Immigration Information Article: Nonimmigrant Visa and Status Classifications

Nonimmigrant Visa and Status Classifications

The chart below provides information concerning nonimmigrant visa and status classifications. The "See Also" column contains links to articles that elaborate further on each specific nonimmigrant category. The following materials contain information of a general nature that pertains to all or most nonimmigrant categories:

Symbol	Plain Language Category/Description	Employment authorized?	Special Requirements	See Also:
	Foreign Government Officials
A-1	Ambassador, public minister, career, diplomatic or consular officer, and members of immediate family.	No	Diplomatic status
A-2	Other foreign government official or employee, and members of immediate family.	No* *A-2 dependants may work with specific authorization of the State Department	Diplomatic status
A-3	Attendant, servant, or personal employee of A-1 and A-2, and members of immediate family.	No	Attached to someone with diplomatic status.
	Visitors
B-1	Temporary visitor for business	No	May not engage in any productive employment while in the US	Visitor visas - business and pleasure
B-2	Temporary visitor for pleasure	No		Visitor visas - business and pleasure
	Visa Waiver
WB	Temporary visitor for business	No	May not engage in any productive employment while in the US. May only stay 90 days - no extension or change of status
WT	Temporary visitor for pleasure	No	May only stay 90 days - no extension or change of status
	Aliens in Transit
C-1	Alien in transit directly through U.S.	No
C-1D	Combined transit and crewman visa	No
C-2	Alien in transit to UN headquarters district under Section 11.(3), (4), or (5) of the Headquarters Agreement	No
C-3	Foreign government official, members of immediate family, attendant, servant, or personal employee, in transit	No
C-4	Transit without Visa	No	This program has been suspended
	Crewmembers
D-1	Crewmember departing on same vessel of arrival	No	May not extend or change status
D-2	Crewmember departing by means other than vessel of arrival	No	May not extend or change status
	Treaty Traders and Treaty Investors
E-1	Treaty Trader, spouse and children	Yes E-1 spouses and children may work only with the specific authorization of the USCIS
E-2	Treaty Investor, spouse and children	Yes E-2 spouses and children may work only with the specific authorization of the USCIS
	Academic Students
F-1	Academic Student	No* *F-1 students may work only with the specific authorization of the USCIS		Foreign students Dept of State telegram re: student visa intent Visa Office Memo: Validity of Student Visas Subsequent to a Break in Studies
F-1	Spouse or child of F-1	No
	Foreign Government Officials to International Organizations
G-1	Principal resident representative of recognized foreign member government to international organization, and members of immediate family.	No G-1 spouses and children may work only with the specific authorization of the State Department
G-2	Other representative of recognized foreign member government to international organization, and members of immediate family.	No G-2 spouses and children may work only with the specific authorization of the State Department
G-3	Representative of non-recognized or nonmember government to international organization, and members of immediate family	No G-3 spouses and children may work only with the specific authorization of the State Department
G-4	International organization officer or employee, and members of immediate family	No G-4 spouses and children may work only with the specific authorization of the State Department
G-5	Attendant, servant, or personal employee of G-1, G-2, G-3, G-4, or members of immediate family	No
	Temporary Workers
H-1B	Specialty Occupations, DOD workers, fashion models	Yes	Job must customarily require at least a bachelor's degree as a minimum qualification. Requires petition approval from the USCIS	H-1B temporary professional workers Procedures for Calculating Maximum Period of Stay Regarding the Limitations on Admission for H-1B and L-1 Nonimmigrants. Requests for Extension of H-1B Status Beyond the 6^th Year H-1B petitions that are not subject to the annual quota CIS memo: H-1B portability (1) CIS memo: H-1B portability (2) FAQ: H-1B petitions, visas, and status (CIS) H-1B extensions past the 6-year limit under §106(a) of AC21. (CIS) H-1B extension past the 6-year limit under §104(c) of AC21 (aliens subject to per country limitations). FAQ: (CIS) H-1B portability under §105 of AC21.
H-2A	Temporary Agricultural Worker	Yes	Temporary seasonal agricultural workers Requires temporary labor certification from the DOL and petition approval from the USCIS
H-2B	Temporary worker: skilled and unskilled	Yes	Workers performing a job which is itself clearly temporary. Requires petition approval from the USCIS	H-2B temporary workers
H-3	Trainee	No	Persons coming to receive training that is not available in their home countries. No productive employment allowed. Requires petition approval from the USCIS	H-3 trainees
H-4	Spouse or child of H-1, H-2, H-3	No		CIS Memo: Employment authorization for H and L spouses.
	Foreign Media Representatives
I-1	Visas for foreign media representatives	No
	Exchange Visitors
J-1	Exchange visitors	No* Exchange visitors may work only with the explicit authorization of the USCIS		Exchange ("J") visitors Step by step instructions for applying for a waiver of the J two year home residence requirement
J-2	Spouse or child of J-1	No* Exchange visitor spouses may work only with the explicit authorization of the USCIS
	Fiance(e) of US Citizen
K-1	Fiance(e)	Yes	Requires petition approval from the USCIS	Fiancee ("K") visa
K-2	Minor child of K-1	May work only with the explicit authorization of the USCIS
K-3	Spouse of a U.S. Citizen (LIFE Act)	Yes	Requires petition approval from the USCIS
K-4	Child of K-3 (LIFE Act)	May work only with the explicit authorization of the USCIS
	Intracompany Transferee			Intracompany Transferee ("L") Visas
L-1A	Executive, managerial	Yes	Requires petition approval from the USCIS
L-1B	Specialized knowledge	Yes	Requires petition approval from the USCIS
L-2	Spouse or child of L-1	No* E-2 spouses may work only with the specific authorization of the USCIS
	Vocational and Language Students
M-1	Vocational student or other nonacademic student	No* M-1 students may work only with the specific authorization of the USCIS
M-2	Spouse or child of M-1	No
	Workers with Extraordinary Abilities
O-1	Extraordinary ability in Sciences, Arts, Education, Business, or Athletics	Yes	Requires petition approval from the USCIS
O-2	Alien's (support) accompanying O-1	Yes	Requires petition approval from the USCIS
O-3	Spouse or child of O-1 or O-2	No
	Athletes and Entertainers
P-1	Individual or team athletes	Yes	Requires petition approval from the USCIS
P-1	Entertainment groups	Yes	Requires petition approval from the USCIS
P-2	Artists and entertainers in reciprocal Exchange programs	Yes	Requires petition approval from the USCIS
P-3	Artists and entertainers in culturally unique programs	Yes	Requires petition approval from the USCIS
P-4	Spouse or child of P-1, 2, or 3	No
	International Cultural Exchange Visitors
Q-1	International cultural exchange visitors
Q-2	Irish Peace Process Cultural and Training Program (Walsh Visas)
Q-3	Spouse or child of Q-2
	Religious Workers
R-1	Religious workers
R-2	Spouse or child of R-1
	North American Free Trade Agreement (NAFTA)
TN	Trade visas for Canadians and Mexicans	Yes
TD	Spouse or child accompanying TN-	No
	Certain Second Preference Beneficiaries
V-1	Spouse of an LPR who is the principal beneficiary of a family-based petition (Form I-130) which was filed prior to December 21, 2000, and has been pending for at least three years
V-2	Child of an LPR who is the principal beneficiary of a family-based visa petition (Form I-130) that was filed prior to December 21, 2000, and has been pending for at least three years.
V-3	The derivative child of a V-1 or V-2
	Temporary Protected Status (TPS)
TPS	Temporary Protected Status	Yes