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Nonimmigrant Visas

This category deals with visas allowing temporary visit for any purpose. Many of these categories permit eventually applying for green card.

a
A Visa edit termsearch for term
--A-1 Visa edit termsearch for term

To qualify for an A-1 (or A-2 visa), you must be traveling to the United States on behalf of your national government to engage solely in official activities for that government.  The fact that there may be government interest or control in a given organization is not in itself the defining factor in determining if you qualify for an A visa; the particular duties or services that will be performed must be governmental in character or nature, as determined by the United States Department of State, in accordance with U.S. immigration laws. Government officials traveling to the United States to perform non-governmental functions of a commercial nature, or traveling as tourists, require some other appropriate visa, and do not qualify for A visas.

--A-2 Visa edit termsearch for term

To qualify for an A-2 (or A-1 visa), you must be traveling to the United States on behalf of your national government to engage solely in official activities for that government. The fact that there may be government interest or control in a given organization is not in itself the defining factor in determining if you qualify for an A visa; the particular duties or services that will be performed must be governmental in character or nature, as determined by the United States Department of State, in accordance with U.S. immigration laws. Government officials traveling to the United States to perform non-governmental functions of a commercial nature, or traveling as tourists, require some other appropriate visa, and do not qualify for A visas.

--A-3 Visa edit termsearch for term

Personal employees, attendants and servants of A-1 and A-2 visa holders.

t
Test Term edit termsearch for term

testing

--testingagain edit termsearch for term

testing again

l
LCA edit termsearch for term

Labor Condition Application. This is a part of some nonimmigrant visa applications process including H-1 visas. Not to be confused with "Labor Certification" also known as PERM, which is a part of the green card process.

a
AC21 H-1 Portability edit termsearch for term

AC21 is the name given to a law that provides for several matters including the ability to change jobs while an employment-based green card is pending (I-485 AC21 portability) and to start working for an H-1B employer as soon as transfer petition is filed with the USCIS.

Appeals and MTR - Nonimmigrant Visas edit termsearch for term

These are topics related to appeals and motions for reconsideration or reopening of decisions (MTR) by govt. agencies such as USCIS, USDOL, etc.

g
General Nonimmigrant Visa edit termsearch for term
t
test_term edit termsearch for term

This is a test term. See http://www.immigration.com

b
B Visa edit termsearch for term
--B-1 Visa edit termsearch for term
--B-2 Visa edit termsearch for term
c
C & D Visa edit termsearch for term
--C Visa edit termsearch for term
d
--D Visa edit termsearch for term
e
E Visa edit termsearch for term
--E-1 Visa edit termsearch for term
--E-2 Visa edit termsearch for term
--E-3 Visa edit termsearch for term
f
F Visa edit termsearch for term
--F-1 Visa edit termsearch for term
--F-2 Visa edit termsearch for term
g
G Visa edit termsearch for term
--G-4 Visa edit termsearch for term
--G-5 Visa edit termsearch for term
h
H Visa edit termsearch for term
--H-1 Visa edit termsearch for term
--H-1B2 edit termsearch for term

DOD (Department of Defense) project visas.

--H-2 Visa edit termsearch for term
--H-3 Visa edit termsearch for term
--H-4 Visa edit termsearch for term
i
I-94 edit termsearch for term

I-94 aka Arrival Departure Record is what governs your status in the USA. An expired I-94 can lead to bar from entering USA for 3 to 10 years. See "Unlawful Presence."

I Visa edit termsearch for term
j
J Visa edit termsearch for term
--J-1 Visa edit termsearch for term
--J-2 Visa edit termsearch for term
h
--Home Residency Requirement edit termsearch for term
k
K Visa edit termsearch for term
--K-1 Visa edit termsearch for term
--K-3 Visa edit termsearch for term
l
L Visa edit termsearch for term
--L-1 Visa edit termsearch for term
----L-1A Visa edit termsearch for term
----L-1B Visa edit termsearch for term
--L-2 Visa edit termsearch for term
m
M Visa edit termsearch for term
--M-1 Visa edit termsearch for term
--M-2 Visa edit termsearch for term
n
N Visa edit termsearch for term
o
O-1 Visa edit termsearch for term
p
P Visa edit termsearch for term
--P-1 Visa edit termsearch for term
--P-2 Visa edit termsearch for term
--P-3 Visa edit termsearch for term
q
Q Visa edit termsearch for term
r
R Visa edit termsearch for term
s
S Visa edit termsearch for term
t
T Visa edit termsearch for term
TN Visa edit termsearch for term
u
U Visa edit termsearch for term
v
V Visa edit termsearch for term
a
Authorized Period of Stay edit termsearch for term

This is a complicated term. Very simply (there is a lot more to it), you could have your status expire and still be authorized to stay in USA awaiting the outcome of a legally filed petition. This is something less than "Status" but much better than "Unlawful Presence."

c
Change of status edit termsearch for term
e
Extension edit termsearch for term

When used in relation to immigration, this is another name for extending your status.

m
Miscellaneous edit termsearch for term
s
Status edit termsearch for term

When used in relation to immigration, this is another name for being LEGALLY present in the USA

t
Transfer edit termsearch for term
u
Unlawful Presence edit termsearch for term

This is another complicated concept with some very serious consequences. Briefly, if you have been unlawfully present in USA for more than 180 days, you cannot come back to USA for 3 years and if unlawfully present for a year or more, you cannot come back for 10 years. Very generally speaking unlawful presence begins after expiration of the I-94 or after having been asked by the govt. to leave USA.

w
Waiver edit termsearch for term
Nonimmigrant Visas
Green Cards
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