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Nonimmigrant Visas

The following provides visa information for travelers to the United States who wish to visit, work or study for a temporary period. The type of visa required will depend on the purpose of your travel.


Who needs a visa?

Anyone who is not eligible to enter the United States visa free under the Visa Waiver Program (VWP), or is not exempt from the visa requirement, or whose registration has been denied under ESTA.

The Visa Waiver Program (VWP)

Many travelers seeking to enter the U.S. for business or tourism (B-1/B-2 visa) for less than 90 days will be eligible to travel to the United States visa free under the Visa Waiver Program. If you have yet to determine your eligibiity to travel visa free, use our visa wizard to help you decide.

Applying for the visa

With limited exceptions, nonimmigrant visa applicants aged 14 to 79 are required to schedule an appointment for an interview with a U.S. consular officer. The Embassy does not accept walk-in applications. Applicants under the age of 14 or those aged 80 or over may be eligible to apply for a visa through the Embassy approved courier service.

Before begining the application process, you are required to determine which type of visa is appropriate for travel. Please click on the relevant link below for further information.

Visa Category Description
A-1/A-2 Visa Diplomats & Foreign Government Officials
A-3 Visa Domestic Employee of a A-1/A-2 Visa holder
B-1 Visa Business visitors, Domestic Employees, Academics, Researchers and Students
B-2 Visa Holiday, tourism, medical treatment
C-1 Visa Transiting the United States
C-1/D Visa Crewmembers working on air or sea carriers
E-1/E-2 Visa Treaty Trader/Investor
E-3 Visa Australian professional speciality
F-1/M-1 Visa Students: academic & vocational
G-1/G-4 Visa Employees of an International Organization
G-5 Visa Domestic Employee of a G-1/G-4 visa
H Visa Employment based visas including the H-3 trainee visa
L Visa Intra-company transferees
I Visa Journalists & Members of the Media
J-1 Visa Exchange Visitor, Academics, Au-pairs, Interns
NATO Visa Foreign Military Personnel stationed in the U.S.
O or P Visa Persons with extraordinary ability in Sciences, Arts, Education, Business or Athletics
Q Visa International Cultural Exchange
R Visa Religious Worker


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— Information on Applying for a Visa—

Scheduling a visa interview

Applying for a visa by courier

Administrative Processing

Visa Forms

FAQs

 
— Attending An Interview? —

NIVvideo youtube Attending a Non-immigrant Visa Interview?
Watch our YouTube video! (links to YouTube)

William Wilberforce Trafficking Victims Protection Reauthorization Act of 2008

The William Wilberforce Trafficking Victims Protection Reauthorization Act of 2008 relates to the legal rights of employment-based nonimmigrants (A-3, G-5, NATO-7, H, J, & B-1 domestic employees) under Federal immigration, labor, and employment laws. As a temporary visitor to the United States, it is important that you are aware of your rights, as well as protections and resources available when you come to work or study there. We ask therefore, that you review this information before attending your visa interview (PDF).

 
— Travel Information—

Department of Homeland Security's Traveler Redress Inquiry Program

Did you surrender the I-94/W card on your departure from the United States?

 
— Help —

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