What is the difference between an immigrant visa and nonimmigrant visa?
IMMIGRANT VISA
An immigrant visa is the visa issued to persons wishing to permanently live in the U.S. In other words, they have an immigrant intent. The visa is issued at the U.S. Consulate after an application for an immigration visa has been approved.
The application for immigrant visa is called DS-260 and is available to people who have been approved as a qualified relative of a U.S. citizen or legal permanent resident. The application is also available to certain people who qualify in certain employment categories that most times also require labor certification. Lastly, the application is also available to those who have been selected for the Diversity Immigrant Visa program.
The immigrant visa application process is for people who are outside the United States. After entering the United States, the person who has received an immigrant visa from a U.S. Consulate will receive a permanent resident card ( or green card). The Adjustment of Status process, on the other hand, is available to people who are already in the United States and who qualify for an immigrant visa based on a family or employment category, or based on a diversity selection. In that case, an immigrant visa is not issued since the applicant, if approved, will receive a permanent resident card ( or green card) while in the United States.
NONIMMIGRANT VISA
A nonimmigrant visa is the visa issued to persons who live outside the U.S. but who wish to be in the U.S. on a temporary basis such as tourism, medical treatment, business, temporary work, or study.
Examples of common nonimmigrant visas are as follows: B Visa, The two types of B visa are the B-1 visa, issued to those seeking entry for business purposes, and the B-2 visa, issued to those seeking entry for tourism or other non-business purposes.
F Visa, F-1 visas are for full-time students, F2 visas are for spouses and children of F-1 visa holders and F-3 visas are for "border commuters" who reside in their country of origin while attending school in the United States. The M-1 visa is a type of student visa reserved for vocational and technical schools.
H Visa, H visas are issued to temporary workers in the United States.
The H-1B classification is for professional-level jobs that require a minimum of a bachelor's degree in a specific academic field. This visa also covers fashion models of distinguished merit and ability. The H-2A visa allows a foreign national entry into the US for temporary or seasonal agricultural work for eligible employers under certain conditions (seasonal job, no available US workers). The H-2B visa allows a foreign national entry into the US for temporary or seasonal non-agricultural work. The H-3 visa is available to those foreign nationals looking to "receive training in any field of endeavor. H-4 visa is issued to immediate family members of H visa holders. They are also eligible for employment.
There are many more nonimmigrant visa classifications that are not listed here.
Christopher Tompkins is an Immigration Attorney that has been handling Citizenship and Green Card Matters for over 20 years in New York City for residents of Manhattan, Brooklyn, Queens, the Bronx, and Staten Island. Contact him at 212 962-5363.
Email: [email protected]
Visit his website at http://www.ny-immigration-lawyer.net/
IMMIGRANT VISA
An immigrant visa is the visa issued to persons wishing to permanently live in the U.S. In other words, they have an immigrant intent. The visa is issued at the U.S. Consulate after an application for an immigration visa has been approved.
The application for immigrant visa is called DS-260 and is available to people who have been approved as a qualified relative of a U.S. citizen or legal permanent resident. The application is also available to certain people who qualify in certain employment categories that most times also require labor certification. Lastly, the application is also available to those who have been selected for the Diversity Immigrant Visa program.
The immigrant visa application process is for people who are outside the United States. After entering the United States, the person who has received an immigrant visa from a U.S. Consulate will receive a permanent resident card ( or green card). The Adjustment of Status process, on the other hand, is available to people who are already in the United States and who qualify for an immigrant visa based on a family or employment category, or based on a diversity selection. In that case, an immigrant visa is not issued since the applicant, if approved, will receive a permanent resident card ( or green card) while in the United States.
NONIMMIGRANT VISA
A nonimmigrant visa is the visa issued to persons who live outside the U.S. but who wish to be in the U.S. on a temporary basis such as tourism, medical treatment, business, temporary work, or study.
Examples of common nonimmigrant visas are as follows: B Visa, The two types of B visa are the B-1 visa, issued to those seeking entry for business purposes, and the B-2 visa, issued to those seeking entry for tourism or other non-business purposes.
F Visa, F-1 visas are for full-time students, F2 visas are for spouses and children of F-1 visa holders and F-3 visas are for "border commuters" who reside in their country of origin while attending school in the United States. The M-1 visa is a type of student visa reserved for vocational and technical schools.
H Visa, H visas are issued to temporary workers in the United States.
The H-1B classification is for professional-level jobs that require a minimum of a bachelor's degree in a specific academic field. This visa also covers fashion models of distinguished merit and ability. The H-2A visa allows a foreign national entry into the US for temporary or seasonal agricultural work for eligible employers under certain conditions (seasonal job, no available US workers). The H-2B visa allows a foreign national entry into the US for temporary or seasonal non-agricultural work. The H-3 visa is available to those foreign nationals looking to "receive training in any field of endeavor. H-4 visa is issued to immediate family members of H visa holders. They are also eligible for employment.
There are many more nonimmigrant visa classifications that are not listed here.
Christopher Tompkins is an Immigration Attorney that has been handling Citizenship and Green Card Matters for over 20 years in New York City for residents of Manhattan, Brooklyn, Queens, the Bronx, and Staten Island. Contact him at 212 962-5363.
Email: [email protected]
Visit his website at http://www.ny-immigration-lawyer.net/
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