ANS:-There are more than 20 non-imigrant  visa (NIV) types ,for people travelling to US temporarily. Many  more types of immigrant visas(iv)exist for those going to live permanentaly in US.

Q:- What are the types of non-immigrant visas?

ANS:-NIVs are applicable to person who can prove to the consuler  officer that they  do not to immigrate. However ,there are some visas exempt qualified applicants from having to prove this .These types are H-1,L-1and their derivates ,H-4 and L-2.

           A category and  G-category visas are granted for official purposes.Here ,A-1 visas are applies to ambassadors ,ministers,diplomats and immediate family members ,whereas A-2 visas are apply to other  foreign government officials.The G-category visas are applicable to representatives of governments to international organization like the UN.If you intend to go on business ,you would need a B-1visa ,while for a tourist ,a B-2 visa would be applicable .

      A C-category visa is for transiting through the US, while media representatives need an I-visa . For exchange programmes ,the J-category  and Q-category visas are needed.

            Visas for study and employment are among the most sought after .Students  traveling for academic purposes are issued F-1 visas and their spouses and children  F-2 category .Non academic (those going for vocational training ) and language students on the other hand,travel on M-category  visas . Employment  visas fall broadly  under two category ,H and  L.The H-1B classification—the one most discussed in India –is for professional –level jobs that requires a minimum of a bachelor’s  degree in a specific  academic area  demonstrated skill in the relevant area.Fashion models of repute are also issued H-1B  visas nurses going  to work for upto 3 years in health professional  shortage area  do so on H-1C .H-2A  visas are applicable to  temporary  agriculture workers  and H-2B  visas to other workers . Spouses of  children  of H- category  visas are issued  H-4 visas.

                        In the case of intracompany  transferees ,L-category visas are issued . P-visas  are issued to athletes  and entertainers , while R-visas for religious  workers .The non-immigrant visas category runs from A to V.

 Q:-WHAT ARE IMMIGRANT  VISAS  ?

ANS:-IVs are for people who plan  to live ,work or study  and  stay permanently   in the US. Most IVs require an  underlying petition approved by the US Department of Homeland Security (DHS ) ,citizenship and immigration  Services (US  CIS) before  any  IV  processing starts. In general ,in order  to be eligible to apply for an  immigrant  visa,a foreign  citizen must be sponsored by a US  citizen relative(s) or by a prospective employer . Major  immigrant categories  include immediate  relatives, special  immigrants  (e.g. adopted  children),family –sponsored  and  employers –sponsored.                    

              Spouses  and children of legal permanent residents,as well as sibling  and adult children of US  citizens are subject to waiting lists . Immigrant  visas for the spouse and  minor unmarried children of a US citizen ,and the parents of a US citizen who is 21 years or older  are not numerically limited and under those categories are not subject to waiting lists.

        Additionally ,the  diversity visa program  provides a certain  number of permanent resident visas annually.  A computer – generated random lottery choose applicants for diversity visas . These visas are drawn from countries  with low rates of immigration to the US with no visas  going to citizens of  countries sending more than 50,000  immigrants to the  US in the past  five years . So m India is not eligible  for this programme.

 Q:-WHAT  IS THE  GREEN  CARD ?

A  United States Permanent Resident card , also known popularly as the green card  , is an identification card  for a permanent residents of the US  who is not the citizen . An  immigrant  usually has to go through  a three step process to get the Green card , which entitles him\her to live  and work permanently  in the US  . The  whole process may take  several years depending upon the type of application and the country of  region .

 Q :- WHAT IS THE VISA WAVIERR PROGRAM (VWP)?

   The VWP enables nationals of 27  countries to travel to the US  for tourism or business for stays of 90  days  or less  without obtaining a visa . These  include 22 European countries besides  Australia, New Zealand , Japan , Singapore and Burnel.