People Visas United Type States Travel Period Visitor

There are many types of "non-immigrant" (not intended to live in the United States permanently) visas for people who want to visit the United States for a short period of time. Here are some of the most "common" (typical; usual) types.

Type J, "Exchange Visitor Visas," allow people to enter the United States for a defined period of time, usually for an educational or cultural experience. People who receive these visas can include "au pairs" (nannies; people brought from another country to take care of a family's children), "Fulbright scholars" (students who receive competitive scholarships from the U.S. government), professors and teachers.

Type B-1 visas are used for people who are traveling on business. These can include businesspeople, nannies, and "competitive athletes" (people playing sports to win something).

Type H visas are used to bring in people who have knowledge, skills, and abilities needed by the United States. For example, an H-1B visa is "issued" (given) to people who have "highly specialized knowledge" (expertise) in a field, such as computer science or engineering. H-2A visas are given to "migrant laborers," or people who come into the country for a few weeks or months to work in agriculture, helping to plant or "harvest" (collect food from plants) "crops" (plants grown for food, clothing, or some other use).

Students generally have an F-1 or M-1 visa. An F-1 visa is for academic programs; an M-1 visa is for studying at nonacademic institutions, especially for "vocational" (hands-on; job-related) training. Students who will be studying less than 18 hours per week usually have a type B visitor visa instead.