Navigating the alphabet soup of U.S. immigration classifications and visas can be daunting. There are a myriad of visa titles related to work, family, or student statuses, among others. The Immigration Act of 1990 established new classifications for regulating foreign entry into the United States. Although there have been a few new additions and some amendments since then, the basic categories enacted in 1990 remain the same. Below is a list of available nonimmigrant visas provided by the U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services.

A-1: For ambassadors, public ministers, consular officers, or career diplomats and their immediate families.

A-2: For other foreign government officials or employees and their immediate families.

A-3: For personal attendants, servants, or employees and their immediate families of A-2 visa holders.

B-1: Business visitor—foreign nationals interested in visiting the United States for business purposes that don’t involve receiving salary or payment in cash.

B-2: Tourist visitor—foreign nationals interested in visiting the United States for leisure or tourism. Not allowed to work or receive any kind of payment.

C-1: For foreign travelers in immediate and continuous transit through the United States.

D-1: For crew members, sea or air.

E-1: Treaty trader visa—applicant must be coming to the United States to carry on trade or to develop and direct the business operations that has trade with the applicant’s country of nationality. Also applies to spouses and children.

E-2: Treaty investor Visa—the applicant must come to the United States to develop and manage a business which the applicant has invested or is in the process of investing money in. The applicant must have over 50% ownership of the investment unless he/she is an employee of the enterprise. Also applies to spouses and children.

F-1: Student—Applicant must come to the United States to pursue an academic program in an institution recognized by, and affiliated with, the U.S. government. Must have a valid educational purpose for coming and can stay in the United States for as long as he/she is enrolled in school.

F-2: For spouses or children of F-1 visa holders.

G-1 through G-5: Applies to representatives of foreign governments and their attendants, servants, and personal employees coming to the United States to work for an international organization. Applies to spouses and children also.

H-1B: Work—for applicants seeking temporary entry in a “specialty occupation” which needs special professional skills. Professions include accountants, computer analysts, programmers, database administrators, web designers, engineers, financial analysts, doctors, nurses, scientists, architects, and lawyers.

H-2A: Work—for temporary workers of various kinds coming to the United States to perform temporary jobs for which there is a shortage of available qualified American workers.

H-2B: Work—for workers coming to the United States to accept a temporary or seasonal nonagriculture job from a U.S. employer. This visa is aimed at skilled and unskilled workers.

H-3: Trainee—most fields qualify for this visa except for medical training programs. Training program must not be available in the applicant’s home country and the training must benefit the applicant in pursuing a career and getting a job in their home country.

I: For press representatives.

J-1: Exchange visitor—for those coming to the United States as a student, scholar, trainee, teacher, professor, research assistant, medical graduate, or international visitor who is participating in a program of studies, training research, or cultural enrichment specifically designed for such individuals by the U.S. Department of State through its Bureau of Educational and Cultural Affairs.

J-2: For spouses or children of J-1 visa holders.

K-1: Fiancé—until the actual marriage takes place, the fiancé is considered a nonimmigrant. (A nonimmigrant is a foreign national seeking to temporarily enter the United States for a specific purpose.) A fiancé may not obtain an extension of the 90-day original nonimmigrant admission. After the marriage takes place, the foreign national may apply for a green card.

K-2 through K-4: For children of visa holders and spouses of U.S. citizens awaiting approval of their immigrant visa petition or the availability of a green card.

L-1: Intercompany—Main requirement is that the applicant must be employed outside the United States and is being transferred to a U.S. branch, subsidiary, affiliate, or joint- venture partner of the non-U.S. company.

L-2: For spouses or children of L-1 visa holders.

M-1: For vocational or other nonacademic students.

M-2: For immediate families of M-1 visa holders.

N: For children of certain special immigrants.

O-1 through O-3: For aliens of extraordinary ability in the sciences, arts, education, business, or athletics. Includes their support staff, spouses, and children.

P-1 through P-4: For internationally recognized athletes, artists, and entertainers coming to the United States to give cultural performances. Also applies to spouses and children.

Q-1 and Q-2: For participants in international cultural exchange programs and their immediate family members.

R-1 and R-2: Religious—May be obtained if the applicant has been a member of a legitimate religious denomination for at least two years. R-2 visas can be obtained for accompanying relatives of the main applicant. Also applies to spouses and children.

S-1 through S-7: For certain aliens supplying critical information relating to a criminal organization or enterprise, or to terrorism. Also applies to spouses and children.

T: For women and children who are in the United States because they are victims of trafficking, who are cooperating with law enforcement, and who fear extreme hardship (such as retribution) if returned home.

TN: NAFTA work—temporary work visas available to Mexican and Canadian citizens.

TD: For spouses or children of NAFTA professionals.

U-1 through U-4: For victims of certain crimes. Also applies to spouse, children, and parents.

V-1 through V-3: For spouses and children of lawful permanent residents who have been waiting for three years or more to qualify for a green card.