Nonimmigrant Visas

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Join us for a Twitter chat on February 13th, 12-1pm. Got a question about visas? Tweet it a Consular officer, using the hashtag #USVisas. We'll answer all questions at the time of the chat

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 VWP. If you have yet to determine your eligibility 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 are generally not required to appear in person and may use the services of the Embassy approved courier service to submit their application.

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-1/H-3 Visa	Employment based visas including the H-3 trainee visa
L-1 Visa	Intra-company transferees
I Visa	Journalists & Members of the Media
J-1 Visa	Exchange Visitor, Academics, Au-pairs, Interns
NATO -1/6 Visa	Foreign Military Personnel stationed in the U.S.
NATO-7 Visa	Domestic Employee of NATO-1/6 visa holder
O-1/2 or P-1/3 Visa	Persons with extraordinary ability in Sciences, Arts, Education, Business or Athletics
Q-1 Visa	International Cultural Exchange
R-1 Visa	Religious Worker

Additonal information is available from the Department of State website. Click here for further information.

Attending an Interview

Attending an Interview

Don't know what to expect at your interview?
Watch our YouTube video and find out!

DHS Traveler Redress Inquiry Program

DHS TRIP is a single point of contact for individuals who have inquiries or seek resolution regarding difficulties they experienced during their travel screening at transportation hubs--like airports and train stations--or crossing U.S. borders, including:

• denied or delayed airline boarding
• denied or delayed entry into and exit
from the U.S. at a port of entry
or border checkpoint
• continuously referred to additional (secondary) screening

Further information is available from the DHS website at http://www.dhs.gov/trip

Did you surrender the I-94/W?

If you did not surrender the I-94 or I-94W on your departure from the U.S., you are required to return the form to U.S. Customs and Border Protection. Please follow this link for further information.