the U.S. Virgin Islands must obtain a visa unless he or she is a permanent resident of the U.S. a Citizen of the Compact of Free Association states : Federated States of Micronesia, the Marshall Islands, and Palau a Citizen of Canada, including those applying for TN status at the border, or a British Overseas Territories citizen with a connection to Bermuda a Citizen of one of the 38 countries that are part of the Visa Waiver Program a Citizen of The Bahamas or a British Overseas Territories citizen with a connection to British Virgin Islands, Cayman Islands or Turks and Caicos Islands, under certain conditions holding a Form I - 512 ( `` Authorization for Parole of an Alien into the United States '' ) Mexican citizens may travel to the U.S. without a passport under limited circumstances if holding a Border Crossing Card and seeking to enter the U.S. for less than 72 hours while remaining in the `` border zone ''. While there are about 185 different types of visas, there are two main categories of U.S. visas : Nonimmigrant visa - for temporary visits such as for tourism, business, work, visiting family, or studying. Immigrant visa - for people to immigrate to the United States. At the port of entry, the immigrant visa holder is processed for a permanent resident card ( I - 551, often known as a ' green card ' ). Upon endorsement ( CBP admission stamp ) it serves as temporary I - 551 evidencing permanent residence for 1 year. In order to immigrate, one should either have an immigrant visa or have a dual intent visa, which is one that is compatible with making a concurrent application for permanent resident status, or having an intention to apply for permanent residence. Entering the U.S. on an employment visa may be described as a three - step process in most cases. First, the employer files an application with U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services requesting a particular type of category visa for a specific individual. If the employer 's application is approved, it only authorizes the individual to apply for a visa ; the approved application is not actually a visa. The individual then applies for a visa and is usually interviewed at a U.S. embassy or consulate in the native country. If the embassy or consulate gives the visa, the individual is then allowed to travel to the U.S. At the border crossing, airport, or other point of entry into the U.S., the individual speaks with an officer from U.S. Customs and Border Protection to ask for admission to the U.S. If approved, the individual may then enter the U.S. Contrary to a popular misconception, a U.S. visa does not authorize the alien 's entry to the United States, nor does it authorize the alien 's stay in the U.S. in a particular status. A U.S. visa only serves as a preliminary permission given to the alien to travel to the United States and to seek admission to the United States at a designated port of entry. The final admission to the United States in a particular status and for a particular period of time is made at the port of entry by a U.S. Customs and Border Protection ( CBP ) officer. For aliens entering the U.S. in a nonimmigrant visa status these details are recorded by the CBP officer on the alien 's Form I - 94 ( Form I - 94W for citizens of the Visa Waiver Program countries entering the U.S. for short visits ), which serves as the official document authorizing the alien 's stay in the United States in a particular non-immigrant visa status and for a particular period of time. 50,000 additional visas are available each year under the visa lottery program. In the last few years more than 9 million people have participated in the visa lottery. Exit visas Exit visas are not required. However, the U.S. government has required all foreign and U.S. nationals departing the US by air for Canada, Mexico, Bermuda or countries in the Caribbean other than the French West Indies to hold a valid passport ( or certain specific passport replacing documents ) since October 1, 2007. Even though travelers might not require a passport to enter a certain country, they will require a valid passport booklet ( booklet only, U.S. Passport Card not accepted ) when attempting to depart the U.S. in order to satisfy the U.S. immigration authorities. Exemptions to this requirement to hold a valid passport booklet include : U.S. Permanent Resident / Resident Alien Card ( Form I - 551 ) ; U.S. Military ID Cards when traveling on official orders ; U.S. Merchant Mariner Card ; NEXUS Card ; U.S. Travel Document : Refugee Travel Document ( Form I - 571 ) ; or Permit to Re-Enter ( Form I - 327 ) Emergency Travel Document ( e.g. Consular Letter ) issued by a Foreign Embassy or Consulate specifically for the purpose of travel to the bearer 's home country. Nationals of Mexico holding one of the following documents : ( expired ) Matricula Consular ; or Birth Certificate with consular registration ; or Certificate of Nationality issued by a Mexican consulate abroad ; or Certificate of Military Duty ( Cartilla Militar ) ; or Voter 's Certificate ( Credencial IFE or Credencial para Votar ). Visa policy map The United States and its territories Visa free countries Visa Waiver Program countries Visa required for entry to the US Visa exemption General exemption Four Countries and Bermuda have visa exemption access to the United States, Puerto Rico and the U.S. Virgin Islands, including three that are linked with Compacts of Free Association. Citizens of these jurisdictions are generally not required to apply for visas or pre-approval registrations prior to arrival. Canada - Citizens of Canada do not require a visa to enter the United States under most circumstances, and can work under special simplified procedure. They may use a NEXUS Card instead of a passport to enter the country from Canada, or, if arriving by land or sea, an Enhanced Drivers License. Bermuda - British Overseas Territories citizens with a connection to Bermuda can enter the United States visa - free under most circumstances if their intended stay is less than six months. To qualify, they must present a Bermudian passport which fulfills the following criteria : the front cover has printed on it `` Government of Bermuda '', the holder 's nationality must be stated as either `` British Overseas Territory Citizen '' or `` British Dependent Territories Citizen '', the passport must contain one of the following endorsement stamps : `` Holder is registered as a Bermudian '', `` Holder Possesses Bermudian Status '' or `` Holder is deemed to possess Bermudian status ''. Citizens of the following countries, linked with the U.S. by the Compacts of Free Association, do not require a visa to enter, reside, study, and work indefinitely in the United States : Marshall Islands Micronesia Palau Date of granting visa - free entry Canadian citizens have never needed a visa to gain access to the United States 1986 : Marshall Islands and Micronesia 1994 : Palau Visa Waiver Program Main article : Visa Waiver Program Currently, 38 countries have been selected by the US government for inclusion in the Visa Waiver Program and their citizens do not need to acquire a US visa ( but are required to get an electronic authorization if arriving by air or cruise ship ) to visit the United States, Puerto Rico, and the US Virgin Islands : Andorra Australia Austria Belgium Brunei Chile Czech Republic Denmark Estonia Finland France Germany Greece Hungary Iceland Ireland Italy Japan Latvia Liechtenstein Lithuania Luxembourg Malta Monaco Netherlands New Zealand Norway Portugal San Marino Singapore Slovakia Slovenia South Korea Spain Sweden Switzerland Taiwan United Kingdom Notes ^ -- Citizens with Taiwanese national ID number only. ^ -- Only British citizens are eligible to participate in the VWP. Date of addition to Visa Waiver Program 1 July 1988 : United Kingdom 15 December 1988 : Japan 1 July 1989 : France and Switzerland 15 July 1989 : Germany and Sweden 29 July 1989 : Italy and Netherlands 29 July 1991 : Monaco 1 October 1991 : Andorra, Austria, Belgium, Denmark, Finland, Iceland, Liechtenstein, Luxembourg, New Zealand, Norway, San Marino and Spain 29 July 1993 : Brunei 1 April 1995 : Ireland 29 July 1996 : Australia 30 September 1997 : Slovenia 9 August 1999 : Portugal and Singapore 17 November 2008 : Czech Republic, Estonia, Hungary, Latvia, Lithuania, Malta, Slovakia and South Korea 5 April 2010 : Greece 1 November 2012 : Taiwan 28 February 2014 : Chile Cancelled : Argentina was added to the program on 8 July 1996 and removed from the list from 21 February 2002. Uruguay was added to the program on 9 August 1999 and removed from the list from 15 April 2003. Visitors may stay for 90 days in the United States which also includes the time spent in Canada, Mexico, Bermuda, or the islands in the Caribbean if the arrival was through the United States. The Electronic System for Travel Authorization ( ESTA ) is not a visa. Rather, obtaining a travel authorization from ESTA is a prerequisite to travelling by air or sea to the U.S. under the Visa Waiver Program. ESTA authorization, once obtained, is valid for two years unless during that time the person obtains a new passport or his / her answers to any of the eligibility questions change. VWP does not apply if a passenger is not arriving on an approved air or sea carrier. The United States Department of Homeland Security extended the scope of the Visa Waiver Program Improvement and Terrorist Travel Prevention Act. As of January 2016, visa waivers do not apply where a person has previously traveled to Iran, Iraq, Libya, Somalia, Sudan, Syria or Yemen on or after 1 March 2011 or for those who remain nationals of Iran, Iraq, Sudan and Syria in addition to the nationality that would otherwise entitle them to a visa waiver. Instead, they are now required to go through the process to obtain a visa. Certain categories such as diplomats, military, journalists, humanitarian workers or legitimate businessmen may have their visa requirement waived by the Secretary of Homeland Security. Other arrangements Citizens of the following country can travel without obtaining a visa for the United States only under certain conditions : Bahamas -- Bahamian citizens do not require a visa to enter the United States if they apply for entry at one of the Preclearance Facilities located in Nassau or Freeport International Airports. Bahamian citizens must not have had a criminal conviction or ineligibility, violated U.S. immigration laws in the past and must be in possession of valid, unexpired Bahamian passport or a Bahamian Travel Document indicating that they have Bahamian citizenship. In addition to a passport, all applicants 14 years of age or older must present a police certificate issued by the Royal Bahamas Police Force within the past six months. All Bahamians applying for admission at a port - of - entry other than the pre-clearance facilities located in Nassau or Freeport International airports are required to be in possession of a valid visa to enter the United States. British Overseas Territories citizens ( BOTCs ) by virtue of their connection to one of the following territories may elect to travel with their British citizen passports with valid ESTA, or can alternatively use their BOTC passports to enter the U.S. in certain circumstances. British Virgin Islands - British Overseas Territories citizens by virtue of their connection to the British Virgin Islands may travel without a visa to the United States Virgin Islands with their British Virgin Islands passport. They may also continue travel to other parts of the United States if they present a Certificate of Good Conduct issued by the Royal Virgin Islands Police Department indicating no criminal record. Cayman Islands -- British Overseas Territories citizens with a connection to the Cayman Islands may travel without a visa to the U.S. To qualify, their Cayman Islands passports must confirm their British Overseas Territories citizenship and be endorsed by the Cayman Islands Passport and Corporate Services Office with a Cayman - U.S. visa waiver, issued at a cost of 25 Cayman Islands dollars and valid for one entry. They must travel directly between the Cayman Islands and the United States and their Cayman Islands passport must also have a validity of at least six months beyond their intended departure date from the United States. If Cayman Islanders elect to enter the U.S. using the Cayman - U.S. visa waiver, they are not required to apply for an ESTA online, since they are not entering under the VWP. Turks and Caicos Islands -- British Overseas Territories Citizens by virtue of their connection to the Turks and Caicos Islands can enter the United States visa - free for short business and pleasure. To qualify, they must not have had a criminal conviction or ineligibility, not violated U.S. immigration laws in the past and must arrive in the United States on a direct flight from the territory. In addition, they must present a Turks and Caicos Islands passport or a travel document which states that they are a British Overseas Territory citizen and have the right to abode in the Turks and Caicos Islands. In addition to a valid, unexpired passport, all travelers 14 years of age or older must present a police certificate issued by the Royal Turks and Caicos Islands Police Force within the past six months. All British Overseas Territories Citizens of the Turks and Caicos Islands who apply for admission at a port - of - entry that does not have direct air service to / from the territory, are required to be in possession of a valid visa to enter the United States. Visa Waiver programs of Guam and the Northern Mariana Islands Although the visa policy of the U.S. also applies to the U.S. territories of Guam and the Northern Mariana Islands in general, both territories have additional visa waiver programs for certain nationalities. The Guam -- CNMI Visa Waiver Program, first enacted in October 1988 and periodically amended, permits nationals from twelve countries in Asia, Europe and Oceania to enter the Northern Mariana Islands and Guam as tourists for up to 45 days without the need of obtaining a U.S. visa or an ESTA. A parole agreement enacted in 2009 provides two more countries visa - free access to the territories for 45 days : Australia Brunei China Hong Kong Japan Malaysia Nauru New Zealand Papua New Guinea Russia Singapore South Korea Taiwan United Kingdom Travelers with B - 1 / B - 2 visa or ESTA are admitted to the territories in accordance with the terms of ESTA or visa. Travelers utilizing the program or the parole are required to complete an I - 736 form, hold a machine - readable passport and nonrefundable return ticket, and are not permitted to travel onwards to the contiguous United States. Because of special visa categories for the Northern Mariana Islands foreign workers, traveling between Guam and the Northern Mariana Islands still requires a full immigration inspection, and all visitors departing Guam or Northern Mariana Islands are inspected regardless of final destination. American Samoa American Samoa entry stamp U.S. visa policy does not apply to the territory of American Samoa, as it has its own entry requirements and maintains control of its own borders. Hence, neither a U.S. visa nor an ESTA can be used to enter American Samoa. U.S. nationals may enter and remain indefinitely ; nationals of countries in the American Samoa Entry Permit Waiver Program may enter with an `` OK to board '', issued electronically, for visits not exceeding 30 days ; nationals of other countries require an entry permit. The `` OK to board '' or entry permit can not be obtained from a U.S. diplomatic mission, but from the Attorney General 's Office of American Samoa. Government sources disagree on the exact list of countries in the American Samoa Entry Permit Waiver Program. One source has the same list as the U.S. Visa Waiver Program but does not include Canada, while another source includes Canada but excludes Ireland. To obtain an `` OK to board '', travelers must send a copy of their passport ( valid for at least 6 months after planned departure from American Samoa ) and a copy of their round - trip or onward ticket by email to the Attorney General 's Office of American Samoa, at least 48 hours before travel. They must also pay a fee of 20 USD, before travel or on arrival. To obtain an entry permit, travelers must have a local sponsor, who must provide either a deed of private land or signatures of the sa'o ( head chief ) and pulenu'u ( village mayor ) for communal land. Travelers must also provide a round - trip or onward ticket, clearances from the High Court of American Samoa, Lyndon B. Johnson Tropical Medical Center in Pago Pago, Department of Homeland Security of American Samoa, police and health clearances from the country of origin, and pay a fee of 40 USD. The application for an entry permit must be made at least 30 days before travel. Nationals of Samoa may apply for 7 - day, 14 - day or 30 - day permits. Alaska Residents of the Chukotka Autonomous Okrug in Russia who are members of the indigenous population do not require a visa to visit Alaska if they have relatives ( blood relatives, members of the same tribe, native people who have similar language and cultural heritage ) in Alaska. Entry points are in Gambell and Nome. Individuals must be invited by a relative in Alaska, must notify local authorities at least ten days before traveling to Alaska, and must leave Alaska within 90 days. The agreement establishing this policy was signed by Russia and the United States on 23 September 1989. The United States made it effective as of 17 July 2015. Summary of visa Exemptions Country or territory Overland Air / Cruise ship All means of transport 50 States, District of Columbia and Puerto Rico United States Virgin Islands Guam Northern Mariana Islands American Samoa Canada Yes Yes Yes Yes Yes electronic authorization Bermuda Yes Yes Yes Yes Yes No Marshall Islands Yes Yes Yes Yes Yes No Micronesia Yes Yes Yes Yes Yes No Palau Yes Yes Yes Yes Yes No Australia Yes electronic authorization electronic authorization Yes Yes electronic authorization Brunei Yes electronic authorization electronic authorization Yes Yes electronic authorization Japan Yes electronic authorization electronic authorization Yes Yes electronic authorization New Zealand Yes electronic authorization electronic authorization Yes Yes electronic authorization Singapore Yes electronic authorization electronic authorization Yes Yes electronic authorization South Korea Yes electronic authorization electronic authorization Yes Yes electronic authorization Taiwan Yes electronic authorization electronic authorization Yes Yes electronic authorization United Kingdom Yes electronic authorization electronic authorization Yes Yes electronic authorization Andorra Yes electronic authorization electronic authorization electronic authorization electronic authorization electronic authorization Austria Yes electronic authorization electronic authorization electronic authorization electronic authorization electronic authorization Belgium Yes electronic authorization electronic authorization electronic authorization electronic authorization electronic authorization Chile Yes electronic authorization electronic authorization electronic authorization electronic authorization electronic authorization Czech Republic Yes electronic authorization electronic authorization electronic authorization electronic authorization electronic authorization Denmark Yes electronic authorization electronic authorization electronic authorization electronic authorization electronic authorization Estonia Yes electronic authorization electronic authorization electronic authorization electronic authorization electronic authorization Finland Yes electronic authorization electronic authorization electronic authorization electronic authorization electronic authorization France Yes electronic authorization electronic authorization electronic authorization electronic authorization electronic authorization Germany Yes electronic authorization electronic authorization electronic authorization electronic authorization electronic authorization Greece Yes electronic authorization electronic authorization electronic authorization electronic authorization electronic authorization Hungary Yes electronic authorization electronic authorization electronic authorization electronic authorization electronic authorization Iceland Yes electronic authorization electronic authorization electronic authorization electronic authorization electronic authorization Ireland Yes electronic authorization electronic authorization electronic authorization electronic authorization electronic authorization Italy Yes electronic authorization electronic authorization electronic authorization electronic authorization electronic authorization Latvia Yes electronic authorization electronic authorization electronic authorization electronic authorization electronic authorization Liechtenstein Yes electronic authorization electronic authorization electronic authorization electronic authorization electronic authorization Lithuania Yes electronic authorization electronic authorization electronic authorization electronic authorization electronic authorization Luxembourg Yes electronic authorization electronic authorization electronic authorization electronic authorization electronic authorization Malta Yes electronic authorization electronic authorization electronic authorization electronic authorization electronic authorization Monaco Yes electronic authorization electronic authorization electronic authorization electronic authorization electronic authorization Netherlands Yes electronic authorization electronic authorization electronic authorization electronic authorization electronic authorization Norway Yes electronic authorization electronic authorization electronic authorization electronic authorization electronic authorization Portugal Yes electronic authorization electronic authorization electronic authorization electronic authorization electronic authorization San Marino Yes electronic authorization electronic authorization electronic authorization electronic authorization electronic authorization Slovakia Yes electronic authorization electronic authorization electronic authorization electronic authorization electronic authorization Slovenia Yes electronic authorization electronic authorization electronic authorization electronic authorization electronic authorization Spain Yes electronic authorization electronic authorization electronic authorization electronic authorization electronic authorization Sweden Yes electronic authorization electronic authorization electronic authorization electronic authorization electronic authorization Switzerland Yes electronic authorization electronic authorization electronic authorization electronic authorization electronic authorization Bahamas No police certificate No No No No British Virgin Islands No police certificate Yes No No No Cayman Islands No police certificate No No No No Turks and Caicos Islands No police certificate No No No No Hong Kong No No No Yes Yes No Malaysia No No No Yes Yes No Nauru No No No Yes Yes No Papua New Guinea No No No Yes Yes No Russia No No No Yes Yes No China No No No No Yes No Jump up ^ Government sources disagree on whether nationals of Canada or Ireland require an entry permit for American Samoa. Jump up ^ For holders of Taiwan passports containing a National ID number only. Must hold a National ID card if utilizing Guam - CNMI Visa Waiver Program. Jump up ^ U.S., Puerto Rico, USVI and American Samoa waivers for British citizens only. Guam - CNMI waiver for British citizens and British Nationals ( Overseas ) only. BN ( O ) s must hold valid Hong Kong Permanent Identity Cards. Jump up ^ Must in conjunction hold a Hong Kong Permanent Identity Card. Visa or entry refused to nationals of certain countries Visa refused ( partly suspended ) Following the expiration of the Executive Order 13780 on September 24, 2017, President Donald Trump signed a presidential proclamation suspending the issuance of visas to nationals of certain countries : Chad -- suspended issuance of immigrant and B nonimmigrant visas. Iran -- suspended issuance of immigrant and nonimmigrant visas except F, M and J visas. Libya -- suspended issuance of immigrant and B nonimmigrant visas. North Korea -- suspended issuance of immigrant and nonimmigrant visas. Somalia -- suspended issuance of immigrant visas. Syria -- suspended issuance of immigrant and nonimmigrant visas. Venezuela -- suspended issuance of B nonimmigrant visas for officials of government agencies of Venezuela involved in screening and vetting procedures. Yemen -- suspended issuance of immigrant and B nonimmigrant visas. The proclamination was scheduled to go into effect on 18 October 2017. However, on 17 October 2017, federal judge Derrick Watson of the United States District Court for the District of Hawaii granted a Temporary Restraining Order to all sections of the Presidential Proclamation except for the sections targeting North Korea and Venezuela. A day later, judge Theodore D. Chuang of the United States District Court for the District of Maryland issued a preliminary injunction to `` individuals with a bona fide relationship with an individual or entity in the United States '' of all nationalities affected. Therefore, from 18 October 2017, nationals of Chad, Iran, Libya, Somalia, Syria and Yemen may continue to apply for U.S. visas, while nationals of North Korea and Venezuela affected by the proclamation may also apply for visas if they have `` a bona fide relationship with an individual or entity in the United States ''. The restrictions for Chad, North Korea and Venezuela were originally scheduled to come into effect on 18 October 2017, while the other countries were subject to the same terms of Executive Order 13780 until that date. The suspension does not apply to lawful permanent residents of the United States, holders of existing visas, dual nationals traveling on a passport of a non-designated country, diplomats and persons granted asylum by the United States. Waivers may be issued by a consular or CBP officer where denying entry would cause undue hardship, would not pose a threat to the national security and public safety, and would be in the national interest. Visa issuance restricted Effective September 13, 2017, the Department of Homeland Security announced that the State Department would stop issuing certain visas at its consular offices in the following countries due to the lack of cooperation on removal matters : Cambodia -- issuance of all B visas for Cambodian Ministry of Foreign Affairs employees, with the rank of Director General and above, and their families. Eritrea -- issuance of all B visas. Guinea -- all B, F, J, and M visas to Guinean government officials and their immediate family members. Sierra Leone -- all B visas to Sierra Leonean Ministry of Foreign Affairs officials and immigration officials. In addition, on 29 September 2017, the U.S. halted processing of all visas except family reunification visas at its embassy in Havana, Cuba. However, nationals of Cuba may still apply for visas at other U.S. embassies or consulates. Visa refused ( superseded ) Main article : Executive Order 13780 On March 6, 2017, President Donald Trump signed a new executive order to suspend the issuance of visas to nationals of Iran, Libya, Somalia, Sudan, Syria and Yemen for 90 days. The policy was originally intended to be in effect on March 16, 2017, but was postponed to June 29, 2017. Based on the newly issued memorandum, only individuals applying for B, C - 1, C - 3, D, or I visas were affected by the ban. Persons applying for visas belonging to another category ( such as F, H, J or M visas ) would not be affected. Individuals applying under the affected categories could still apply for a waiver which would be determined on a case - by - case basis. For immigrant visa applicants, only those without a `` bona - fide relationship '' were affected, including those applying under the self - petitioning categories without a U.S. job offer and winners of diversity visas without a bona - fide connection to the U.S. Other categories, including family - based beneficiaries and employment - based applicants who already had jobs or job offers in the U.S., were not affected. The following individuals were not affected by the executive order and remained eligible to apply for visas or admission into the United States : Green card holders ; Dual nationals travelling on a national passport issued by a country other than one of the designated countries ; Holders of valid visas or paroles ( existing visas could be used for entry regardless of category, however if their visas were of an affected category and had been used or expired during this period, they would remain ineligible to apply for new visas unless qualified for a waiver ) ; Persons who had been granted asylum, refugee status, withholding of removal, advance parole, or protection under the Convention Against Torture before the implementation date. The executive order superseded the previous one, and existing visas were no longer considered as revoked. Nationals of the six countries could still secure a visa if the consular officer was satisfied that they qualified for a waiver. Under the Supreme Court certiorari, waivers could be granted to persons who : had `` significant contacts '', `` significant business obligations '' or `` significant professional obligations '' in the United States ; had immediate family members ( only included parents, parents - in - law, spouses, fiancé ( e ) s, sons, daughters, sons - in - law, daughters - in - law and siblings ) who legally resided in the United States ( either as U.S. citizens, lawful permanent residents, or holding nonimmigrant visas ) ; were infants, young children, adoptees, or in need of urgent medical care in the United States ; or, were permanent residents of Canada, provided that they applied for visas within Canada and held proof of permanent residence. On March 15, 2017, Federal judges in Hawaii and Maryland issued temporary injunction orders against the executive order, suspending the visa ban hours before it went into effect. The judges cited that the ban violated the Establishment Clause of the first amendment of the U.S. constitution. Trump announced that he intended to take it `` as far as it needs to go '', hinting that the injunction would be challenged at the Supreme Court of the United States. On March 30, 2017, the temporary injunction order issued by the federal judge in Hawaii was converted into a preliminary injunction order, suspending the executive order indefinitely. On June 26, 2017, the Supreme Court granted certiorari and the government 's request to stay the injunction, allowing the order to take effect for those without a `` bona fide '' relationship with a U.S. entity. The implementation began at 8 p.m. Eastern Time on June 29, 2017. Admission refused ( superseded ) Main article : Executive Order 13769 A presidential executive order signed on 27 January 2017 introduced an entry ban for the nationals of certain countries for a period of 90 days, which expired on 27 April 2017. The executive order banned entry of immigrants and nonimmigrants travelling on passports issued by countries that were mentioned under the Visa Waiver Program Improvement and Terrorist Travel Prevention Act of 2015 : State Sponsors of Terrorism : Iran ( 1984 -- present ) Syria ( 1979 -- present ; in a civil war since March 2011. The executive order also suspended any further resettlement of Syrian refugees indefinitely ) Sudan ( 1993 -- present ) Countries of Particular concern ( designated by the Obama administration ) : Iraq ( removed from the State Sponsors of Terrorism list twice in 1982 and 2004 ; country in a civil war and ISIL insurgency since June 2014, following the aftermath of the US - led 2003 Iraq War ) Libya ( removed from the State Sponsors of Terrorism list in 2006 ; country in another civil war since May 2014 ) Somalia ( due to Al - Shabaab insurgency and civil war since January 2009 ) Yemen ( removed from the State Sponsors of Terrorism list in 1990 ; has an Al - Qaeda insurgency and a civil war since March 2015 ) The order exempted diplomats and members of international organizations ( such as the United Nations ) from the ban. U.S. diplomatic missions would not conduct interviews or process existing visa applications for holders of passports of these country until the ban was lifted. However, Iraqi nationals who were applying for Special Immigrant Visas would be processed as normal. The guideline of the executive order later clarified that the ban applied to holders of any kind of U.S. immigrant or nonimmigrant visas from these countries except the following : Green card holders ; Dual nationals travelling on a national passport issued by a country other than one of the designated countries ; Permanent residents of Canada, only when entering the U.S. from a land border with Canada or a Canadian airport with preclearance, and holding Canada Permanent Resident Cards ; Persons holding diplomatic visas, North Atlantic Treaty Organization ( NATO ) visas, C - 2 visas ( for travel to the United Nations in New York City ), and G - 1, G - 2, G - 3, and G - 4 visas ; Iraqi nationals holding Special Immigrant Visas. Several lawsuits were filed, challenging the executive order across the country. Federal senior judge of the United States District Court for the Western District of Washington James Robart issued a temporary restraining order on the enforcement of the executive order 13769 in the case State of Washington v. Donald J. Trump on February 3, 2017. From February 4, 2017, the ban was de facto lifted and nationals of all designated countries were allowed to enter the United States. The executive order was superseded by another which also banned the ability to acquire visas for nationals of all above countries except Iraq. Outlying Islands Visits to the United States Minor Outlying Islands -- Baker Island, Howland Island, Jarvis Island, Johnston Atoll, Kingman Reef, Midway Atoll, Palmyra Atoll, Wake Island and Navassa Island -- are severely restricted. Most of the islands are closed off, and prospective visitors require special permits, usually from the US army. Qualification process The typical process for issuing a United States visa, possibly including a Visas Mantis check Applicants for visitor visas must show that they qualify under provisions of the Immigration and Nationality Act. The presumption in the law is that every nonimmigrant visa applicant ( except certain employment - related applicants, who are exempt ) is an intending immigrant unless otherwise proven. Therefore, applicants for most nonimmigrant visas must overcome this presumption by demonstrating that : The purpose of their trip is to enter the U.S. for a specific, intended purpose ; They plan to remain for a specific, limited period ; and They have a residence outside the U.S. as well as other binding ties which will ensure their return at the end of their stay. All visit, business, transit, student, and exchange visitor visa applicants must pay a US $ 160 application fee ( up from $140 as of April 2012 ) to a US Consulate in order to be interviewed by a Consular Officer who will determine if the applicant is qualified to receive a visa to travel to the U.S ( additionally, the officer may also ask the United States Department of State for a Security Advisory Opinion, which can take several weeks to resolve ). The application fee is increased to $190 for most work visas ( up from $150 as of April 2012 ) and can be even higher for certain categories. If the applicant is rejected, the application fee is not refunded. Amongst the items included in the qualification decision are financial independence, adequate employment, material assets and a lack of a criminal record in the applicant 's native country. Visitor visa Statistics United States Visa exempt nationalities Issued B - 1, 2 visas in fiscal 2015 : Over 400 thousand Over 100 thousand Over 50 thousand Over 25 thousand Over 10 thousand Over 5 thousand Under 5 thousand In fiscal 2016 most B - 1, 2 visas were issued to the nationals of the following countries ( listed over 40,000 visas ) : Nationality Issued B - 1, 2 visas 2016 2015 China 1,989,925 2,227,670 Mexico 1,106,723 1,234,885 India 563,202 553,385 Brazil 450,166 870,008 Colombia 374,398 345,233 Argentina 295,326 240,115 Israel 168,136 137,439 Nigeria 162,996 136,409 Russia 151,692 122,147 Ecuador 150,163 150,458 Venezuela 144,283 223,854 Dominican Republic 136,057 85,140 Philippines 99,967 83,139 Jamaica 94,458 83,483 Poland 88,624 81,861 Vietnam 86,180 80,936 Turkey 85,560 78,118 Peru 79,927 97,936 Saudi Arabia 78,042 85,303 Costa Rica 71,710 58,139 Pakistan 65,844 62,714 Hong Kong 61,708 54,027 Egypt 58,062 46,433 Guatemala 52,326 48,735 Guyana 50,706 30,060 Indonesia 48,787 48,239 Honduras 48,177 35,004 Thailand 47,382 44,795 El Salvador 46,850 56,287 Ukraine 45,638 52,943 South Africa 45,240 Haiti 41,738 34,519 Total 7,988,520 8,403,683 In fiscal 2014 most reasons to refuse a visa were cited as `` failure to establish entitlement to nonimmigrant status '', `` incompatible application '' ( most overcome ), `` unlawful presence '', `` misrepresentation '', `` criminal convictions '', `` smugglers '' and `` controlled substance violators ''. Smaller number of applications were rejected for `` physical or mental disorder '', `` prostitution '', `` espionage '', `` terrorist activities '', `` falsely claiming citizenship '' and other grounds for refusal including `` presidential proclamation '', `` money laundering '', `` communicable disease '' and `` commission of acts of torture or extrajudicial killings ''. Admission statistics United States Number of non-immigrant admissions for tourist and business purposes into the United States in fiscal year 2015 : Over 2 million Over 1 million Over 500 thousand Over 250 thousand Over 100 thousand Over 15 thousand Under 15 thousand Highest number of non-immigrant admissions for tourists and for business purposes into the United States in fiscal year 2014 and 2015 was from the following countries ( listed over 700,000 admissions ) : Country FY2015 FY 2014 Mexico 01 19,175,345 01 18,889,281 Canada 02 11,671,122 02 11,289,743 United Kingdom 03 4,691,874 03 4,549,934 Japan 04 3,750,667 04 3,933,941 Brazil 05 2,383,822 06 2,275,588 China 06 2,309,654 07 2,001,302 Germany 07 2,208,145 05 2,283,086 France 08 1,915,725 08 1,966,335 South Korea 09 1,742,422 09 1,576,328 Australia 10 1,399,615 10 1,389,358 Italy 11 1,229,115 11 1,282,485 India 12 1,175,153 12 1,111,738 Spain 13 953,969 13 955,737 Colombia 14 928,424 14 924,916 Argentina 15 765,576 16 730,089 Netherlands 16 749,826 15 766,936 Total ( worldwide ) 17 69,025,896 17 67,519,113 Statistics of American Samoa Country 2015 2014 Samoa 21,251 20,786 United States 17,053 14,487 New Zealand 3,580 3,589 Philippines 1,016 966 Australia 860 978 China 832 758 Fiji 639 615 Total 48,197 45,326 Statistics of Guam Country / Territory 2016 2015 2014 Japan 745,691 773,019 810,856 South Korea 544,954 427,900 308,037 United States 77,701 70,246 55,192 Taiwan 42,229 42,205 49,136 China 27,013 23,698 16,280 Philippines 21,657 12,427 12,079 Northern Mariana Islands 17,582 14,334 14,761 Total 1,535,410 1,409,050 1,343,092 Statistics of Northern Mariana Islands Country / Territory 2016 2015 2014 China 01 206,538 01 186,509 01 170,121 South Korea 02 200,875 02 182,622 02 142,081 Japan 03 62,120 03 80,832 03 109,793 United States and Guam 04 22,447 04 19,968 04 20,405 Hong Kong 05 1,710 07 732 06 1,098 Russia 06 1,796 06 1,374 05 11,200 Philippines 07 999 05 2,405 07 694 Total 08 501,469 08 478,592 08 459,240 Classes of visas Nonimmigrant visas A visa `` A '' visas are issued to representatives of a foreign government traveling to the United States to engage in official activities for that government. `` A '' visas are granted to foreign government ambassadors, ministers, diplomats, as well as other foreign government officials or employees traveling on official business ( A-1 Visa ). Certain foreign officials require an A visa regardless of the purpose of their trip. The A visa is also granted to immediate family members of such foreign government officials, defined as `` the principal applicant 's spouse and unmarried sons and daughters of any age who are not members of some other household and who will reside regularly in the household of the principal alien '' ( A-2 Visa ) and which `` may also include close relatives of the principal alien or spouse who are related by blood, marriage, or adoption who are not members of some other household ; who will reside regularly in the household of the principal alien ; and who are recognized as dependents by the sending government ( A-3 Visa ). B - 1 and B - 2 Main article : B visa The most common non-immigrant visa is the multiple - purpose B - 1 / B - 2 visa, also known as the `` visa for temporary visitors for business or pleasure. '' Visa applicants sometimes receive either a B - 1 ( temporary visitor for business ) or a B - 2 ( temporary visitor for pleasure ) visa, if their reason for travel is specific enough that the consular officer does not feel they qualify for combined B - 1 / B - 2 status. Holders may also attend short non-credit courses. Mexican citizens are eligible for Border Crossing Cards. Generally, the most important factors in judging an applicant 's chances of approval for a B1 business visa are as follows : Long term job or well documented successful business ; and Documented consistent high level of income. From November 29, 2016, all holders of Chinese passports who also hold 10 - year B visas are required to enroll in the Electronic Visa Update System ( EVUS ) before travelling to the United States. This requirement may be extended to other nationalities in the future. Validity period United States US B visa validity period : 120 months 60 months 24 -- 48 months 12 months Under 12 months Validity period Country Validity ( in months ) Afghanistan 12 Albania 36 Algeria 24 Angola 24 Antigua and Barbuda 120 Argentina 120 Armenia 120 Australia 12 Azerbaijan 12 Bahrain 60 Bangladesh 60 Barbados 120 Belarus 12 Belize 120 Benin 36 Bhutan Bolivia 120 Bosnia - Herzegovina 120 Botswana 120 Brazil 120 Bulgaria 120 Burkina Faso 60 Burma Burundi 12 Cambodia Cameroon 12 Canada 120 Cape Verde 60 Central African Republic 12 Chad China 120 Colombia 120 Comoros 45 days Congo ( Brazzaville ) 6 Congo ( Kinshasa ) Costa Rica 120 Côte d'Ivoire 12 Croatia 120 Cuba 6 Cyprus 120 Djibouti 12 Dominica 120 Dominican Republic 120 Ecuador 60 Egypt 60 El Salvador 120 Equatorial Guinea 60 Eritrea 12 Ethiopia 24 Fiji 120 Gabon 60 Georgia 120 Ghana 60 Grenada 120 Guatemala 120 Guinea 36 Guinea - Bissau 60 Guyana 120 Haiti 60 Honduras 120 Hong Kong 120 India 120 Indonesia 60 Iran Iraq 12 Israel 120 Jamaica 120 Jordan 60 Kazakhstan 120 Kenya 60 Kiribati 48 Kosovo 36 Kuwait 120 Kyrgyzstan 12 Laos Lebanon 60 Lesotho 120 Liberia 12 Libya Macau 120 Macedonia 120 Madagascar Malawi Malaysia 120 Maldives 120 Mali 60 Marshall Islands Mauritania 12 Mauritius 120 Mexico 120 Micronesia Moldova 120 Mongolia 120 Montenegro 36 Morocco 120 Mozambique 12 Namibia 60 Nauru 60 Nepal 60 Nicaragua 120 Niger 12 Nigeria 24 Oman 24 Pakistan 60 Palau Palestinian Authority 120 Panama 120 Papua New Guinea 12 Paraguay 120 North Korea Peru 120 Philippines 120 Poland 120 Qatar 120 Romania 120 Russia 36 Rwanda 120 Saint Kitts and Nevis 120 Saint Lucia 120 Saint Vincent and the Grenadines 120 Samoa 120 Sao Tome And Principe 6 Saudi Arabia 60 Senegal 120 Serbia 120 Seychelles 120 Sierra Leone 36 Solomon Islands 60 Somalia South Africa 120 South Sudan Sri Lanka 60 Sudan Suriname 60 Swaziland 120 Syria 24 Taiwan 60 Tajikistan 12 Tanzania 12 Thailand 120 The Bahamas 120 The Gambia 60 Timor - Leste Togo 36 Tonga 120 Trinidad And Tobago 120 Tunisia 120 Turkey 120 Turkmenistan 12 Tuvalu 120 Uganda 24 Ukraine 120 United Arab Emirates 120 Uruguay 120 Uzbekistan 12 Vanuatu 60 Vatican City 60 Venezuela 120 Vietnam 12 VWP countries 120 Yemen 12 Zambia 36 Zimbabwe 12 Adjusted visa refusal rate United States Visa exempt countries US B visa refusal rate in 2017, over than : Under 3 % 3 % 5 % 10 % 20 % 30 % 40 % 50 % The Adjusted Refusal Rate is based on the refusal rate of B visa applications. B visas are adjudicated based on applicant interviews ; the interviews generally last between 60 and 90 seconds. Due to time constraints, adjudicators profile applicants. Certain demographics, such as young adults, those who are single and / or unemployed, almost never receive visas. Adjudicators are evaluated on how fast they carry out interviews, not the quality of adjudication decisions. The validity of B visa decisions is not evaluated. To qualify for the Visa Waiver Program, a country must have had a nonimmigrant visa refusal rate of less than 3 % for the previous year or an average of no more than 2 % over the past two fiscal years with neither year going above 2.5 %. In addition, the country must provide visa - free access to United States citizens and has to be either an independent country or a dependency of a VWP country ( which has precluded Hong Kong and Macau from participating in the program. ) ( Until 4 April 2016, Argentina charged $160 to U.S. citizens to enter. ) In the table below, eligible countries are in bold, with their flag depicted and linked to their relevant individual article on Wikipedia. The Adjusted Visa Refusal Rate for B visas were as follows : Adjusted Visa Refusal Rate Country Rate 2017 Rate 2016 Rate 2015 Rate 2014 Rate 2008 Afghanistan 72.14 % 73.8 % 61.03 % 46.7 % 51.0 % Albania 40.45 % 35.95 % 36.82 % 39.8 % 38.7 % Algeria 43.96 % 36.0 % 25.92 % 23.1 % 20.3 % Angola 36.01 % 48.52 % 26.77 % 21.4 % 17.1 % Antigua and Barbuda 20.5 % 22.11 % 20.17 % 20.8 % 21.7 % Argentina 1.79 % 2.14 % 2.14 % 1.4 % 3.1 % Armenia 51.87 % 45.88 % 47.17 % 43.8 % 53.3 % Azerbaijan 27.63 % 14.83 % 12.93 % 13.5 % 14.0 % Bahrain 9.53 % 6.26 % 3.81 % 4.7 % 6.6 % Bangladesh 60.88 % 62.82 % 59.96 % 50.8 % 48.2 % Barbados 8.72 % 11.24 % 9.54 % 9.8 % 10.1 % Belarus 21.69 % 14.87 % 12.53 % 14.0 % 21.1 % Belize 30.91 % 35.81 % 30.47 % 16.4 % 25.4 % Benin 42.1 % 38.01 % 35.74 % 31.4 % 39.1 % Bhutan 52.43 % 69.78 % 54.55 % 43.6 % 48.3 % Bolivia 18.08 % 14.36 % 13.56 % 13.6 % 23.6 % Bosnia - Herzegovina 16.37 % 19.7 % 20.38 % 16.1 % 21.3 % Botswana 17.94 % 18.97 % 16.67 % 16.9 % 15.6 % Brazil 12.34 % 16.7 % 5.36 % 3.2 % 5.5 % Bulgaria 14.97 % 16.86 % 17.26 % 15.2 % 13.3 % Burkina Faso 75.74 % 65.35 % 50.37 % 37.4 % 44.4 % Burma 17.88 % 13.02 % 16.32 % 15.5 % 41.9 % Burundi 75.55 % 61.33 % 58.35 % 50.0 % 58.8 % Cambodia 41.05 % 35.62 % 48.41 % 39.9 % 44.3 % Cameroon 47.29 % 36.84 % 29.89 % 28.2 % 46.7 % Cape Verde 50.7 % 45.89 % 36.05 % 28.7 % 42.7 % Central African Republic 44.24 % 35.12 % 32.43 % 46.6 % 39.6 % Chad 51.65 % 42.53 % 33.87 % 32.4 % 41.4 % China 14.57 % 12.35 % 10.03 % 9.0 % 18.2 % Colombia 21.93 % 17.79 % 15.52 % 12.3 % 25.6 % Comoros 48.45 % 53.73 % 54.44 % 17.0 % 14.0 % Congo ( Brazzaville ) 48.47 % 46.55 % 40.77 % 35.4 % 33.2 % Congo ( Kinshasa ) 49.94 % 45.63 % 45.62 % 39.1 % 36.2 % Costa Rica 6.49 % 8.39 % 9.83 % 11.4 % 21.2 % Côte d'Ivoire 33.72 % 37.38 % 28.59 % 29.8 % 40.9 % Croatia 5.1 % 6.78 % 5.29 % 6.1 % 5.1 % Cuba 77.17 % 81.85 % 76.03 % 66.2 % 45.2 % Cyprus 1.69 % 2.03 % 3.53 % 3.5 % 1.7 % Djibouti 74.8 % 47.09 % 52.0 % 50.1 % 42.5 % Dominica 28.74 % 31.63 % 33.33 % 29.0 % 29.5 % Dominican Republic 35.78 % 31.88 % 33.78 % 35.9 % 45.6 % Ecuador 27.95 % 29.18 % 31.34 % 20.8 % 40.0 % Egypt 34.24 % 28.61 % 33.57 % 34.0 % 35.3 % El Salvador 52.97 % 57.12 % 45.72 % 36.3 % 45.7 % Equatorial Guinea 18.21 % 17.75 % 19.3 % 17.8 % 11.1 % Eritrea 71.69 % 50.49 % 55.67 % 41.7 % 51.1 % Ethiopia 50.3 % 38.13 % 48.32 % 44.9 % 46.7 % Fiji 26.59 % 20.23 % 14.92 % 14.0 % 38.0 % Gabon 26.1 % 21.29 % 15.74 % 13.5 % 23.0 % Gambia 70.27 % 69.87 % 75.64 % 69.3 % 55.7 % Georgia 61.09 % 62.82 % 50.58 % 48.2 % 46.6 % Ghana 56.18 % 65.7 % 63.28 % 59.8 % 50.1 % Grenada 26.94 % 35.71 % 32.0 % 29.5 % 29.9 % Guatemala 47.14 % 48.68 % 45.37 % 35.9 % 33.8 % Guinea 64.59 % 63.53 % 59.81 % 47.8 % 63.8 % Guinea - Bissau 71.61 % 71.88 % 65.18 % 56.5 % 63.4 % Guyana 37.92 % 25.76 % 37.28 % 40.2 % 56.6 % Haiti 71.44 % 64.52 % 60.45 % 58.2 % 54.4 % Honduras 40.35 % 42.76 % 39.73 % 36.8 % 33.6 % Hong Kong 3.45 % 4.61 % 4.36 % 3.1 % 3.3 % India 23.29 % 26.02 % 23.78 % 19.8 % 24.7 % Indonesia 10.99 % 11.19 % 8.71 % 8.3 % 37.0 % Iran 58.66 % 45.02 % 38.55 % 41.8 % 42.5 % Iraq 60.71 % 51.71 % 52.82 % 41.4 % 46.3 % Israel 4.88 % 4.09 % 3.85 % 8.2 % 3.0 % Jamaica 46.78 % 35.64 % 37.62 % 32.3 % 35.5 % Jordan 40.06 % 40.34 % 37.59 % 26.9 % 43.2 % Kazakhstan 32.81 % 27.55 % 12.7 % 9.9 % 11.7 % Kenya 33.17 % 26.6 % 27.34 % 27.3 % 35.6 % Kiribati 5.13 % 5.81 % 16.05 % 15.4 % 26.2 % Korea, North 54.55 % 15.0 % 47.67 % 55.6 % 16.3 % Kosovo 37.92 % 41.48 % 44.03 % 38.1 % 47.9 % Kuwait 8.32 % 4.56 % 5.73 % 5.7 % 6.5 % Kyrgyzstan 55.58 % 51.68 % 55.75 % 43.2 % 32.1 % Laos 63.66 % 62.37 % 66.68 % 61.1 % 73.4 % Lebanon 31.75 % 25.41 % 27.1 % 16.1 % 27.9 % Lesotho 35.97 % 21.2 % 13.95 % 16.7 % 32.1 % Liberia 64.98 % 70.23 % 62.45 % 49.4 % 70.7 % Libya 45.5 % 40.58 % 43.02 % 33.9 % 27.1 % Macau 5.38 % 7.71 % 9.3 % N / A 14.2 % Macedonia 28.69 % 33.84 % 36.08 % 29.8 % 33.5 % Madagascar 11 % 12.12 % 11.01 % 11.6 % 11.9 % Malawi 26.49 % 14.52 % 10.23 % 12.3 % 28.9 % Malaysia 3.93 % 3.65 % 3.34 % 4.6 % 5.6 % Maldives 27.74 % 47.56 % 15.49 % 6.7 % 4.7 % Mali 59.43 % 57.58 % 52.77 % 54.0 % 48.1 % Mauritania 67.3 % 71.45 % 61.45 % 52.2 % 51.0 % Mauritius 8.29 % 5.53 % 5.71 % 2.2 % 11.6 % Mexico 22.5 % 23.49 % 20.17 % 15.6 % 11.4 % Moldova 49.12 % 36.35 % 41.83 % 40.1 % 36.7 % Mongolia 53.62 % 43.63 % 34.76 % 27.9 % 53.6 % Montenegro 26.41 % 28.69 % 31.26 % 28.0 % 25.6 % Morocco 36.99 % 26.77 % 20.6 % 21.9 % 24.0 % Mozambique 26.18 % 10.29 % 4.03 % 4.0 % 13.8 % Namibia 6.31 % 5.56 % 7.43 % 7.6 % 6.8 % Nauru 20.97 % 13.33 % 5.26 % 42.9 % 66.7 % Nepal 46.42 % 49.54 % 42.19 % 38.2 % 51.2 % Nicaragua 43.28 % 44.54 % 41.19 % 35.8 % 41.8 % Niger 30.65 % 31.14 % 31.1 % 36.4 % 55.7 % Nigeria 44.95 % 41.44 % 32.56 % 33.2 % 36.0 % Oman 3.46 % 1.93 % 2.0 % 2.1 % 2.2 % Pakistan 49.4 % 46.43 % 40.4 % 38.0 % 46.3 % Palestinian Authority 50.98 % 40.64 % 42.68 % 36.7 % 55.6 % Panama 11.61 % 12.05 % 11.36 % 10.0 % 19.2 % Papua New Guinea 9.34 % 10.56 % 5.14 % 7.4 % 3.4 % Paraguay 6.83 % 7.47 % 6.15 % 6.1 % 14.4 % Peru 25.97 % 28.61 % 14.46 % 13.8 % 37.7 % Philippines 25.54 % 27.29 % 27.96 % 24.6 % 31.0 % Poland 5.92 % 5.37 % 6.37 % 6.4 % 13.8 % Qatar 7.48 % 3.5 % 2.97 % 2.1 % 4.9 % Romania 11.76 % 11.43 % 11.16 % 9.8 % 25.0 % Russia 11.61 % 9.29 % 10.24 % 7.8 % 7.5 % Rwanda 52.17 % 43.79 % 49.17 % 51.1 % 50.3 % Samoa 40.32 % 28.44 % 29.99 % 27.2 % 32.4 % Sao Tome and Principe 14.81 % 24.14 % 5.71 % 10.7 % 28.6 % Saudi Arabia 5.26 % 4.04 % 3.24 % 3.3 % 6.6 % Senegal 56.82 % 52.46 % 54.37 % 57.5 % 55.2 % Serbia 22.33 % 18.77 % 16.54 % 16.0 % 11.7 % Seychelles 13.14 % 9.66 % 7.26 % 6.8 % 18.0 % Sierra Leone 47.3 % 61.25 % 53.02 % 51.9 % 50.1 % Solomon Islands 16.79 % 4.28 % 7.26 % 5.4 % 6.5 % Somalia 75.5 % 63.89 % 64.6 % 52.0 % 54.0 % South Africa 6.44 % 6.83 % 5.08 % 2.6 % 4.6 % South Sudan 47.52 % 43.89 % 41.77 % 43.8 % N / A Sri Lanka 26.19 % 21.69 % 22.07 % 19.5 % 31.4 % St. Kitts and Nevis 26.66 % 28.31 % 26.6 % 27.5 % 25.0 % St. Lucia 22.34 % 27.16 % 26.9 % 27.6 % 26.6 % St. Vincent and the Grenadines 20.38 % 27.46 % 27.15 % 24.1 % 26.4 % Sudan 51.37 % 36.59 % 40.45 % 42.4 % 38.6 % Suriname 11.44 % 10.86 % 7.78 % 13.6 % 9.6 % Swaziland 12.59 % 8.03 % 12.95 % 10.0 % 13.0 % Syria 59.11 % 59.77 % 63.43 % 60.0 % 33.1 % Tajikistan 51.84 % 55.24 % 44.44 % 49.0 % 32.4 % Tanzania 18.36 % 23.05 % 12.02 % 21.3 % 26.2 % Thailand 20.15 % 17.82 % 12.35 % 10.2 % 19.8 % Timor - Leste 7.02 % 26.67 % 12.68 % 25.0 % 16.7 % Togo 59.88 % 54.39 % 43.42 % 35.6 % 51.7 % Tonga 32.85 % 31.58 % 28.09 % 25.4 % 48.7 % Trinidad and Tobago 22.46 % 22.7 % 25.16 % 21.2 % 23.8 % Tunisia 19.53 % 15.92 % 19.69 % 17.5 % 23.9 % Turkey 17.86 % 13.62 % 13.88 % 7.1 % 11.2 % Turkmenistan 40.6 % 32.95 % 25.41 % 18.6 % 45.4 % Tuvalu 15.38 % 20.0 % 21.05 % 27.3 % 17.6 % Uganda 42.38 % 41.53 30.63 % 37.2 % 34.4 % Ukraine 34.54 % 40.83 % 34.03 % 27.7 % 30.9 % United Arab Emirates 5.8 % 4.02 % 7.1 % 4.8 % 10.4 % Uruguay 3.19 % 3.14 % 2.7 % 1.8 % 9.5 % Uzbekistan 50.29 % 57.09 % 49.59 % 52.1 % 61.1 % Vanuatu 13.51 % 16.67 % 10.53 % 20.0 % 16.7 % Vatican City 36.36 % 62.5 % 25.0 % 7.7 % 16.7 % Venezuela 42.87 % 40.25 % 15.57 % 15.2 % 25.4 % Vietnam 24.06 % 29.49 % 23.43 % 14.3 % 38.8 % Yemen 60.76 % 48.85 % 54.01 % 44.2 % 54.7 % Zambia 21.78 % 22.26 % 20.98 % 22.2 % 53.3 % Zimbabwe 26.32 % 22.88 % 21.03 % 13.2 % 30.3 % Overstay rate A number of visitors overstay the maximum period of allowed stay on their B - 1 / B - 2 status after entered the U.S. on their B - 1 / B - 2 visas. The Department of Homeland Security publishes annual reports that list the number of violations by passengers who arrive via air and sea. The table below excludes statistics on persons who left the United States later than their allowed stay or legalized their status and shows only suspected overstays who remained in the country. The top 20 nationalities by the number of suspected in - country B - 1 / B - 2 overstays in 2016 were : Overstay number Country Number of suspected in - country overstays In - country overstay rate ( against total number of expected departures ) Canada 117,267 1.36 % Mexico 43,747 1.49 % Brazil 36,929 1.78 % Venezuela 22,906 4.16 % Colombia 18,404 2.13 % China 17,108 0.83 % India 15,723 1.57 % Nigeria 11,461 6.04 % Dominican Republic 9,211 2.70 % Jamaica 9,177 3.26 % Ecuador 7,356 1.87 % Argentina 6,752 0.80 % Guatemala 5,442 2.20 % Peru 5,310 1.79 % Honduras 5,085 2.79 % Haiti 5,000 3.86 % El Salvador 4,771 2.60 % Philippines 4,438 1.77 % Israel 3,584 0.96 % Russia 3,344 1.31 % The top 10 nationalities by in - country B - 1 / B - 2 visa overstay rate are : Overstay rate Country In - country overstay rate ( against total number of expected departures ) Burkina Faso 25.50 % Djibouti 24.87 % Bhutan 25.13 % Eritrea 19.79 % Liberia 17.39 % Cabo Verde 17.26 % Chad 16.49 % Mauritania 14.36 % Georgia 13.90 % Guinea - Bissau 13.89 % Use for other countries US tourist visas that are valid for further travel are accepted as substitute visas for national visas in following countries : Albania -- 90 days ; Antigua and Barbuda -- 30 days ; USD 100 visa waiver fee applies. Argentina -- 90 days ; online registration required, for nationals of China only. Belize -- 30 days ; USD 50 visa waiver fee applies. Canada -- up to 6 months ; only citizens of Brazil, Bulgaria and Romania may apply the Electronic Travel Authorization ( eTA ) for visa - free visit or transit ( arriving by air ). Chile -- 90 days ; for nationals of China only. Colombia -- 90 days ; for nationals of China, India, Thailand, and Vietnam. Costa Rica -- 30 days or less if the visa is about to expire ; must hold a multiple entry visa. Dominican Republic -- 90 days ; El Salvador -- 90 days ; not applicable to all nationalities. Georgia -- 90 days within any 180 - day period ; Guatemala -- 90 days ; not applicable to all nationalities. Honduras -- 90 days ; not applicable to all nationalities. Jamaica -- 30 days ; not applicable to all nationalities. Macedonia -- 15 days ; Mexico -- 180 days ; Montenegro -- 30 days ; Nicaragua -- 90 days ; not applicable to all nationalities. Oman -- Some nationalities can obtain an e-Visa if holding a valid visa for USA. Panama -- 30 / 180 days ; must hold a visa valid for at least 2 more entries. Peru -- 180 days ; for nationals of China and India only. Philippines -- 7 days ; for nationals of China and India only. Sao Tome and Principe -- 15 days ; Serbia -- 90 days ; Taiwan -- certain nationalities can obtain an online travel authority if holding a valid US visa. Turkey -- certain nationalities can obtain an electronic Turkish visa if holding a valid US visa. United Arab Emirates -- Indian nationals can obtain a 14 - day visit visa to UAE upon arrival if holding a US visa that is valid 6 months. C visa C - 1 visa is a transit visa issued to individuals who are travelling in `` immediate and continuous transit through the United States enroute to another country ''. The only reason to enter the United States must be for transit purposes. A subtype C - 2 visa is issued to diplomats transiting to and from the Headquarters of the United Nations and is limited to the vicinity of New York City. A subtype C - 3 visa is issued to diplomats and their dependents transiting to and from their posted country. D visa D visa is issued to crew members of sea - vessels and international airlines in the United States. This includes commercial airline pilots and flight attendants, captain, engineer, or deckhand of a sea vessel, service staff on a cruise ship and trainees on board a training vessel. Usually a combination of a C - 1 visa and D visa is required. E visa Main article : E visa Treaty Trader ( E-1 visa ) and Treaty Investor ( E-2 visa ) visas are issued to citizens of countries that have signed treaties of commerce and navigation with the United States. They are issued to individuals working in businesses engaged in substantial international trade or to investors ( and their employees ) who have made a ' substantial investment ' in a business in the United States. The variant visa issued only to citizens of Australia is the E-3 visa ( E-3D visa is issued to spouse or child of E-3 visa holder and E-3R to a returning E-3 holder ). F visa Main article : F visa These visas are issued for foreign students enrolled at accredited US institutions. F - 1 visas are for full - time students, F2 visas are for spouses and children of F - 1 visa holders and F - 3 visas are for `` border commuters '' who reside in their country of origin while attending school in the United States. They are managed through SEVIS. G visa Main article : G visa The G visas are issued to diplomats, government officials, and employees who will work for international organizations in the United States. The international organization must be officially designated as such. The G - 1 visa is issued to permanent mission members ; the G - 2 visa is issued to representatives of a recognized government traveling temporarily to attend meetings of a designated international organization ; the G - 3 visa is issued to persons who represent a non-recognized government ; the G - 4 visa is for those who are taking up an appointment ; and the G - 5 visa is issued to personal employees or domestic workers of G1 -- G4 visa holders. G1 -- G4 visas are also issued to immediate family members of the principal visa holder, if they meet certain criteria. NATO visa Officials who work for the North Atlantic Treaty Organization require a NATO visa. The NATO - 1 visa is issued to permanent representatives of NATO and their staff members, NATO - 2 visa is issued to a representative of member state to NATO or its subsidiary bodies, advisor or technical expert of the NATO delegation visiting the United States, a member of the NATO military forces component or a staff member of the NATO representative, NATO - 3 visa is issued to official clerical staff accompanying the representative of a NATO member state, NATO - 4 visa is issued to foreign national recognized as a NATO official, NATO - 5 visa is issued to a foreign national recognized as a NATO expert and NATO - 6 visa is issued to a member of the civilian component of the NATO. All NATO visas are issued to immediate family members as well. NATO - 7 visas are issued to personal employees or domestic workers of a NATO - 1 -- NATO - 6 visa holders. H visa H visas are issued to temporary workers in the United States. Specialty Occupations, DOD Cooperative Research and Development Project Workers, and Fashion Models Main article : H - 1A and H - 1C visas The discontinued H - 1A and H - 1C visas existed during periods when the US experienced a shortage of nurses existed from 1989. The H - 1A classification was created by the Nursing Relief Act of 1989 and ended in 1995. The H - 1C visa was created by the Nursing Relief for Disadvantaged Area Act of 1999 and expired in 2005. Currently nurses must apply for H - 1B visas. Main article : H - 1B visa The H - 1B classification is for professional - level jobs that require a minimum of a bachelor 's degree in a specific academic field. In addition, the employee must have the degree or the equivalence of such a degree through education and experience. There is a required wage, which is at least equal to the wage paid by the employer to similarly qualified workers or a prevailing wage for such positions in the geographic regions where the jobs are located. This visa also covers fashion models of distinguished merit and ability. H - 1B1 visa is the variant issued to citizens of Singapore and Chile. Temporary Agricultural Workers Main article : H - 2A visa The H - 2A visa allows a foreign national entry into the US for temporary or seasonal agricultural work for eligible employers under certain conditions ( seasonal job, no available US workers ). Temporary Non-Agricultural Workers Main article : H - 2B visa The H - 2B visa allows a foreign national entry into the US for temporary or seasonal non-agricultural work for eligible employers under certain conditions ( seasonal job, no available US workers ). Nonimmigrant Trainee or Special Education Exchange Visitor Main article : H - 3 visa The H - 3 visa is available to those foreign nationals looking to `` receive training in any field of endeavor, other than graduate medical education or training, that is not available in the foreign national 's home country '' or `` participate in a special education exchange visitor training program that provides for practical training and experience in the education of children with physical, mental, or emotional disabilities. ''. Family members Main article : H - 4 visa H - 4 visa is issued to immediate family members of H visa holders. They are also eligible for employment. I visa Main article : I visa The I - 1 visa is issued to representatives of the foreign media, including members of the press, radio, film, and print industries travelling to temporarily work in the United States in the profession. J visa Main article : J - 1 visa See also : J - 2 visa J - 1 visa is issued to participants of work - and study - based exchange visitor programs. The Exchange Visitor Program is carried out under the provisions of the Fulbright - Hays Act of 1961, officially known as the Mutual Educational and Cultural Exchange Act of 1961 ( Pub. L. 87 -- 256, 75 Stat. 527 ). The purpose of the Act is to increase mutual understanding between the people of the United States and the people of other countries by means of educational and cultural exchanges. The Exchange Visitor Program is administered by the Office of Exchange Coordination and Designation in the Bureau of Educational and Cultural Affairs. In carrying out the responsibilities of the Exchange Visitor Program, the Department designates public and private entities to act as exchange sponsors. Spouses and dependents of J - 1 exchange visitors are issued a J - 2 visa. Exchange visa categories are : Au pair and EduCare Camp Counselor College and University Student Government Visitor Intern International Visitor Physician Professor and Research Scholar Secondary School Student Short - term Scholar Specialist Summer Work Travel Program participant Teacher Trainee Exchange Visitor Pilot Programs exist for citizens of Australia, Ireland, New Zealand and South Korea. K visa Main article : K - 1 visa A K - 1 visa is a visa issued to the fiancé or fiancée of a United States citizen to enter the United States. A K - 1 visa requires a foreigner to marry his or her U.S. citizen petitioner within 90 days of entry, or depart the United States. Once the couple marries, the foreign citizen can adjust status to become a lawful permanent resident of the United States ( Green Card holder ). K - 2 visa is issued to unmarried children under the age of 21. Foreign same - sex partners of United States citizens are currently recognized by United States Citizenship and Immigration Services ( USCIS ) and accordingly can be sponsored for K - 1 visas and for permanent resident status. K - 3 / K - 4 visas are issued to foreign spouses and children of US citizens. L visa Main article : L - 1 visa See also : L - 2 visa The L - 1 classification is for international transferees who have worked for a related organization abroad for at least one continuous year in the past three years and who will be coming to the United States to work in an executive or managerial ( L - 1A ) or specialized knowledge capacity ( L - 1B ). L - 2 visa is issued to dependent spouse and unmarried children under 21 years of age of qualified L - 1 visa holders. M visa Main article : M - 1 visa The M - 1 visa is a type of student visa reserved for vocational and technical schools. Students in M - 1 status may not work on or off campus while studying, and they may not change their status to F - 1. The M - 2 visa permits the spouse and minor children of an M - 1 vocational student to accompany him or her to the United States. O visa Main article : O visa O visa is a classification of non-immigrant temporary worker visa granted to an alien `` who possesses extraordinary ability in the sciences, arts, education, business, or athletics ( O - 1A visa ), or who has a demonstrated record of extraordinary achievement in the motion picture or television industry and has been recognized nationally or internationally for those achievements, '' ( O - 1B visa ) and to certain assistants ( O - 2 visa ) and immediate family members of such aliens ( O - 3 visa ). See also : Alien of extraordinary ability P visa Main article : P visa P visas are issued to individuals or team athletes, or member of an entertainment group including persons providing essential support services ( P - 1 visa ), artists or entertainers ( individual or group ) under a reciprocal exchange program ( P - 2 visa ) and artists or entertainers ( individual or group ) visiting to perform, teach or coach under a program that is culturally unique. P - 4 visas are issued to spouses, or children under the age of 21, of a P - 1, P - 2, or P - 3 alien and who is accompanying, or following to join. Q visa Q visa is issued to participants in an international cultural exchange program. R visa Main article : R visa R - 1 visa is issued to temporary religious workers. They must have been a member of a religious denomination having a bona fide non-profit religious organization in the United States for at least 2 years. R - 2 visa is issued to dependent family members. S visa Main article : S visa S visas are nonimmigrant visas issued to individuals who have assisted law enforcement as a witness or informant. There is a limit of 200 S visas a year. A law enforcement agency can then submit an application for resident alien status i.e., a green card on behalf of the witness or informant once the individual has completed the terms and conditions of his or her S visa. TN visa Main article : TN status NAFTA Professional ( TN ) visa allows citizens of Canada and Mexico whose profession is on the NAFTA list and who must hold a bachelor 's degree to work in the United States on a prearranged job. Canadian citizens usually do not require a visa to work under the TN status ( unless they live outside Canada with non-Canadian family members ) while Mexican citizens require a TN visa. Spouse and dependent children of a TN professional can be admitted into the United States in the TD status. U and T visas U-1 visa is a nonimmigrant visa which is set aside for victims of crimes ( and their immediate family members ) who have suffered substantial mental or physical abuse and are willing to assist law enforcement and government officials in the investigation or prosecution of the criminal activity. Subtypes of this visa are U-2 issued to spouses of U-1, U-3 issued to children of U-1, U-4 issued to parents of U-1 under the age of 21 and U-5 issued to unmarried siblings under the age of 18 of U-1 who is under 21. T - 1 visa is issued to victims of severe forms of human trafficking. Holders may adjust their status to permanent resident status. Subtypes of this visa are T - 2 issued to spouses of T - 1, T - 3 issued to children of T - 1, T - 4 issued to parents of T - 1 under the age of 21 and T - 5 issued to unmarried siblings under the age of 18 of T - 1 who is under 21. V visa Main article : V visa The V visa is a temporary visa available to spouses and minor children ( unmarried, under 21 ) of U.S. lawful permanent residents ( LPR, also known as green card holders ). It allows permanent residents to achieve family unity with their spouses and children while the immigration process takes its course. It was created by the Legal Immigration Family Equity Act of 2000. The Act is to relieve those who applied for immigrant visas on or before December 21, 2000. Practically, the V visa is currently not available to spouses and minor children of LPRs who have applied after December 21, 2000. List of U.S. visa types All US visa types and subtypes are listed below : Immigrant visas Symbol Description Immediate Relatives IR - 1 Spouse of U.S. citizen IR - 2 Child of U.S. citizen IR - 3 Orphan from a non-Hague country ( i.e., not a party to the Hague Adoption Convention ) adopted abroad by U.S. citizen IR - 4 Orphan from a non-Hague country to be adopted in the United States by U.S. citizen IR - 5 Parent of U.S. citizen at least 21 years of age IH - 3 Orphan from a Hague country adopted abroad by U.S. citizen IH - 4 Orphan from a Hague country to be adopted in the United States by U.S. citizen CR - 1 Spouse of U.S. citizen ( conditional status ) CR - 2 Child of U.S. citizen ( conditional status ) IW - 1 Certain spouses of deceased U.S. citizens IW - 2 Child of IW - 1 IB - 1 IB - 1 Self - petition spouse of U.S. citizen IB - 2 Self - petition child of U.S. citizen IB - 3 Child of IB - 1 VI - 5 Parent of U.S. citizen who acquired permanent resident status under the Virgin Islands Nonimmigrant Alien Adjustment Act Vietnam Amerasian Immigrants AM - 1 Vietnam Amerasian principal AM - 2 Spouse / Child of AM - 1 AM - 3 Natural mother of AM - 1 ( and spouse or child of such mother ), or person who has acted in effect as the mother, father, or next - of - kin of AM - 1 ( and spouse or child of such person ) Special Immigrants SB - 1 Returning resident SC - 1 Certain persons who lost U.S. citizenship by marriage SC - 2 Certain persons who lost U.S. citizenship by serving in foreign armed forces Family - Sponsored Immigrants : First Preference F11 Unmarried son or daughter of U.S. citizen F12 Child of F11 B11 Self - petition unmarried son or daughter of U.S. citizen B12 Child of B11 Family - Sponsored Immigrants : Second Preference ( Subject to Country Limitations ) F21 Spouse of permanent resident F22 Child of permanent resident F23 Child of F21 or F22 F24 Unmarried son / daughter of permanent resident F25 Child of F24 B21 Self - petition spouse of permanent resident B22 Self - petition child of permanent resident B23 Child of B21 or B22 B24 Self - petition unmarried son / daughter of permanent resident B25 Child of B24 Family - Sponsored Immigrants : Second Preference ( Exempt from Country Limitations ) FX1 Spouse of permanent resident FX2 Child of permanent resident FX3 Child of FX1 or FX2 BX1 Self - petition spouse of permanent resident BX2 Self - petition child of permanent resident BX3 Child of BX1 or BX2 Family - Sponsored Immigrants : Third Preference F31 Married son or daughter of U.S. citizen F32 Spouse of F31 F33 Child of F31 B31 Self - petition married son or daughter of U.S. citizen B32 B32 Spouse of B31 B33 Child of B31 Family - Sponsored Immigrants : Fourth Preference F41 Brother or sister of U.S. citizen who is at least 21 years of age F42 Spouse of F41 F43 Child of F41 Employment - Based Immigrants : First Preference ( Priority Workers ) E11 Person with extraordinary ability in the sciences, arts, education, business, or athletics E12 Outstanding professor or researcher E13 Multinational executive or manager E14 Spouse of E11, E12, or E13 E15 Child of E11, E12, or E13 Employment - Based Immigrants : Second Preference ( Professionals Holding Advanced Degrees or Persons of Exceptional Ability ) E21 Professional holding advanced degree or person of exceptional ability in the sciences, arts, or business E22 Spouse of E21 E23 Child of E21 Employment - Based Immigrants : Third Preference ( Skilled Workers, Professionals, and Other Workers ) E31 Skilled worker E32 Professional holding baccalaureate degree E34 Spouse of E31 or E32 E35 Child of E31 or E32 EW3 Other workers ( subgroup numerical limit ) EW4 Spouse of EW3 EW5 Child of EW3 Employment - Based Immigrants : Fourth Preference ( Certain Special Immigrants ) BC - 1 Certain international broadcasters BC - 2 Spouse of BC - 1 BC - 3 Child of BC - 1 SD - 1 Minister of religion SD - 2 Spouse of SD - 1 SD - 3 Child of SD - 1 SE - 1 Certain employees or former employees of the U.S. Government abroad SE - 2 Spouse of SE - 1 SE - 3 Child of SE - 1 SF - 1 Certain former employees of the Panama Canal Company or Canal Zone Government SF - 2 Spouse or child of SF - 1 SG - 1 Certain former employees of the U.S. Government in the Panama Canal Zone SG - 2 SH - 2 Spouse or child of SH - 1 SJ - 2 Spouse or child of SJ - 1 ( certain foreign medical graduates ) SK - 1 Certain retired international organization employees SK - 2 Spouse of SK - 1 SK - 3 SK - 4 Certain surviving spouses of deceased international organization employees SL - 1 SM - 1 Person recruited outside the United States who has served, or is enlisted to serve, in the U.S. Armed Forces for 12 years ( became eligible after October 1, 1991 ) SM - 2 Spouse of SM - 1 SM - 3 Child of SM - 1 SM - 4 Person recruited outside the United States who has served, or is enlisted to serve, in the U.S. Armed Forces for 12 years ( eligible as of October 1, 1991 ) SM - 5 Spouse or child of SM - 4 SN - 1 Certain retired NATO - 6 civilian employees SN - 2 Spouse of SN - 1 SN - 3 Certain unmarried sons or daughters of NATO - 6 civilian employees SN - 4 Certain surviving spouses of deceased NATO - 6 civilian employees SR - 1 Certain religious workers ( subgroup numerical limit ) SR - 2 Spouse of SR - 1 SR - 3 Child of SR - 1 Employment - Based Immigrants : Fifth Preference ( Employment Creation - Investors ) ( Conditional Status ) C51 Employment creation outside targeted area C52 Spouse of C51 C53 Child of C51 T51 Employment creation in targeted rural / high unemployment area ( subgroup numerical set - aside ) T52 Spouse of T51 T53 Child of T51 R51 Investor pilot program, not in targeted area R52 Spouse of R51 R53 Child of R51 I51 Investor pilot program, in targeted area I52 Spouse of I51 I53 Child of I51 Other Numerically Limited Categories : Diversity Immigrants DV - 1 Diversity immigrant DV - 2 Spouse of DV - 1 DV - 3 Child of DV - 1 Nonimmigrant visas Symbol Description A-1 Head of state and immediate family, prime minister and immediate family, government minister, ambassador, career diplomat or consular officer, or immediate family A-2 Minister of state, other foreign government official or employee, or immediate family A-3 Attendant, servant, or personal employee of A-1 or A-2, and immediate family B - 1 Temporary visitor for business, domestic employees, academics, researchers and students B - 2 Temporary visitor for holiday, tourism, medical treatment B1 / B2 Temporary visitor for business & pleasure C - 1 Person in transit C - 2 Person in transit to United Nations Headquarters district under Section 11 ( 3 ), ( 4 ), or ( 5 ) of the Headquarters Agreement C - 3 Foreign government official, immediate family, attendant, servant or personal employee, in transit Crewmember ( sea or air ) E-1 * Treaty trader, spouse and children E-2 * Treaty investor, spouse and children E-3 * Treaty traders and investors : Australian Free Trade Agreement E-3D * Spouse or child of E3 E-3R * Returning E3 F - 1 Student ( academic or language training program ) F - 2 Spouse or child of F - 1 F - 3 Canadian or Mexican national commuter student in an academic or language training program G - 1 Principal resident representative of recognized foreign member government to international organization, staff, and immediate family G - 2 Other representative of recognized foreign member government to international organization, and immediate family G - 3 Representative of nonrecognized or nonmember foreign government to international organization, and immediate family G - 4 International organization officer or employee, and immediate family G - 5 Attendant, servant, or personal employee of G - 1 through G - 4, and immediate family GB Temporary visitors : for business, visa waiver, Guam GT Temporary visitors : for pleasure, visa waiver, Guam H - 1B * Alien in a specialty occupation ( profession ) H1B1 Chilean or Singaporean national to work in a specialty occupation H - 2A Temporary worker performing agricultural services unavailable in the United States H - 2B Temporary worker performing other services unavailable in the United States H - 3 Temporary workers and trainees : industrial trainees H - 4 * Temporary workers and trainees : spouses and children of H - 1, H - 2, and H - 3 workers Representative of foreign information media, spouse and children J - 1 Exchange visitor J - 2 Spouse or child of exchange visitor K - 1 * Fiance ( e ) of U.S. citizen K - 2 * Child of fiance ( e ) of U.S. citizen K - 3 * Spouse of U.S. citizen awaiting availability of immigrant visa K - 4 * Child of K - 3 L - 1 * Intracompany transferee ( executive, managerial, and specialized personnel continuing employment with international firm or corporation ) L - 2 * Spouse or child of intracompany transferee M - 1 Vocational student or other nonacademic student M - 2 Spouse or child of M - 1 M - 3 Border commuter student ( vocational or nonacademic ) N - 8 Parent of SK - 3 special immigrant N - 9 Child of N - 8 or of SK - 1, SK - 2 or SK - 4 special immigrant NATO - 1 Principal permanent representative of member state to NATO ( including any of its subsidiary bodies ) resident in the U.S. and resident members of official staff ; Secretary General, Assistant Secretaries General, and Executive Secretary of NATO ; other permanent NATO officials of similar rank, and members of immediate family NATO - 2 Other representatives of member states to NATO ( including any of its subsidiary bodies ) including representatives, advisers, and technical experts of delegations, and members of immediate family ; dependents of members of a force entering in accordance with the provisions of the NATO Status - of - Forces Agreement or in accordance with provisions of the `` Protocol on the Status of International Military Headquarters '' ; members of such a force if issued visas NATO - 3 Official clerical staff accompanying a representative of member state to NATO ( including any of its subsidiary bodies ), and members of immediate family NATO - 4 Officials of NATO ( other than those classifiable as NATO - 1 ), and members of immediate family NATO - 5 Experts, other than officials classifiable as NATO - 4, employed in missions on behalf of NATO, and their dependents NATO - 6 Members of a civilian component accompanying a force entering in accordance with the provisions of the NATO Status - of - Forces Agreement ; members of a civilian component attached to or employed by an Allied Headquarters under the `` Protocol on the Status of International Military Headquarters '' set up pursuant to the North Atlantic Treaty ; and their dependents NATO - 7 Attendant, servant, or personal employee of NATO - 1 through NATO - 6 classes, and immediate family O - 1 * Person with extraordinary ability in the sciences, arts, education, business, or athletics O - 2 * Person accompanying and assisting in the artistic or athletic performance by O - 1 O - 3 * Spouse or child of O - 1 or O - 2 P - 1 * Internationally recognized athlete or member of an internationally recognized entertainment group P - 2 * Artist or entertainer in a reciprocal exchange program P - 3 * Artist or entertainer in a culturally unique program P - 4 * Spouse or child of P - 1, P - 2, or P - 3 Q - 1 Participant in an international cultural exchange program R - 1 Person in a religious occupation R - 2 Spouse or child of R - 1 S - 5 Informant possessing information on criminal activity S - 6 Informant possessing information on terrorism S - 7 Spouse, married or unmarried son or daughter, or parent of S - 5 or S - 6 SIJS Special Immigrant Juvenile Status : Qualifying children present in the U.S. who are declared dependents of a juvenile court and who would be harmed if returned to their home country TN NAFTA professional TD Spouse or child of TN T - 1 Victim of a severe form of trafficking in persons T - 2 Spouse of T - 1 T - 3 Child of T - 1 T - 4 Parent of T - 1 under 21 years of age T - 5 Under - 18 unmarried sibling of T - 1 U-1 Victim of criminal activity U-2 Spouse of U-1 U-3 Child of U-1 U-4 Parent of U-1 under 21 years of age U-5 Under - 18 unmarried sibling of U-1 under 21 at time of filing V - 1 * Spouse of lawful permanent resident awaiting availability of immigrant visa V - 2 * Child of lawful permanent resident awaiting availability of immigrant visa V - 3 * Derivative child of V - 1 and V - 2 WB Temporary visitors : visa waiver, business WT Temporary visitors : visa waiver, pleasure * Persons with H - 1B visas, H - 4 visas ( as immediate family members of H - 1B visa holders ), K visas, L visas, and V visas are permitted to have dual intent under the Immigration and Nationality Act. Federal regulations also appear to recognize dual intent O visas, P visas, and E visas. Dual intent visas The concept of dual intent visa is to grant legal status to certain types of visa applicants when they are in the process of applying for a visa with the intent to obtain a permanent residency / green card. There are a certain number of U.S. visa categories that grant permission for dual intent, or to get a temporary visa status while having an intention to get a green card and stay permanently in the United States of America. Symbol Description Culture Workers, Artists and Entertainers P - 1 Athletes or members of team who take part in certain athletic competition for the purpose of entertainment P - 2 Entertainers and artists who visit the United States under a mutual exchange program between the U.S. and other organizations and their supporters ( service workers or individuals ) P - 3 Artists, individuals and service workers who come to the U.S. with the objective to teach, coach, develop and interpret traditional and cultural performances P - 4 Dependents of individuals who hold P - 2 and P - 3 visas O - 1A Individuals who have unique talents or outstanding accomplishments in the spheres of education, business, science and mathematics O - 1B Individuals who have unique talents or outstanding accomplishments in the spheres of education, business, science and mathematics O - 2 ( A&B ) Individuals who provide O - 1 holders with essential assistance O - 3 Dependents of individuals who hold O - 1 and O - 2 visas Athletes H - 1B Professional athletes, coaches and coaching staff P - 1 Athletes with a high level of international performance and their supporters O - 1A Individuals with unique talents and abilities in the field of sports Entrepreneurs and Business Individuals H - 1B Individuals who have a high level of professional knowledge in a particular niche H - 1B ( Chile ) Chilean citizens specializing in a certain occupation who intend to start a niche - related business within the U.S. H - 1B ( Singapore ) Singapore citizens specializing in a certain occupation who intend to start a niche - related business within the U.S. L - 1 Such qualified employers / intracompany transferees as executives, managers and specialty workers E-2 Citizens of Treaty Countries who have an intention to invest in an American company E-3 Australian citizens specializing in certain occupation who intend to start a niche - related business within the U.S. O - 1A Individuals with outstanding talents and achievements that are internationally recognised Family Members of LPRs V Individuals with family members who have the LPR ( Lawful Permanent Resident ) status, live in the United States and have filed the Form I - 130 before December 21, 2000 Fiance ( e ) s and Spouses of United States Citizens K - 1 Foreign fiance ( e ) s who are going to enter the United States with an intention to marry an American citizen K - 2 Individuals who are dependents of K - 1 visa holders K - 3 Individuals who have already married U.S. citizens abroad and now have a right to enter the U.S. Free Trade Agreement Professionals H - 1B ( Chile ) Chilean citizens specializing in certain occupation who are hired by an employer based in the United States H - 1B ( Singapore ) Singapore citizens specializing in certain occupation who are hired by an employer based in the United States H - 4 Individuals who are dependents of H - 1B visa holders Intra-Company Transferees L - 1A Managers and executives who are transported to an office in the United States in order to carry out certain supervisory duties L - 1B Individuals who have profound knowledge in company 's inner processes, services and systems who are transported to an office in the United States L - 2 Individuals who are dependents of L - 1 visa holders Doctors and Physicians H - 1B Foreign medical practitioners who have an appropriate degree and a license in their sphere and have completed the FLEX licensing examination O - 1A Foreign medical practitioners with outstanding skills in the medical niche E-2 Foreign medical practitioners who have an intention to invest in an American enterprise Professional and Priority Workers H - 1B Foreign citizens with a specialty occupation who have a sponsorship from an employer based in the United States E-2 Treaty investors who are eligible to work in the United States for an American business if they invest more than $100,000 and if they are citizens of Treaty Countries E-3 Australian citizens who have a sponsorship from an employer based in the United States Software Engineers and Programmers H - 1B Foreign citizens who have deep knowledge in the computer sphere and can provide strong evidence of their skills L - 1 Foreign citizens who hold the position of executive or manager in software companies and have to be transported to a branch based in the United States E-1 / E-2 Foreign citizens from Treaty Countries who possess unique IT skills O - 1A Foreign citizens who have outstanding knowledge in computer science and software development Temporary Workers H - 1B Foreign citizens who are currently / expired nurses by occupation and who are going to come to the United States under the Nursing Relief Act H - 1B Foreign citizens who specialize in spheres that are important for employers who are based in the United States H - 1B1 Chilean and Singapore citizens who specialize in certain spheres and / or have a sponsored employment H - 4 Individuals who are dependents of H - 3 visa holders and applicants Treaty Traders and Investors E-1 Individuals who are officially investors and who are citizens of E-1 Treaty Countries E-2 Foreign citizens who are going to work or travel and who have made an investment in the United States economy that they can control Scientists, Professors, Scholars and Researchers O - 1A Scholars and professors who show outstanding accomplishments in science O - 2 ( A&B ) Accompanying individuals of O - 1A visa holders or applicants whose help is indispensable to certain scientific researches O - 3 Individuals who are dependents O - 1 / O - 2 visa holders H - 1B Scientific researchers who will be employed by certain academic institutions in the United States Most visas are named after the paragraph of the Code of Federal Regulations that established the visa. Visa denial Section 221 ( g ) of the Immigration and Nationality Act defined several classes of aliens ineligible to receive visas. Grounds for denial may include, but are not limited to : Health grounds Criminal history Security fears Public charge ( charge means burden in this context ) Illegal entrants or immigration violators Failure to produce requested documents Ineligible for citizenship Previously removed from the US The spouse of a US Citizen is almost always denied a visitor 's ( B1 / B2 ) visa on the grounds that the spouse might want to stay in the United States. However, the spouse of a US Citizen is able to immigrate to the US without much of a hurdle. Section 214 ( b ) of the Immigration and Nationality Act ( also cited as 8 United States Code § 1184 ( b ) ) states that most aliens must be presumed to be intending to remain in the US, until and unless they are able to show that they are entitled to non-immigrant status. This means there are two sides to a 214 ( b ) denial. Either The applicant did n't convince the consular officer that he did n't intend to stay in the US permanently, or The applicant did n't convince the consular officer that he was qualified for the visa for which he had applied. An example of a denial based upon the first ground would be an applicant for an F - 1 student visa who the consular officer felt was secretly intending to remain in the US permanently. An example of a denial based upon the second ground would be an H - 1B applicant who could n't prove he possessed the equivalent of a US bachelor 's degree in a specialty field -- such an equivalency being a requirement for obtaining an H - 1B visa. In order to thereafter obtain a visa applicants are recommended to objectively evaluate their situation, see in what way they fell short of the visa requirements, and then reapply. In 2005, Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi ( then Chief Minister of Gujarat ) was denied a diplomatic visa to the United States. In addition, the B - 1 / B - 2 visa that had previously been granted to him was also revoked, under a section of the Immigration and Nationality Act which makes any foreign government official who was responsible or `` directly carried out, at any time, particularly severe violations of religious freedom '' ineligible for the visa. Modi is the only person ever denied a visa to the U.S. under this provision. Exceptions There are cases when a US visa has been granted to aliens who were technically ineligible. Japanese mafia ( yakuza ) leader Tadamasa Goto and three others were issued visas for travel between 2000 and 2004 to undergo liver transplant surgery at UCLA Medical Center. The FBI had aided the men in the visa application process hoping that they would provide information regarding yakuza activities in the US. See also United States portal International relations portal Electronic System for Travel Authorization European Union visa lists Security Advisory Opinion Department of Homeland Security U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services U.S. Customs and Border Protection U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement United States visa embargo against Iran Visa Waiver Program Visa requirements for United States citizens References Jump up ^ `` Country information ( visa section ) ''. Timatic. International Air Transport Association ( IATA ) through Olympic Air. Retrieved 1 April 2017. Jump up ^ `` Frequently Asked Questions - U.S. Embassy & Consulates in Mexico ''. Jump up ^ `` Border Crossing Card - Who can use it ? ''. Jump up ^ `` Border Crossing Card ''. ^ Jump up to : Grossman, Neil ; Golden, Howard ; Thurnell, Tracy ( April 1, 2009 ). `` GRIST InDepth : Hiring noncitizens - an immigration law primer for US employers '' ( PDF ). Mercer. 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Jump up ^ ' Travelling to the U.S. without a visa, ' http://www.usvisalawyers.co.uk/article6.htm, accessed October 8, 2013. Jump up ^ http://www.cbp.gov/xp/cgov/travel/id_visa/esta/ Jump up ^ `` DHS Announces Further Travel Restrictions for the Visa Waiver Program - Homeland Security ''. Jump up ^ `` United States Begins Implementation of Changes to the Visa Waiver Program - Homeland Security ''. Jump up ^ `` Bahamian citizen document requirements ''. Retrieved 2016 - 07 - 12. Jump up ^ 8 CFR 212.1 ( b ) ( 2 ), United States Government Publishing Office, May 28, 2015. Jump up ^ `` BVI & USVI Visa Waiver Scheme - Government of the Virgin Islands ''. Jump up ^ `` Visa Waiver Program - U.S. Embassy in Jamaica ''. Jump up ^ `` Cayman Islands Government : New U.S. Travel Requirements ''. Gov.ky. Retrieved 2016 - 07 - 12. Jump up ^ APPLICATION FORM FOR A UNITED STATES VISA WAIVER Jump up ^ `` TURKS AND CAICOS ISLANDS CITIZENS '' ( PDF ). Retrieved 2016 - 07 - 12. 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Jump up ^ All entry permits now issued by AG or his designee, not Immigration Office, Talanei, 19 September 2017. ^ Jump up to : `` Russia, US set visa - free travel between Alaska & Chukotka ''. RT.com. TV - Novosti. 23 July 2015. Jump up ^ Trump Restricts Visas From Eight Countries as Travel Order Expires Jump up ^ de Vogue, Ariane ( 18 October 2017 ). `` Hawaii judge blocks Trump 's latest travel ban ''. CNN. Cable News Network. Retrieved 19 October 2017. Jump up ^ Jarrett, Laura ( 18 October 2017 ). `` Second federal judge blocks new Trump travel ban ''. CNN. Cable News Network. Retrieved 19 October 2017. ^ Jump up to : Presidential Proclamation Enhancing Vetting Capabilities and Processes for Detecting Attempted Entry Into the United States by Terrorists or Other Public - Safety Threats Jump up ^ Fact Sheet : The President 's Proclamation on Enhancing Vetting Capabilities and Processes for Detecting Attempted Entry into the United States by Terrorists or Other Public - Safety Threats, United States Department of Homeland Security, 24 September 2017. Jump up ^ DHS Announces Implementation of Visa Sanctions on Four Countries Jump up ^ U.S. suspends all visas for Cubans, withdraws most staff from embassy in Havana Jump up ^ Frequently Asked Questions, U.S. Embassy in Cuba. ^ Jump up to : `` Important information on Executive Order -- Protecting the Nation from Foreign Terrorist Entry into the United States ''. U.S. Department of State. Retrieved 7 March 2017. Jump up ^ `` Q&A : Protecting the Nation From Foreign Terrorist Entry To The United States - Homeland Security ''. ^ Jump up to : `` Executive Order on Visas ''. Travel.state.gov. U.S. Department of State. Retrieved 30 June 2017. Jump up ^ `` Executive Order Protecting The Nation From Foreign Terrorist Entry Into The United States ''. The White House. Retrieved 7 March 2017. Jump up ^ `` Trump travel ban : Second US judge block new executive order ''. 16 March 2017 -- via www.bbc.com. Jump up ^ Rosenfeld, Everett ( 29 Mar 2017 ). `` Federal judge indefinitely extends restraining order against Trump travel ban ''. CNBC. Retrieved 10 April 2017. Jump up ^ Donald Trump v. International Refugee Assistance Project, 582 U.S. ____ ( U.S. 26 June 2017 ). Jump up ^ Lee, Matthew ( 29 June 2017 ). `` US sets new visa rules for 6 mainly Muslim nations, refugees ''. The Assosiated Press. Retrieved 29 June 2017. Jump up ^ `` Full text of Trump 's executive order on 7 - nation ban, refugee suspension ''. Jump up ^ `` Visa Waiver Program ''. ^ Jump up to : `` Executive Orders on Protecting the Homeland - Homeland Security ''. Jump up ^ `` Important Announcement ''. ^ Jump up to : `` Judge in Seattle halts Trump 's immigration order nationwide ; White House vows fight ''. 3 February 2017. ^ Jump up to : Times ), David Gutman ( The Seattle. `` Robart Order ''. Jump up ^ ( 5 ) Jump up ^ `` Baker Island NWR - Baker Island - U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service ''. Jump up ^ `` Baker Island National Wildlife Refuge ''. Jump up ^ `` Howland Island NWR - Howland Island - U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service ''. Jump up ^ `` Howland Island National Wildlife Refuge ''. Jump up ^ `` Redirect Page ''. Jump up ^ `` Jarvis Island National Wildlife Refuge ''. Jump up ^ `` Johnston Atoll NWR - Johnston Atoll - U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service ''. Jump up ^ `` Johnston Atoll National Wildlife Refuge - History ''. Jump up ^ `` Kingman Reef NWR - Kingman Reef - U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service ''. Jump up ^ `` Kingman Reef National Wildlife Refuge ''. Jump up ^ `` Midway Atoll NWR - Midway Atoll National Wildlife Refuge and Battle of Midway National Memorial - U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service ''. Jump up ^ `` Midway Atoll National Wildlife Refuge ''. Jump up ^ `` Plan Your Visit - Palmyra Atoll - U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service ''. Jump up ^ `` Palmyra Atoll National Wildlife Refuge ''. Jump up ^ `` Wake Atoll NWR - Wake Atoll - U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service ''. Jump up ^ FWS : Navassa Island National Wildlife Refuge, accessdate : June 7, 2015 ^ Jump up to : ( 6 ) Jump up ^ ( 7 ) Jump up ^ Including Border Crossing Cards Jump up ^ ( 8 ) Jump up ^ 2014 Yearbook of Immigration Statistics Jump up ^ `` Table 28 - Homeland Security ''. Jump up ^ `` Statistical Yearbook - Department of Commerce ''. Jump up ^ `` Visitor Arrival Statistics - Research - Research and Reports ''. Jump up ^ `` Central Statistics Division ( CSD ) - CNMI Department of Commerce ''. Jump up ^ Embassy of the United States : Diplomatic Visas ( A-1 & A-2 ) Embassy of the United States, accessdate : June 6, 2015 Jump up ^ state.gov : Visitor Visa, accessdate : June 6, 2015 Jump up ^ state.gov : Border Crossing Card, accessdate : June 6, 2015 Jump up ^ http://www.usvisaaustralia.com/ Jump up ^ `` CBP Announces the Electronic Visa Update System ''. USCBP. Retrieved 2016 - 05 - 24. Jump up ^ `` Electronic Visa Update System ( EVUS ) Frequently Asked Questions ''. USCBP. Retrieved 2016 - 05 - 24. Jump up ^ `` Reciprocity by Country ''. ^ Jump up to : Single entry Jump up ^ Double entry Jump up ^ Mandatory EVUS registration required from November 29, 2016 ^ Jump up to : Double entry. Jump up ^ Except Australia and Taiwan. ^ Jump up to : `` Shortcuts to Immigration ''. Center for Immigration Studies. Retrieved 2013 - 10 - 10. ^ Jump up to : `` No Coyote Needed '' ( PDF ). Center for Immigration Studies. Retrieved 2013 - 10 - 10. Jump up ^ Visa Waiver Program. Alison Siskin. January 15, 2013, Congressional Research Service Jump up ^ Adjusted Refusal Rate 2017 Jump up ^ Adjusted Refusal Rate 2016 Jump up ^ Adjusted Refusal Rate 2015 Jump up ^ Adjusted Refusal Rate 2014 Jump up ^ ( 9 ) Jump up ^ Entry / Exit Overstay Report Fiscal Year 2016 Jump up ^ Entry / Exit Overstay Report Fiscal Year 2015 Jump up ^ Countries and regions that require a visa to travel to Mexico, Instituto Nacional de Migración, September 27, 2013. Jump up ^ `` Country information ( visa section ) ''. Timatic. International Air Transport Association ( IATA ) through Olympic Air. Retrieved 1 April 2017. Jump up ^ https://evisa.rop.gov.om/ Jump up ^ https://www.timaticweb.com/cgi-bin/tim_website_client.cgi?SpecData=1&VISA=&page=visa&NA=IN&PASSTYPES=PASS&AR=00&DE=PE&selDest=Kenya&selTrans=Use+ctrl-key+to+select+or+deselect+transit+point%28s%29+above&user=PYB2C&subuser=PYB2C Jump up ^ https://www.uae-embassy.org/services-resources/visas-passports/non-us-citizens Jump up ^ state.gov : Transit Visa, accessdate : June 6, 2015 Jump up ^ state.gov : Crewmember Visa, accessdate : June 6, 2015 ^ Jump up to : state.gov : Treaty Countries, accessdate : June 6, 2015 Jump up ^ `` Treaty Traders ( E-1 ) and Treaty Investors ( E-2 ) ''. Gudeon & McFadden. Retrieved 20 May 2016. Jump up ^ Embassy of the United States Canberra, Australia : E-3 Visa Embassy of the United States Canberra, Australia, accessdate : June 6, 2015 ^ Jump up to : state.gov : Student Visa, accessdate : June 6, 2015 Jump up ^ ICE : Student and Exchange Visitor Program ICE, accessdate : June 6, 2015 Jump up ^ `` 9 FAM 102.3 ( U ) DEFINITIONS ''. Jump up ^ state.gov : Employee of International Organization & NATO Visa, accessdate : June 6, 2015 ^ Jump up to : state.gov : Employee of International Organization & NATO Visa, accessdate : June 6, 2015 Jump up ^ Monica, Edna. `` USA Work Visa for Nurses ''. Iowa State University. Jump up ^ U.S. Department of Labor : H - 1B Program - Wage and Hour Division ( WHD ) - U.S. Department of Labor, accessdate : June 6, 2015 Jump up ^ USCIS : H - 1B Specialty Occupations, DOD Cooperative Research and Development Project Workers, and Fashion Models USCIS, accessdate : June 6, 2015 Jump up ^ USCIS : H - 2A Temporary Agricultural Workers USCIS, accessdate : June 6, 2015 Jump up ^ USCIS : H - 2B Temporary Non-Agricultural Workers USCIS, accessdate : June 6, 2015 Jump up ^ USCIS : H - 3 Nonimmigrant Trainee or Special Education Exchange Visitor USCIS, accessdate : June 6, 2015 Jump up ^ `` DHS Extends Eligibility for Employment Authorization to Certain H - 4 Dependent Spouses of H - 1B Nonimmigrants Seeking Employment - Based Lawful Permanent Residence ''. USCIS. Retrieved 25 February 2015. Jump up ^ state.gov : Media Visa, accessdate : June 6, 2015 Jump up ^ J - 1 Visa : J - 1 Visa Basics J - 1 Visa, accessdate : June 6, 2015 Jump up ^ J - 1 Visa : About the J - 2 Visa J - 1 Visa Basics J - 1 Visa, accessdate : June 6, 2015 Jump up ^ J - 1 Visa : Programs Au Pair Programs J - 1 Visa, accessdate : June 6, 2015 Jump up ^ J - 1 Visa : Programs Camp Counselor Programs J - 1 Visa, accessdate : June 6, 2015 Jump up ^ J - 1 Visa : Programs College And University Student Programs J - 1 Visa, accessdate : June 6, 2015 Jump up ^ J - 1 Visa : Programs Government Visitor Programs J - 1 Visa, accessdate : June 6, 2015 Jump up ^ J - 1 Visa : Programs Intern Programs J - 1 Visa, accessdate : June 6, 2015 Jump up ^ J - 1 Visa : Programs International Visitor Programs J - 1 Visa, accessdate : June 6, 2015 Jump up ^ J - 1 Visa : Programs Physician Programs J - 1 Visa, accessdate : June 6, 2015 Jump up ^ J - 1 Visa : Programs Professor And Research Scholar Programs J - 1 Visa, accessdate : June 6, 2015 Jump up ^ J - 1 Visa : Programs Secondary School Student Programs J - 1 Visa, accessdate : June 6, 2015 Jump up ^ J - 1 Visa : Programs Short Term Scholar Programs J - 1 Visa, accessdate : June 6, 2015 Jump up ^ J - 1 Visa : Programs Specialist Programs J - 1 Visa, accessdate : June 6, 2015 Jump up ^ J - 1 Visa : Programs Summer Work Travel Programs J - 1 Visa, accessdate : June 6, 2015 Jump up ^ J - 1 Visa : Programs Teacher Programs J - 1 Visa, accessdate : June 6, 2015 Jump up ^ J - 1 Visa : Programs Trainee Programs J - 1 Visa, accessdate : June 6, 2015 Jump up ^ Embassy of the United States Canberra, Australia : Student Work and Travel Pilot Program Embassy of the United States Canberra, Australia, accessdate : June 6, 2015 Jump up ^ Guidelines for Administration of the Intern Work and Travel Pilot Program with Ireland Jump up ^ Embassy of the United States : New Zealand and Australia Twelve - Month Student Work and Recent Graduate Travel Programs Embassy of the United States, accessdate : June 6, 2015 Jump up ^ ( 10 ) Jump up ^ USCIS : Fiancé ( e ) Visas USCIS, accessdate : June 6, 2015 Jump up ^ Nolo.com : Bringing Children Along on a K - 1 Fiance Visa ( K - 2 Visas ) Nolo.com, accessdate : June 6, 2015 Jump up ^ ' Same - Sex Marriage and Spousal Visas, ' http://www.usvisalawyers.co.uk/article23.html, accessed October 1, 2013. Jump up ^ USCIS : K - 3 / K - 4 Nonimmigrant Visas USCIS, accessdate : June 6, 2015 Jump up ^ USCIS : L - 1 Visa USCIS, accessdate : June 6, 2015 Jump up ^ `` O - 1 Visa : Individuals with Extraordinary Ability or Achievement ''. Retrieved 2012 - 09 - 16. ^ Jump up to : state.gov : Temporary Worker Visa, accessdate : June 6, 2015 Jump up ^ USCIS : R - 1 Temporary Nonimmigrant Religious Workers USCIS, accessdate : June 6, 2015 Jump up ^ state.gov : Religious Worker Visa, accessdate : June 6, 2015 Jump up ^ USDOJ : S Visa Program -- Eligibility, accessdate : December 31, 2015 Jump up ^ USCIS : Green Card for an Informant ( S Nonimmigrant ), accessdate : December 31, 2015 Jump up ^ NAFSA : 8 CFR § 214.6, accessdate : June 6, 2015 Jump up ^ state.gov : Visas for Canadian and Mexican NAFTA Professional Workers, accessdate : June 6, 2015 Jump up ^ state.gov : Victims of Human Trafficking, accessdate : June 6, 2015 Jump up ^ USCIS : Green Card for a Victim of Trafficking ( T Nonimmigrant ) USCIS, accessdate : June 6, 2015 Jump up ^ `` Immigration through Legal Immigration Family Equity Act ( LIFE ) of 2000 ''. US Citizenship and Immigration Services. Retrieved 2007 - 05 - 01. Jump up ^ USCIS : V Nonimmigrant Visas USCIS, accessdate : June 6, 2015 Jump up ^ state.gov : Directory of Visa Categories, accessdate : June 6, 2015 Jump up ^ Embassy of the United States Dublin, Ireland : Nonimmigrant Visa Classification Symbols Embassy of the United States Dublin, Ireland, accessdate : June 6, 2015 Jump up ^ `` Students and Exchange Visitors ''. Retrieved 2011 - 09 - 11. Jump up ^ `` Immigration Classifications and Visa Categories - ARCHIVE as of 2010 - Jan - 28. Page no longer available ''. United States Citizenship and Immigration Services. Archived from the original on February 28, 2008. Retrieved 2010 - 01 - 28. Jump up ^ `` Types of Visas for Temporary Visitors ''. Retrieved 2011 - 09 - 11. Jump up ^ `` Types of Visas for Temporary Visitors ''. Retrieved 2011 - 09 - 11. Jump up ^ `` 8 CFR 214.2 - Special requirements for admission, extension, and maintenance of status ''. Legal Information Institute. Cornell University Legal Law School. Retrieved May 17, 2017. Jump up ^ Immigration and Nationality Act, 8 USC Sec. 1158 Jump up ^ `` A 214 ( b ) Denial : What It Means, What You Can Do ''. Usvisalawyers.co.uk. Jump up ^ `` No entry for Modi into US : visa denied ''. The Times of India. 18 March 2005. Retrieved 3 February 2012. Jump up ^ Mann, James ( 2 May 2014 ). `` Why Narendra Modi Was Banned From the U.S ''. Retrieved 3 June 2014. ^ Jump up to : Charles Ornstein and John M. Glionna, Los Angeles Times After livers, cash to UCLA May 31, 2008 External links Wikimedia Commons has media related to Visas of the United States. U.S. Visas, Bureau of Consular Affairs, U.S. Department of State List of diplomatic missions of the U.S. U.S. Department of Homeland Security U.S. Customs and Border Protection United States nonimmigrant visas Diplomatic / Diplomatic Affiliated A-1 A-2 A-3 Temporary Entry B - 1 B - 2 Through Travel C - 1 C - 2 C - 3 Transitional Worker ( Northern Mariana Islands ) CW - 1 CW - 2 Maritime / Aviation Crew D - 1 D - 2 Treaty Investor E-1 E-2 E-3 E-3D E-3R EB - 5 Priority Workers EB - 1 EB - 2 Students F - 1 F - 2 F - 3 Foreign Government Representatives G - 1 G - 2 G - 3 G - 4 G - 5 Temporary Worker H - 1A H - 1B H - 1B1 H - 1C H - 2A H - 2B H - 2R H - 3 H - 4 EB - 3 Foreign Media / Journalist I - 1 Cultural Exchange J - 1 J - 2 Family of US Citizen K - 1 K - 2 K - 3 K - 4 CR - 1 Foreign Employees of US Corporations L - 1 L - 2 Vocational Students M - 1 M - 2 M - 3 Immediate Family of SK Visa Holder N - 8 N - 9 North Atlantic Treaty Organization ( NATO ) NATO - 1 NATO - 2 NATO - 3 NATO - 4 NATO - 5 NATO - 6 NATO - 7 Extraordinary Ability O - 1 O - 2 O - 3 Extraordinary Ability ( groups ) P - 1 P - 2 P - 3 P - 4 Cultural Exchange Q - 1 Religious R - 1 R - 2 Law Enforcement Witnesses / Informants S - 5 S - 6 S - 7 Human Trafficking Victims T - 1 T - 2 T - 3 T - 4 T - 5 Professionals Under NAFTA TD TN Crime Victims U-1 U-2 U-3 U-4 U-5 SIJS Family of US Permanent Residents V - 1 V - 2 V - 3 CR - 1 Visa Waiver Program WB WT GB GT Visa policy by country Visa Passport Travel document Africa Central Angola Cameroon Central African Republic Chad DR Congo R Congo Equatorial Guinea Gabon São Tomé and Príncipe Eastern Burundi Comoros Djibouti Eritrea Ethiopia Kenya Madagascar Malawi Mauritius Mozambique Rwanda Seychelles Somalia ( Somaliland ) South Sudan Tanzania Uganda Zambia Zimbabwe Northern Algeria Egypt Libya Morocco Sudan Tunisia Southern Botswana Lesotho Namibia Saint Helena, Ascension and Tristan da Cunha South Africa Swaziland Western Benin Burkina Faso Cape Verde Gambia Ghana Guinea Guinea - Bissau Ivory Coast Liberia Mali Mauritania Niger Nigeria Senegal Sierra Leone Togo Americas Caribbean Dutch Caribbean ( Aruba, Caribbean Netherlands, Curaçao, Sint Maarten ) Anguilla Antigua and Barbuda Bahamas Barbados British Virgin Islands Cayman Islands Cuba Dominica Dominican Republic Grenada Haiti Jamaica Montserrat Puerto Rico St. Kitts and Nevis St. Lucia St. Vincent and the Grenadines Trinidad and Tobago Turks and Caicos Islands United States Virgin Islands Central Belize Costa Rica El Salvador Guatemala Honduras Nicaragua Panama North Bermuda Canada Mexico United States South Argentina Bolivia Brazil Chile Colombia Ecuador Falkland Islands Guyana Paraguay Peru South Georgia and the South Sandwich Islands Suriname Uruguay Venezuela Asia Central & North Afghanistan Kazakhstan Kyrgyzstan Russia Tajikistan Turkmenistan Uzbekistan East China Hong Kong Macau Japan North Korea South Korea Mongolia Taiwan ( Republic of China ) South Bangladesh Bhutan India Maldives Nepal Pakistan Sri Lanka Southeast Brunei Cambodia East Timor Indonesia Laos Malaysia Myanmar Philippines Singapore Thailand Vietnam Western Abkhazia Akrotiri and Dhekelia Armenia Artsakh Azerbaijan Bahrain Cyprus Egypt Georgia Iran Iraq Israel Jordan Kuwait Lebanon Northern Cyprus Oman Palestine Qatar Saudi Arabia South Ossetia Syria Turkey United Arab Emirates Yemen Europe European Union / EFTA Austria Belgium Bulgaria Croatia Czech Republic Cyprus Denmark Faroe Islands Estonia Finland France Overseas Germany Gibraltar Greece Hungary Iceland Ireland Italy Latvia Liechtenstein Lithuania Luxembourg Malta Netherlands Overseas Norway Svalbard Poland Portugal Romania Slovakia Slovenia Spain Sweden Switzerland United Kingdom Overseas Other Europe Abkhazia Akrotiri and Dhekelia Albania Andorra Armenia Artsakh Azerbaijan Belarus Bosnia and Herzegovina Georgia Kazakhstan Kosovo Macedonia Moldova Monaco Montenegro Northern Cyprus Russia San Marino Serbia South Ossetia Transnistria Turkey Ukraine Vatican City Oceania American Samoa Australia Cook Islands Fiji Guam Kiribati Marshall Islands Micronesia Nauru New Zealand Niue Northern Mariana Islands Palau Papua New Guinea Pitcairn Islands Samoa Solomon Islands Tokelau Tonga Tuvalu Vanuatu British Overseas Territories. Open border with Schengen Area. Russia is a transcontinental country in Eastern Europe and Northern Asia. The majority of its population ( 80 % ) lives in European Russia, therefore Russia as a whole is included as a European country here. Turkey is a transcontinental country in the Middle East and Southeast Europe. Has part of its territory ( 3 % ) in Southeast Europe called Turkish Thrace. Azerbaijan ( Artsakh ) and Georgia ( Abkhazia ; South Ossetia ) are transcontinental countries. Both have part of their territories in the European part of the Caucasus. Kazakhstan is a transcontinental country. Has part of its territories located west of the Urals in Eastern Europe. Armenia and Cyprus ( Northern Cyprus ; Akrotiri and Dhekelia ) are entirely in Southwest Asia but having socio - political connections with Europe. Egypt is a transcontinental country in North Africa and the Middle East. Has part of its territory in the Middle East called Sinai Peninsula. Part of the Realm of New Zealand. Partially recognized. Unincorporated territory of the United States. Part of Norway, not part of the Schengen Area, special open - border status under Svalbard Treaty Visa requirements Visa Passport Travel document Africa Central Angolan Cameroonian Central African Republic Chadian DR Congo R Congo Equatorial Guinean Gabonese Santomean Eastern Burundian Comorian Djiboutian Eritrean Ethiopian Kenyan Malagasy Malawian Mauritian Mozambican Rwandan Seychellois Somali ( Somaliland ) South Sudanese Tanzanian Ugandan Zambian Zimbabwean Northern Algerian Egyptian Libyan Moroccan Sudanese Tunisian Southern Botswana Lesotho Namibian Saint Helena South African Swazi Western Beninese Burkinabe Cape Verdean Gambian Ghanaian Guinean Guinea - Bissauan Ivorian Liberian Malian Mauritanian Nigerian Nigerien Senegalese Sierra Leonean Togolese Americas Caribbean Anguillan Antigua and Barbuda Bahamian Barbadian British Virgin Islands Caymanian Cuban Dominica Dominican Republic Grenadian Haitian Jamaican Montserratian Saint Kitts and Nevis Saint Lucian Saint Vincent and the Grenadines Trinidad and Tobago Turks and Caicos Islands Central Belizean Costa Rican El Salvador Guatemalan Honduran Nicaraguan Panamanian North Bermudian Canadian Mexican United States South Argentine Bolivian Brazilian Chilean Colombian Ecuadorian Guyanese Paraguayan Peruvian Surinamese Uruguayan Venezuelan Asia Central & North Afghanistani Kazakhstani Kyrgyzstani Russian Tajik Turkmen Uzbekistani East Chinese Hong Kongese Macanese Japanese North Korean South Korean Mongolian Taiwanese South Bangladeshi Bhutanese Indian Maldivian Nepalese Pakistani Sri Lankan Southeast Bruneian Cambodian East Timorese Indonesian Laotian Malaysian Myanmar Philippine Singaporean Thai Vietnamese Western Abkhaz Armenian Artsakh Azerbaijani Bahraini Cypriot Egyptian Georgian Emirati Iranian Iraqi Israeli Jordanian Kuwaiti Lebanese Northern Cypriot Omani Palestinian Qatari Saudi South Ossetian Syrian Turkish Yemeni Europe European Union Austrian Belgian British ( BOTC BN ( O ) BOC ) Bulgarian Croatian Cypriot Czech Danish Dutch Estonian ( Non-citizens ) Finnish French German Greek Hungarian Irish Italian Latvian ( Non-citizens ) Lithuanian Luxembourg Maltese Polish Portuguese Romanian Slovak Slovenian Spanish Swedish Other Europe Abkhaz Albanian Andorran Armenian Artsakh Azerbaijani Belarusian Bosnian and Herzegovinian Georgian Gibraltar Icelandic Kazakhstani Kosovan Liechtenstein Macedonia Moldovan Monégasque Montenegrin Northern Cypriot Norwegian Russian San Marino Serbian South Ossetian Sovereign Military Order of Malta Swiss Transnistrian Turkish Ukrainian Vatican City Oceania Australian Fijian Kiribati Marshallese Micronesian Nauruan New Zealand Palauan Papua New Guinean Pitcairn Islands Samoan Solomon Islands Tongan Tuvaluan Vanuatuan British Overseas Territories. Open border with Schengen Area. Russia is a transcontinental country in Eastern Europe and Northern Asia. The vast majority of its population ( 80 % ) lives in European Russia. Turkey is a transcontinental country in the Middle East and Southeast Europe. Has a small part of its territory ( 3 % ) in Southeast Europe called Turkish Thrace. Azerbaijan and Georgia ( Abkhazia ; South Ossetia ) are transcontinental countries. Both have a small part of their territories in the European part of the Caucasus. Kazakhstan is a transcontinental country. Has a small part of its territories located west of the Urals in Eastern Europe. Armenia ( Artsakh ) and Cyprus ( Northern Cyprus ) are entirely in Southwest Asia but having socio - political connections with Europe. Egypt is a transcontinental country in North Africa and the Middle East. Has a small part of its territory in the Middle East called Sinai peninsula. Partially recognized. Immigration law Immigration to the United States and related topics Relevant colonial era, United States and international laws Colonial era Nationality law in the American Colonies Plantation Act 1740 18th century Naturalization Act 1790 / 1795 / 1798 19th century Naturalization Law 1802 Civil Rights Act of 1866 14th Amendment ( 1868 ) Naturalization Act 1870 Page Act ( 1875 ) Immigration Act of 1882 Chinese Exclusion ( 1882 ) Scott Act ( 1888 ) Immigration Act of 1891 Geary Act ( 1892 ) 1900 -- 1949 Naturalization Act 1906 Gentlemen 's Agreement ( 1907 ) Immigration Act of 1907 Immigration Act 1917 ( Asian Barred Zone ) Emergency Quota Act ( 1921 ) Cable Act ( 1922 ) Immigration Act 1924 Tydings -- McDuffie Act ( 1934 ) Filipino Repatriation Act ( 1935 ) Nationality Act of 1940 Bracero Program ( 1942 -- 1964 ) Magnuson Act ( 1943 ) War Brides Act ( 1945 ) Luce -- Celler Act ( 1946 ) 1950 -- 1999 UN Refugee Convention ( 1951 ) Immigration and Nationality Act 1952 / 1965 Refugee Act ( 1980 ) Immigration Reform and Control Act ( 1986 ) American Homecoming Act ( 1989 ) Immigration Act 1990 Illegal Immigration Reform and Immigrant Responsibility Act ( IIRIRA ) ( 1996 ) Nicaraguan Adjustment and Central American Relief Act ( NACARA ) ( 1997 ) American Competitiveness and Workforce Improvement Act ( ACWIA ) ( 1998 ) 21st century American Competitiveness in the 21st Century Act ( AC21 ) ( 2000 ) Legal Immigration Family Equity Act ( LIFE Act ) ( 2000 ) H - 1B Visa Reform Act ( 2004 ) REAL ID Act ( 2005 ) Secure Fence Act ( 2006 ) DACA ( 2012 ) Executive Order 13769 ( 2017 ) Executive Order 13780 ( 2017 ) Visas and policies Visa policy Permanent residence Visa Waiver Program Temporary protected status Asylum Green Card Lottery US - VISIT Security Advisory Opinion E-Verify Section 287 ( g ) National Origins Formula Government organizations Department of Homeland Security Immigration and Customs Enforcement U.S. Border Patrol U.S. Customs and Border Protection Immigration and Naturalization Service ( INS ) Board of Immigration Appeals Supreme Court cases United States v. Wong Kim Ark ( 1898 ) United States v. Bhagat Singh Thind ( 1923 ) United States v. Brignoni - Ponce ( 1975 ) Chamber of Commerce v. Whiting ( 2011 ) Related issues and events Economic impact Eugenics in the United States Guest worker program Human trafficking Human smuggling Coyotaje Immigration reform Immigration reduction Mexico -- United States barrier Labor shortage March for America Illegal immigrant population Reverse immigration 2006 protests Unaccompanied minors from Central America List of people deported from the United States Geography Mexico -- United States border Canada -- United States border United States Border Patrol interior checkpoints Proposed legislation DREAM Act ( 2001 -- 2010 ) H.R. 4437 ( 2005 ) McCain -- Kennedy ( 2005 ) SKIL ( 2006 ) Comprehensive Immigration Reform Act 2006 STRIVE Act ( 2007 ) Comprehensive Immigration Reform Act 2007 Uniting American Families Act ( 2000 -- 2013 ) Border Security, Economic Opportunity, and Immigration Modernization Act of 2013 SAFE Act ( 2015 ) RAISE Act ( 2017 ) Immigration stations and points of entry Angel Island Castle Garden East Boston Ellis Island Sullivan 's Island Washington Avenue Operations `` Wetback '' ( 1954 ) `` Peter Pan '' ( 1960 -- 1962 ) `` Babylift '' ( 1975 ) `` Gatekeeper '' ( 1994 ) `` Endgame '' ( 2003 -- 2012 ) `` Front Line '' ( 2004 -- 2005 ) `` Streamline '' ( 2005 -- present ) `` Return to Sender '' ( 2006 -- 2007 ) `` Jump Start '' ( 2006 -- 2008 ) State legislation California DREAM Act ( 2006 -- 2010 ) Arizona SB 1070 ( 2010 ) Alabama HB 56 ( 2011 ) Non-governmental organizations Arizona Border Recon Coalition for Humane Immigrant Rights of Los Angeles Coalition for Comprehensive Immigration Reform National Immigration Forum Center for Community Change We Are America Alliance CASA of Maryland Mexica Movement Mexicans Without Borders Federation for American Immigration Reform Minuteman Project Minuteman Civil Defense Corps California Coalition for Immigration Reform Save Our State Center for Immigration Studies National Korean American Service & Education Consortium ( NAKASEC ) NumbersUSA Negative Population Growth Migration Policy Institute Utah Compact Center for Migration Studies of New York Public policy of the United States Agricultural Arctic Climate change ( G.W. 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Bush, Obama ) Stem cell Telecommunications Trade Visa Retrieved from `` https://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=Visa_policy_of_the_United_States&oldid=811821850 '' Categories : Visa policy of the United States Tourism in the United States United States Department of State United States federal policy Hidden categories : Webarchive template wayback links Tagged pages containing blacklisted links Articles containing potentially dated statements from January 2016 All articles containing potentially dated statements All articles with unsourced statements Articles with unsourced statements from August 2017 Talk Contents About Wikipedia فارسی 한국어 हिन्दी עברית ಕನ್ನಡ Oʻzbekcha / ўзбекча తెలుగు Türkçe Українська Tiếng Việt 粵語 中文 Edit links This page was last edited on 24 November 2017, at 06 : 02. Text is available under the Creative Commons Attribution - ShareAlike License ; additional terms may apply. By using this site, you agree to the Terms of Use and Privacy Policy. 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Question: how many types of usa visa are there
Answer: about 185