(Study, Research, Cultural Exchange, Training, and Vocational NIVs)
If you want to visit the U.S. temporarily for study, work, tourism, medical care, or business, you must apply for an NIV. To apply for any visa in this category, you must fulfill the criteria for that visa. Also, you must demonstrate to the visa officer that you have strong ties to your home country and intend to return once your visit is complete. At Udeti, we will work with you to determine the best visa for your specific needs and provide guidance on how to pass your visa interview.
(Study, Research, Cultural Exchange, Training, and Vocational NIVs)
The U.S. remains the top choice for students looking to study abroad. If you have been admitted to your desired university, applying for a student visa is the next step toward fulfilling your U.S. study ambition. Your application must be accepted and approved by a school, program, or university before applying for a student visa. Once accepted, your institute will provide the approval documentation needed to apply for a visa.
The visa you should apply for will be determined by the type of program you intend to pursue.
If you wish to study in the U.S., the F1 visa is most likely your best option. It is the most common type of international student visa. An F1 visa is for students seeking programs requiring more than 18 hours of study per week. On an F1 visa, you can study at a recognized U.S. college and are permitted to work part-time on campus (fewer than 20 hours per week). Students may also work on curricular practical training (CPT) before the end of their program, and many students work on optional practical training (OPT) after completing their studies. To be eligible for an F1, you must be approved for enrollment in a recognized SEVP (Student and Exchange Visitor Program) school or university in the U.S Generally, you can stay in the United States on an F1 student visa for as long as you are enrolled as a full-time student, even if your F1 visa authorization date expires while you are there.
F2s are issued to spouses and children of F1 visa holders. F2 dependents are approved at the visa window if they can prove they have the financial means to live in the U.S. Often, F2s will join their spouse or parent after the F1 secures a job on OPT.
J1 visas are given to students, trainees, interns, teachers, researchers, or lecturers visiting the U.S. on an exchange program, thus the term exchange visitor visa. You must participate in a program designed by the U.S. Department of State (DOS), via its Bureau of Educational and Cultural Affairs (ECA). This visa aims to encourage cross-cultural educational interactions between Americans and other nationalities.
J2 visas are issued to spouses and children of J1 visa holders. Dependents can study without the need for a separate permit. They can also work after receiving employment authorization from U.S. Immigration and Citizenship Services (USCIS). Generally, those earning income, such as post-doctoral researchers on J visas, will have dependents join them in the United States. Without a means to support the dependent(s), a J2 visa is unlikely to be approved.
You can apply for an M1 vocational student visa to attend a non-academic or vocational school in the U.S. While the application procedure for the F1 and M1 visas are similar, the M1 visa is time-stamped upon entry, and you cannot overstay your visit. Most M1 visa applicants seek to complete pilot training in the United States. M1 visa holders are not allowed to work during their studies. Hence, you will have to prove that sufficient money is available to cover all your tuition and living expenses for the intended stay.
M2 visas are issued to spouses and children of M1 visa holders. Generally, attaining an M2 visa is difficult as both the M1 and M2 must demonstrate they can support themselves in the United States. Dependents cannot apply for admission to a university or accept a job under an M2 visa.
If you plan on coming to the U.S. to work for a specified time, then you should consider applying for an NIV work visa. There are many options available under this category. It is essential to carefully consider which U.S. work visa best fits your goal and the type of work you wish to undertake. Each of them requires the potential employer to submit a petition with USCIS. In addition, your job contract or visa application should specify the length of time you will be working.
If you have a bachelor’s degree and work in a specialist position such as an engineer, architect, doctor, professor, or business administrator, then you may apply for an H1B visa. The H1B visa is a non-immigrant work visa that permits firms in the United States to recruit foreign employees for a specific time. After obtaining an H1B visa, you may keep it for up to six years. Every year, the USCIS approves approximately 65,000 H1B visa applications. However, this visa cap does not apply to the 20,000 applicants with a master’s degree or H1B renewals.
H-4 visas are issued to spouses and children of H1B visa holders. Certain H-4 dependent spouses of H-1B non-immigrants can file Form I-765, Application for Employment Authorization. For H4 interviews, the officer will often ask for a marriage certificate and wedding photos. For H4 children, they may ask for birth certificates.
The L1 visa is for intra-company transfers. This visa temporarily allows companies to relocate staff in specialized jobs to the United States. The L1 visa is further divided into two sub-categories-
To apply for an L1 visa, you must have worked for at least one year in the previous three years for an overseas subsidiary, parent, affiliate, or branch office of the U.S. firm to which you are transferring. In addition, you must have worked in an administrative or executive capacity or as a specialist knowledge worker for this period.
L2 visas are issued to spouses and children of L1 visa holders. Dependents can work in the U.S., provided they qualify for employment authorization. The officer will often ask for a marriage certificate and wedding photos for these interviews. For L2 children, they may ask for birth certificates.
If you are an athlete, artist, or entertainer and want to enter the U.S. for a specific event, competition, or performance, then you need to apply for the P NIV.
There are three categories of P visas:
P1 visas are issued to athletes and entertainers that compete at an internationally recognized level.
P1 visa is further divided into two sub-categories-
P2 visas are issued to artists and entertainers coming temporarily to the U.S. to participate in exchange programs.
P3 visas are issued to artists and entertainers coming to perform, teach, or coach under a culturally unique program.
P4 visas are issued to spouses and children of qualified P visa holders. Dependents are not permitted to work in the United States.
If you are an individual with exceptional sports, arts, education, science, or business skills, you might qualify for the non-immigrant O1 visa.
What does it mean to have exceptional skills?
It refers to a degree of skill in your specified field that indicates you are among the few people who have reached the very top. You will need an employment offer from your U.S. employer or a sponsor to get the O visa. For example, if you are an artist, you will need a studio to sponsor you. There are no restrictions on the number of O visas issued each year. Once given, the O1 visa is typically good for up to three years, with extensions of stay possible.
O visas are divided into three categories-
O-3 visas are issued to spouses and children of O1 and O2 visa holders. Dependents may study but not work in the United States.
Are you planning a trip to the United States to meet your family members or for business? Perhaps, you just want to travel and visit some of the glorious American tourist spots. You will require a temporary travel visa for your visit. Visitor visas are non-immigrant visas through which you can enter the United States briefly for business (B1 visa), tourism (B2 visa), and transit (C/D visa). B1 and B2 visas are the most prevalent forms of visa given in the United States for various reasons. In addition, they are frequently combined and issued as a single visa (B1B2). B1B2 visa holders are permitted to stay in the U.S. for up to six months at a time.
The B1B2 visa class is for tourism, medical treatment, or family visits. This visa will be suitable for you if you are planning a short-term visit to the U.S. B1B2 visas are also used for travelers wishing to pursue commercial or business activities. For example, with this visa, you can participate in a conference, make an estate settlement, negotiate a contract, attend training, or meet with clients for a short period. Depending on your nationality, you can typically obtain a B1B2 visa for ten years. There is no certainty that you will receive this visa, so do not buy plane tickets or book hotel rooms till your visa gets approved. You are not permitted to work or be hired by a U.S. employer on a B1B2 visa. To be employed in the U.S., you should look at other visa categories, such as the H1B or L1 visa.
There are no dependent visa categories available for B1B2 visas. Therefore, each applicant needs their own application.
C1/D (transit/crew) visas are non-immigrant visas for crew members and passengers of international ships and airplanes traveling through the United States en route to a foreign destination. This visa will allow you to pause in the U.S. for a brief period before continuing your route. A C1/D visa allows for a maximum stay in the U.S. of up to 180 days per entry. Crew personnel aboard ships are an exception to this regulation. They must depart the United States with their ship within 29 days. You are not permitted to work for a company under this visa. The following are the two sub-categories of visas available under this category:
C (transit visa) is required if you are an international citizen traveling to another country via the United States. If you wish to use the layover privileges for reasons other than transit through the U.S., such as visiting friends or sightseeing, then you must apply for the type of visa necessary for that purpose, such as a B1B2 visa.
D (Crew Visa) is required if you are a crew member serving on board a foreign ship or aircraft in the United States. Crew personnel often utilize a combined transit/crew (C1/D) visa.
If you apply for both a C1/D and a B1B2 visa, you only pay one visa application fee. Ensure you tell the officer you would like both visas at the interview window. It is possible that the officer will issue the C1/D but find you unqualified for the B1B2. Asking for two visa types does not hurt your chances of getting the C1/D.
There are no dependent visa categories available for C1/D visas. Therefore, a spouse or child accompanying a crew member must obtain a B1B2 or B2 visa.
