A “nonimmigrant” visa is a temporary visa that allows the holder to apply to enter the United States for a specific purpose. Here is a list of U.S. nonimmigrant visa classifications:

A-1 Ambassador, minister, diplomatic or consular officer, and family

A-2 Other foreign government officials and family

A-3 Attendant, servant, or personal employee of A-1 and A-2 visa holders, and family

B-1 Temporary visitor for business

B-2 Temporary visitor for pleasure

C-1 Alien in transit directly through United States

C-1D Combined transit and crewman

C-2 Alien in transit to UN headquarters

C-3 Foreign government official, members of immediate family, attendant, servant, or personal employee, in transit

C-4 Transit without visa, see TWOV

D-1 Crewmember departing on same vessel of arrival

D-2 Crewmember departing by means other than vessel of arrival

E-1 Treaty trader, spouse and children

E-2 Treaty investor, spouse and children

F-1 Academic student

F-2 Spouse or child of F-1 visa holder

G Foreign government representative to international organization or international organization officer/employee, family, and domestic employees

H-1B Specialist/professional, DOD worker, and fashion model

H-1C Nurse going to work for up to three years in health professional shortage areas

H-2A Temporary agricultural worker

H-2B Temporary worker: skilled and unskilled

H-3 Trainee

H-4 Spouse or child of H-1, H-2, or H-3 visa holder

I Foreign media representative

J-1 Exchange visitor

J-2 Spouse or child of J-1 visa holder

K-1 Fiancé(e)

K-2 Minor child of K-1 visa holder

K-3 Spouse of a U.S. citizen

K-4 Child of K-3 visa holder

L-1A Multinational organization executive or manager

L-1B Multinational organization specialized knowledge worker

L-2 Spouse or child of L-1 visa holder

M-1 Vocational or other nonacademic student

M-2 Spouse or child of M-1 visa holder

N-8 Parent of foreign national classified SK-3 “Special Immigrant”

N-9 Child of person classified as N-8, SK-1, SK-2, or SK-4 “Special Immigrant” NATO Representative to NATO, staff, family, and domestic staff

O-1 Person of extraordinary ability in sciences, arts, education, business, or athletics

O-2 Person accompanying/supporting O-1 visa holder

O-3 Spouse or child of O-1 or O-2 visa holder

P-1 Individual or team athlete or member of an entertainment group

P-2 Artist or entertainer in reciprocal exchange program

P-3 Artist or entertainer in culturally unique program

P-4 Spouse or child of P-1, P-2, or P-3 visa holder

Q-1 International cultural exchange visitor

Q-2 Irish citizen in cultural exchange program pursuant to Irish Peace Process Cultural and Training Program (Walsh Visa)

Q-3 Spouse or child of Q-2 visa holder

R-1 Religious worker

R-2 Spouse or child of R-1 visa holder

S-5 Informant to testify in court

S-6 Informant with terrorism information

T-1 Victim of trafficking in persons

T-2 Spouse of T-1 visa holder

T-3 Child of T-1 visa holder

T-4 Parent of T-1 visa holder (if T-1 victim is under 21 years of age)

TD Spouse or child accompanying TN visa holder

TN Canadian and Mexican professionals (NAFTA)

TPS Temporary protected status

TWOV Transit without visa

U-1 Victim of certain criminal activity

U-2 Spouse of U-1 visa

U-3 Child of U-1 visa holder

U-4 Parent of U-1 visa holder, if U-1 is under 21 years of age

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, 2001, 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, 2001, and has been pending for at least three years

V-3 Child of V-1 or V-2 visa holder