| Visa Classifications Chart |
| Visa Class |
Description |
| A-1 / A-2 |
Foreign Diplomatic Personnel: Individuals in the U.S. as employees of a
foreign government, e.g., ambassador, minister, diplomat, or consular officer.
Dependent of A-1/A-2 Visa Holder: Immediate family members of foreign
government official. (Dependents also carry A-1 / A-2 status.) May engage in
full- or part-time study. All work (on or off-campus) must be first approved by
the Department of State by using form I-566. An Employment Authorization
Document (EAD) card from the INS is required. |
| A-3 |
Employee of Foreign Government Official: Attendants, servants, or personal
employees of foreign government officials. |
| B-1 |
Visitor for Business: Individual in the U.S. for a short time to engage in
business activities such as negotiating contracts for overseas employees,
consulting with business associates, attending professional conferences, or
conducting independent research.; May not engage in any employment in the
U.S., including salaried work or services performed on an independent basis.
Incidental part-time study is allowed. |
| B-2 |
Visitor for Tourism: Individuals in the U.S. for travel, tourism, or recreation.
No employment is allowed. Reimbursement of expenses is prohibited.
Incidental part-time study is allowed. May also enroll in short-term English
language courses as long as the course of study is under 18 hours per week
(part-time) and of "short duration."
Prospective Student or Prospective Scholar: Individuals who enter the U.S.
indicating a clear intent to study here or to change to J-1 Exchange Visitor
Status. Consulate notation on visa page indicates "Prospective" status.
Individual must apply for a change of status before the expiration date on the
I-94. May engage in full-time study. May not work including the time in which
the application for a change of status is pending. |
| Visa
Waiver |
Waiver for Business (VWB) and Tourism (VWT): Individual permitted to
enter the U.S. without a visa for a stay limited to 90 days. Available only to
citizens of countries designated by the D.S. State Department. No extension or
change of status is allowed for this category. Work and study restrictions are
the same as B-1/B-2 counterparts. |
| C-1 |
Aliens in Transit: Individuals in transit from one country to another "stopping
over" in the U.S. |
| D-1 / D-2 |
Alien Crewman: Crew members employed on a vessel or aircraft who are in
the U.S. on "stopovers." |
| E-1 |
Treaty Trader: Individual in the U.S. to conduct trade under a treaty between
their country and the U.S., and key employees of companies trading under such
treaty. E-1 dependents may engage in part- or full-time study. No employment
is allowed for dependents. |
| E-2 |
Treaty Investor: Individuals in the U.S. to develop or direct the operations of
an enterprise in which they have invested substantial investments. Must be
based on a treaty between visa holder's country and the U.S. E-2 dependents
may engage in part- or full-time study. No employment is allowed for
dependents. |
| F-1 |
Student: Individual in the U.S. engaging in a full course of academic or
language study in an accredited educational program. |
| F-2 |
Dependent of F-1 Visa Holder: Spouse and/ or children of an F-1 student.
May engage in part- or full-time study. No employment is allowed. |
| G-1
G-2
G-3
G-4 |
Representative of International Organization: Individuals in the U.S. as
representatives of an international organization (e.g., the United Nations) and
their dependents. Dependents may engage in part- or full-time study. All work
(on- or off-campus) for dependents must be first approved by the Department
of State by using form I-566. An Employment Authorization Document (EAD)
card from the INS is required. |
| G-5 |
Personal Employee of G-1, G-2, G-3, or G-4 Visa Holder |
| H-1A |
Registered Nurse: Individuals in the U.S. to perform professional nursing
services for a specific employer for a fixed period of time. May engage in
part-time study while maintaining H visa status. |
| H-1B |
Temporary Worker in a Specialty Occupation: Individuals in the U.S. to
perform professional services in a specific position for a fixed period of time.;
Employment authorization is granted for an initial period of up to 3 years.
Extensions for an additional 3 years are possible. May engage in part-time
study while maintaining H visa status. |
| H-2A |
Temporary agricultural worker. May engage in part-time study while
maintaining H visa status. |
| H-2B |
Skilled or Unskilled Worker: Individuals in the U.S. in a temporary position
for which a shortage of U.S. workers exists, working for a specific employer
for a fixed period of time. May engage in part-time study while maintaining H
visa status. |
| H-3 |
Trainee: Individuals in the U.S. for a temporary period to participate in as
training program provided by a specific employer. May engage in part-time
study while maintaining H visa status. |
| H-4 |
Dependent of H Visa Holder: May engage in full- or part-time study. No
employment allowed. |
| I |
Representative of Foreign Information Media: Individuals in the U.S. as
journalists or representatives of international media and their dependents. |
| J-1 |
Exchange Visitor (Student): Individuals in the U.S. as exchange visitors for
the primary purpose of studying at an academic institution under the auspices
of the United States Information Agency and a Designated Program Sponsor.
Must maintain full-time study unless authorized by Responsible Officer (RO)
of Designated Program Sponsor. May be employed on the campus of the school
in which they are enrolled to a maximum of 20 hours per week with prior
written authorization from the RO of their Designated Program. May work
off-campus under limited circumstances provided they have obtained prior
written authorization from the RO. Employment does not require additional
permission from INS or an EAD. Eligible for 18 months of academic training
following completion of their program (36 months for postdoctoral training).
Exchange Visitor (Short-term Scholar, Professor, Researcher, or
Specialist): Individuals in the U.S. as visiting researchers or professors under
the auspices of the United States Information Agency and a Designated
Program Sponsor. Eligible to receive payment from the organization listed on
Form IAP-66 as the source of funds and/or the Designated Program Sponsor
for a period of validity as stated on the IAP-66. Under limited circumstances,
may receive compensation from other institutions provided prior written
authorization from the RO of their Designated Program has been secured. The
IAP-66 authorizes the above stated employment. An Employment
Authorization Document (EAD) card is not required. |
| J-1 |
Au Pair: Individuals in the U.S. under the auspices of the United States
Information Agency and a Designated Program Sponsor to serve as a live-in
child-care provider for a host family. |
| J-2 |
Dependent of J-1 Visa Holder: May engage in part- or full-time study.
Eligible to apply to INS for work authorization. Once the EAD is issued by
INS, the J-2 may work for any employer. Employer must reverify employment
authorization after expiration date on EAD. Employment cannot be needed for
the financial support of J-1 visa holder. It must be for purposes unrelated to
basic support. |
| L-1 |
Intracompany Transferee: Individuals in the U.S. who have been transferred
from a subsidiary, affiliate, or branch office overseas to the U.S. to work in an
executive, managerial, or specialist capacity. May engage in part-time study. |
| L-2 |
Dependent of L-1 Visa Holder: May engage in part- or full-time study. No
employment allowed. |
| M-1 |
Vocational Student: Individuals in the U.S. enrolled in a vocational school or
program in the U.S. Must study full-time unless authorized by Designated
School Official (DSO). May be employed for practical training in field related
to major following completion of studies for a maximum of 6 months. EAD
card from INS required. |
| M-2 |
Dependent of M-1 Visa Holder: May engage in part- or full-time studies. No
employment allowed. |
| NATO 1-6 |
NATO Personnel: Individuals in the U.S. as members of the armed services of
the nations of NATO, staff members, attendants, servants, and personal
employees of NATO personnel. |
| O-1 |
Person of Extraordinary Ability: Individual of extraordinary ability in the
sciences, arts, education, business, or athletics who are in the U.S. to work for a
sponsoring employer or organization. May engage in part-time study while
maintaining O status. |
| O-2 |
Accompanying Personnel of O-1 Visa Holder: May engage in part-time
study while maintaining O status. |
| O-3 |
Dependent of O-1 and O-2 Visa Holder: May engage in part- or full-time
study. No employment allowed. |
| P-1 |
Internationally Recognized Athlete, Entertainment Group, or Essential
Support Personnel: May engage in part-time study while maintaining P status. |
| P-2 |
Artist or Entertainer Under a Reciprocal Exchange Program: May engage
in part-time study while maintaining P status. |
| P-3 |
Artist or Entertainer in a Culturally Unique Program: May engage in
part-time study while maintaining P status. |
| P-4 |
Dependents of P-1, P-2, or P-3 Visa Holder: May engage in part- or full-time
study. No employment allowed. |
| Q |
Participant in an International Cultural Exchange Program |
| R-1 |
Religious Worker: May engage in part-time study. |
| R-2 |
Dependent of a R-1 Visa Holder: May engage in part- or full-time study. No
employment is allowed. |
| TN |
Trade NAFTA: Professionals from Canada or Mexico who enter the U.S.
under the NAFTA agreements. May engage in part-time study. |
| TD |
Dependents of TN Visa Holder: May engage in part- or full-time study. No
employment is allowed. |