There are two primary kinds of US visa offered by the United States Citizenship and Immigration Services, which are then broken down into more specific categories. The two primary kinds of US visas are referred to simply as immigrant and non-immigrant visas.
Immigrant US visas are provided to individuals who want to work toward eventually gaining US citizenship. There is a limit on the number of such visas provided by the United States government, with applicants usually put on a waiting list before they can obtain their visa. Non-immigrant US visas, on the other hand, are designed for those who live outside the United States but wish to enter the country temporarily for various reasons, including business, medical treatment, temporary work or study, and tourism. Non-immigrant US visas usually have no waiting list but do not give the holder the authorization to live or work in the country.
There is a wide array of subcategories that exist within these two classifications. For individuals who wish to enter the United States, it is a good idea to do some research on the most suitable US visa for their requirements. Visas are normally situation specific; therefore applicants need to understand what the requirements are for each type.
Business visitors, government officials, medical travelers, fiances of US citizens and tourists all have their own type of visa, while those who can get visas that give them permission to work and live in the country can receive them because they have been sponsored by family members or employers.
