Purpose: For short-term business-related visits, such as meetings, negotiations, or attending conferences.

Duration: Usually granted for up to 6 months.

Restrictions: Prohibits engaging in paid work or employment.

Purpose: For full-time students pursuing academic studies in the U.S. at an accredited educational institution.

Duration: Valid for the duration of the academic program.

Purpose: For students enrolled in non-academic or vocational programs.

Duration: Granted for the duration of the program.

Purpose: For highly skilled workers in specialized fields, sponsored by U.S. employers.

Duration: Initially up to 3 years, extendable to 6 years.

Purpose: For employees of multinational companies being transferred to a U.S. branch.

Duration: L-1A for managers/executives (up to 7 years), L-1B for employees with specialized knowledge (up to 5 years).

Purpose: For individuals participating in approved exchange programs, such as research scholars, professors, or students on cultural exchanges.

Duration: Varies based on the program's duration.

Purpose: For foreign media representatives working in the U.S., including journalists, reporters, and film crews.

Duration: Granted for the duration of the assignment or activity.

Purpose: For individuals involved in substantial trade between the U.S. and their home country.

Duration: Can be renewed indefinitely as long as trade activities continue.

Purpose: For individuals investing a substantial amount in a U.S. business.

Duration: Linked to the investment and renewable as long as the investment continues.

Purpose: Allows citizens of certain countries to travel to the U.S. for tourism or business purposes for stays of up to 90 days without obtaining a visa.

Requirements: Travelers must apply for authorization through the Electronic System for Travel Authorization (ESTA) before entering the U.S.

Restrictions: Not for employment, study, or longer-term stays.

Purpose: Allows citizens of certain countries to travel to the U.S. for tourism or business purposes for stays of up to 90 days without obtaining a visa.

Requirements: Travelers must apply for authorization through the Electronic System for Travel Authorization (ESTA) before entering the U.S.

Restrictions: Not for employment, study, or longer-term stays.

Purpose: The Diversity Visa Lottery aims to diversify the immigrant population by granting visas to individuals from countries with historically low rates of immigration to the U.S.

Selection: Applicants are selected through a random lottery process.

Requirements: Applicants must meet eligibility criteria, including educational or work experience requirements, and be natives of eligible countries.

Purpose: Allows U.S. citizens to sponsor immediate family members for permanent residency.

Categories: Spouses, unmarried children under 21, parents of U.S. citizens (if the sponsor is over 21).

Purpose: Allows U.S. citizens and permanent residents to sponsor certain family members for immigration based on specific family relationships.

Categories: Adult children (married and unmarried), siblings of U.S. citizens, and spouses and unmarried children of permanent residents.

Purpose: For individuals investing a significant amount in a U.S. business that creates jobs.

Investment Requirement: Typically requires an investment of $1 million (or $500,000 in targeted employment areas) and the creation of at least 10 full-time jobs for U.S. workers.

Duration: Grants conditional permanent residency initially, with the possibility of obtaining permanent residency and eventually citizenship.

Purpose: For victims of certain crimes who have suffered mental or physical abuse and are willing to assist law enforcement in the investigation or prosecution of the crime.

Requirements: Requires certification from law enforcement confirming cooperation in the investigation.

Purpose: For individuals who have been trafficked into the U.S. and are willing to assist law enforcement in prosecuting human trafficking cases.

Requirements: Requires certification from law enforcement confirming cooperation in the investigation.

Purpose: For foreign nationals coming to the U.S. to work in a religious capacity for a non-profit religious organization.

Requirements: Requires the religious worker to have been a member of the religious organization for at least two years.