UNITED STATES
APPLY FOR YOUR VISA
Millions of foreigners travel to the United States every year. Some are tourists visiting relatives and friends, others travel for professional engagements, attend conferences, conventions, and business meetings. Others are students who attend school or university courses in various states of the USA. Others travel for medical treatment, volunteer work, such as journalists, airline crew members, or sports competitions. Finally, many citizens of other countries settle in the United States permanently.
A citizen of a foreign country who wishes to travel to the United States must generally obtain a visa.
The visa shall be entered in the traveller’s passport or other appropriate travel document. In some cases, you can travel without a visa if you meet certain requirements.
Visas are divided into two main categories: those intended for a temporary stay in the United States ("non-immigrant" visas) and those required by those intending to move permanently to the United States ("immigrant" visas). Within these main categories, there are multiple types of visas, depending on the reason for travel.
Non-Immigration Visas
The categories of visas
The visa category depends on the reason for your trip to the USA. Here are the main categories of non-immigrant visas and their features:
Business, tourism and medical care
Category B visas (B1, B2, and B1/B2) are intended for those who intend to travel to the USA for business, tourism or for medical treatment, but are not entitled to use the Visa Waiver Program ("visa-free travel" program).
- If you intend to travel to the USA for business or to attend meetings or conferences, you need a B1 visa.
- If you intend to travel to the USA as a tourist or for medical treatment, you need a B2 visa.
Transit
If you intend to transit through the USA before reaching another country as your final destination, you need a C1 visa.
Crew Members
If you intend to travel to the USA as a member of an air crew or ship, you need a C1/D visa.
Commerce or Investment
If you intend to go to the USA to undertake a business (import-export), trade in services, or for investment activities, you need an E visa.
Students
If you intend to travel to the USA for study purposes, to attend an academic course of study at a school or university or a non-academic/professional course, you need an F, M visa.
Journalists and media workers
If you intend to travel to the USA for journalistic or media support, you need a I visa.
Cultural exchange
If you intend to travel to the USA to participate in a cultural exchange program or for research purposes, you will need a J visa.
Temporary workers
If you intend to go to the USA to work for a limited period of time, there are different categories of reference visa depending on the type of work you intend to do: visit the page of category H, L, O, P, Q, R visas.
Diplomats, officials or military
If you intend to travel to the USA to take on diplomatic and official positions of a governmental or military nature, you need a A, G, NATO visa.