Which Type of US Visa Is Right for You

Which Type of US Visa Is Right for You Citizens of most foreign countries must obtain a visa to enter the U.S. There are two general classifications of U.S. visas: nonimmigrant visas for temporary stays, and immigrant visas to live and work permanently in the U.S.   Temporary Visitors:  Nonimmigrant US Visas Temporary visitors to the U.S. must obtain a nonimmigrant visa. This type of visa allows you to travel to a U.S. port-of-entry. If you are a citizen of a country thats part of the Visa Waiver Program, you may come to the U.S. without a visa if you meet certain requirements. There are a number of reasons why someone would come to the U.S. on a temporary visa, including tourism, business, medical treatment and certain types of temporary work. The State Department lists the most common U.S. visa categories for temporary visitors. These include: Australian (E-3) in Specialty OccupationBorder Crossing Card - Mexican TravelersBusiness, Tourist, and VisitorsChile Free Trade Agreement (FTA) ProfessionalDiplomats and Government OfficialsExchange VisitorsFiancà ©(e) to Marry U.S. Citizen/SpouseInternational Organizations NATOMedia JournalistsMexican and Canadian NAFTA Professional WorkerReligious WorkersSingapore Free Trade Agreement (FTA) ProfessionalStudentsTemporary Workers OverviewTreaty Traders Treaty InvestorsVisa Renewals Living  and Working in the U.S. Permanently: Immigrant US Visas To live permanently in the U.S., an immigrant visa is required. The first step is to petition the U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services to allow the beneficiary to apply for an immigrant visa. Once approved, the petition is forwarded to the National Visa Center for processing. The National Visa Center then provides instructions regarding forms, fees, and other required documents to complete the visa application.  Learn more about  US visas  and find out what you need to do to file for one. The major immigrant US visa categories include: Immediate RelativesSpecial ImmigrantsFamily-sponsoredEmployer-sponsored Source: The U.S. Department of State