The correct US visa category is important to all US visa applicants. There are lots of US visas to choose from and costs vary according to the visa category. It is important that all non-immigrant visa applicants choose the visa category that best suits their needs and qualifications. The table below lists the US visa categories along with a brief description, document requirements and costs. Visa fees were raised by the Department of State on June 4 2010.
Definitions of Required Documentation
DOL: For this category of visa, the U.S. employer has to get a foreign labor certificate from the U.S. Department of Labor, before filing a petition with USCIS.
USCIS: The DOL labor petition has to be approved by DHS, United States Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS)
SEVIS: All student and exchange visitors must have a receipt from the Student and Exchange Visitor Information System (SEVIS), which shows program approval for their course of study.
US Visa Categories
|
Purpose of Travel to U.S. and Nonimmigrant Visas |
Visa Type |
Required: Before Applying for Visa* |
Cost in UD Dollars |
|
Athletes, amateur & professional (compete for prize money only) |
B-1 |
(NA) |
140 |
|
Au pairs (exchange visitor) |
J |
SEVIS |
140 |
|
Australian professional specialty |
E-3 |
DOL |
390 |
|
Border Crossing Card: Mexico |
BCC |
(NA) |
140 |
|
Business visitors |
B-1 |
(NA) |
140 |
|
Crewmembers |
D |
(NA) |
140 |
|
Diplomats and foreign government officials |
A |
(NA) |
No fee |
|
Domestic employees or nanny -must be accompanying a foreign national employer |
B-1 |
(NA) |
140 |
|
Employees of a designated international organization, and NATO |
G1-G5, NATO |
(NA) |
No fee |
|
Exchange visitors |
J |
SEVIS |
140 |
|
Foreign military personnel stationed in the U.S. |
A-2 |
(NA) |
No fee |
|
Foreign nationals with extraordinary ability in Sciences, Arts, Education, Business or Athletics |
O |
USCIS |
150 |
|
Free Trade Agreement (FTA) Professionals: Chile, Singapore |
H-1B1 |
DOL |
150 |
|
International cultural exchange visitors |
Q |
USCIS |
150 |
|
Intra-company transferees |
L |
USCIS |
150 |
|
Medical treatment, visitors for |
B-2 |
(NA) |
140 |
|
Media, journalists |
I |
(NA) |
140 |
|
NAFTA professional workers: Mexico, Canada |
TN/TD |
(NA) |
140 |
|
Nurses coming to health professional shortage areas |
H1-C |
USCIS |
150 |
|
Performing athletes, artists, entertainers |
P |
USCIS |
150 |
|
Physician |
J, H-1B |
SEVIS |
150 |
|
Professor, scholar, teacher (exchange visitor) |
J |
SEVIS |
140 |
|
Religious workers |
R |
(USCIS) |
150 |
|
Specialty occupations in fields requiring highly specialized knowledge |
H-1B |
DOL then USCIS |
150 |
|
Students: academic, vocational |
F, M |
SEVIS |
140 |
|
Temporary agricultural workers |
H-2A |
DOL then USCIS |
150 |
|
Temporary workers performing other services or labor of a temporary or seasonal nature. |
H-2B |
DOL then USCIS |
150 |
|
Tourism, vacation, pleasure visitors |
B2 |
(NA) |
140 |
|
Training in a program not primarily for employment |
H-3 |
USCIS |
150 |
|
Treaty traders/treaty investors |
E |
(NA) |
390 |
|
Transiting the United States |
C |
(NA) |
140 |
