ABCs of immigration (Part 1)
As we all know there are different kinds of non-immigrant visas. For simplicity, we would be able to remember these visas by using the letters of the alphabet. Each type of visa has its own subtypes which are given according to their specific categories or in some cases to their spouses and children. Let us start:
A visa - This is also known as the diplomatic visa. It is further classified into A1 which is given to heads of state, diplomatic and consular officers, heads of government branches and to the immediate families of these individuals. A2 visa is given to embassy and consulate employees or those who come to the US to work for their government and for the family members of these individuals. A3 visa is for those servants, attendants and personal employees of the A1 and A2 visa holders and for the immediate families of the A3 visa holders.
B visa - We are all familiar with this kind of visa. This is what we know as the tourist visa. The B is further subdivided into B1 which is a visa for business purposes, B2 for pleasure and a combined B1/ B2 both for business and pleasure purposes.
C visa - This is known as a transit visa. This is given to an individual who is traveling to another country and has a brief lay over in the US or to one who is a passenger of a cruise ship where that ship happens to stop by a port in the US en route to another foreign county. A C visa is also given to a crewmember of an airline or a ship who travels to a US as a passenger with the intention of joining that airline or ship.
D visa - A D visa is a crew member visa. It is usually given as a C1 / D visa to those foreign crewmembers of an airline or ship and who enters the US as a passeneger therein.
E visa - An E visa could either be an E1 or E2 visa. The E1 is also called as Treaty Trader Visa while an E2 is known as Treaty Investor Visa. Both visas are given to citizens of countries where the US has an existing treaties involving commerce and navigation and the individual has or will engage in substantial trade in the US and his country or will develop and direct the operations of an enterprise that involves investment in substantial amount of capitalization. E3 visa is given only to nationals from Australia to perform services in specialty occupation.
F visa - Commonly known as student visa. This allows students to pursue academic education in the US. F2 visa is given to the dependents of the F1 visa holder.
G visa - This is issued to individuals involved in international organizations which are specifically identified by the President of the US through an executive order. Examples of these organizations are the World Bank, United Nations, WHO, IMF etc. the G visa is further subdivided into 5 categories.
H visa - This is where the temporary employment visa belongs. Here you can find the H1B which allows US employers to employ foreign workers in specialty occupations temporarily. AN H4 visa is issued to qualifying family members of the H1B visa holder. H1C visa was a type of visa issued to foreign registered nurses who are employed in areas with shortage of healthcare professionals. This visa has since expired and is no longer available. H2A visa is for those individuals working temporarily in the agriculture industry. An H2B is for seasonal, non agricultural employees such as those working in hotels, restaurants and other businesses which see a huge demand for workers on a specific time of the year. An H3 is a trainee visa where an individual is trained in the US in a job related training that is not available in his country.
I visa - This is the media visa. This is given to representatives of the foreign media who come here to the US solely to engage in their profession.
We shall have the remaining types of visas starting with the J visa on the next issue.
(Editor’s Note: This column is not a substitute for professional legal advice obtained from a US licensed immigration attorney. The information contained herein does not constitute a warranty or guarantee or legal advice regarding a reader’s specific immigration case. No attorney-client relationship is and shall be established with any reader. For any questions, comments and observations, please contact Atty. Marco Tomakin at [email protected],)
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