The chart below contains many different purposes of temporary travel and the related nonimmigrant visa categories available on this website. Select a visa category below to learn more:
Purpose of Travel
Visa Category
Required: Before applying for visa*
Athlete, amateur or professional (competing for prize money only)
(NA)
Au pair (exchange visitor)
SEVIS
Australian professional specialty
DOL
Border Crossing Card: Mexico
(NA)
Business visitor
(NA)
CNMI-only transitional worker
(USCIS)
Crewmember
(NA)
Diplomat or foreign government official
(NA)
Domestic employee or nanny - must be accompanying a foreign national employer
(NA)
Employee of a designated international organization or NATO
(NA)
Exchange visitor
SEVIS
Foreign military personnel stationed in the United States
(NA)
Foreign national with extraordinary ability in Sciences, Arts, Education, Business or Athletics
USCIS
Free Trade Agreement (FTA) Professional:
Chile, Singapore
H-1B1 - Singapore
DOL
International cultural exchange visitor
USCIS
Intra-company transferee
USCIS
Medical treatment, visitor for
(NA)
Media, journalist
(NA)
NAFTA professional worker: Mexico, Canada
(NA)
Performing athlete, artist, entertainer
USCIS
Physician
SEVIS
Professor, scholar, teacher (exchange visitor)
SEVIS
Religious worker
USCIS
Specialty occupations in fields requiring highly specialized knowledge
DOL then USCIS
Student: academic, vocational
SEVIS
Temporary agricultural worker
DOL then USCIS
Temporary worker performing other services or labor of a temporary or seasonal nature.
DOL then USCIS
Tourism, vacation, pleasure visitor
(NA)
Training in a program not primarily for employment
USCIS
Treaty trader/treaty investor
(NA)
Transiting the United States
(NA)
Victim of Criminal Activity
USCIS
Victim of Human Trafficking
USCIS
(NA)
*What the abbreviations above mean- Before applying for a visa at a U.S. embassy or consulate, the following is required:
