Our Visa Guides

Visa Guides

Anything you need when it comes to an easy to understand Visa Guides

Welcome to the universe of our acclaimed US Visa Guides. Each visa guide will tell you all you need to know in order to apply for that particular visa, including comprehensive, up-to- date and detailed step-by-step instructions. A set of relevant visa guides is automatically included in each plan. You can browse through brief descriptions of our visa guides by clicking each guide below.

ESTA VISA USA – do it yourself….

The ESTA, or Electronic System for Travel Authorization, is not a visa at all, but a simple online authorization that must be obtained by any citizen of one of the 39 participant countries of the Visa Waiver Program of the United States. It is easy to apply directly on the US Government website as long as you use our step-by-step ESTA VISA USA Guide. Read More


B2 Visitor Visa Tourist

The B2 Visitor Visa Tourist is one of the most generous and welcoming of non- immigrant visas for entering the United States. Once issued, it is valid for 10 years of multiple entries, with each visit as long as six months. Read More


College and Student J-1 Visa

You can apply for the J-1 College and Student Visa if you’re a student or have recently graduated, or if you are seeking an internship to satisfy a degree requirement in your home country. Read More


Au Pair Exchange Visitor Visa USA

The Au Pair Visa encourage people from other cultures to visit the USA. The Au Pair program offers you a warm, rewarding and enjoyable intercultural opportunity to live and contribute as part of an American family while working and studying. Read More


J-1 Visa Summer Work Travel Program

The Summer Work Travel Program (SWTP) is undeniably one of the most popular exchange programs in the US Exchange Visitor Program. Of the 8.3 million people who have entered the US since 1987 on a J-1 exchange visitor visa, over 2.3 million have been exchange students in the Summer Work Travel Program. Read More


Trainee Program J-1 Visa

The Trainee Program represents a distinctive opportunity to young professionals all over the world to visit the United States to both advance their skills and enjoy USA’s life and culture. Read More


Secondary School Student Program

The Secondary School Student Program (SSSP) is a unique opportunity for secondary school students from all over the world to travel to the USA and study at an accredited public or private high school for an academic semester or year while living with an American host family or an approved boarding school. Read More


Intern Program J-1 Visa USA

Under the Intern Program, non-US college and university students or recent graduates can come to the United States to American culture and lifestyles while receiving hands-on experience in their chosen professional, occupational or business area of study field as an intern with a company. Read More


F-1 Student Visa USA

The F1 Student visa would be your choice for entering the United States to pursue an academic course of study (rather than a vocational course of training). With the F1 visa, you can be a full-time student at an accredited college, university, seminary, conservatory, academic high school, elementary school or other academic institution, or else in an English language training program. Read More


M-1 Student Visa USA

The M1 Student visa would be your choice for entering the United States to pursue a course of non-academic or vocational training. Your purpose would be to master a certain skill rather than obtain an academic degree, diploma or certificate. At the end of course, you may receive a certification of attendance and mastery. Read More


Research Scholar Program J-1 Visa

The Research Scholar Program was designed to promote the free flow and exchange of ideas, research, mutual enrichment and linkages between research and academic institutions in the United States and foreign countries through the participation of their professors, researchers, post- or pre-doctoral students, graduate students and professionals such as doctors and attorneys. Read More


Camp Counselor Program

The Camp Counselor Program is a great opportunity for post-secondary students, youth workers and teachers to share their culture and ideas with the people of the United States in camp settings throughout the country. Read More


Diversity Immigrant Visa Program (Do It Yourself)

You probably know it better as the ‘Green Card Lottery’. The Diversity Visa is one of the most visible and durable signs of the United States’ commitment to having a population as ethnically diverse as possible. If you are from a country that is not very well represented in the United States ethnic mix and can meet a few other straightforward but strict conditions, you can enter the ‘Green Card Lottery’. Read More

Visitor B-2 Visa (Medical Treatment)

The Visitor B-2 visa is the perfect choice for someone planning a holiday in the US or who wants to meet up with family and friends. The B-2 is a non-immigrant visa valid for ten years that allows you multiple entries into the United States for specific defined non-work-related purposes, including undergoing medical treatment. Read More


Fiance of US Citizen K-1 Visa

No matter which kind of fiancé you are, you will need a US citizen to whom you are engaged to be married. You will enter the US on a K-1 Nonimmigrant visa and will have a period of 90 days during which to solemnize your marriage to the US citizen. Read More


Nonimmigrant Visa for a Spouse K-3

One of the downsides of entering the United States as an immigrant is loneliness. A married person may enter the US as a Lawful Permanent Resident but meanwhile, they are really missing their wife and children. The K-3 Nonimmigrant Visa was created to help shorten the physical separation between foreign citizens and their US Citizen spouses while they inch towards a Green Card. Read More


Green Card through Family in the USA

If you are the spouse, unmarried child under the age of 21, orphan adopted abroad by US citizens, or parent of a US citizen who is at least 21 years old, you are instantly eligible. There is no annual limit to how many immediate relatives of US citizens may be allowed to immigrate to the US. Read More


Physician Program J-1 Visa

Under the Physician Program, non-US physicians can participate in graduate medical education programs or clinical training programs at US schools of medicine that are members of the Accreditation Council for Graduate Medical Education (ACGME). Read More


Professor Program J-1 Visa

The Professor Program was designed to promote the free flow and exchange of ideas, research, mutual enrichment and linkages between research and academic institutions in the United States and foreign countries through the participation of their professors, researchers, post- or pre-doctoral students, graduate students and other professionals such as doctors and attorneys. Read More


Short-Term Scholar Program J-1 Visa

The Short-Term Scholar Program was designed to enable professors, research scholars and other individuals with specialized knowledge or skills to travel to the USA on a short-term visit to lecture, observe, consult, train or demonstrate their special skills. Read More


Teacher Program J-1 Visa

The Teacher Program visa gives foreign teachers a great opportunity to teach in accredited American primary and secondary schools while also experiencing the life and culture of the United States.  Read More


Intracompany Transferee

Let’s say you’re working as chief of software development for IBM — but you’re not working at IBM, USA. Instead, you’re in the IBM office in Seoul, South Korea. Your bosses decide that you’re so good at your work that they’d like to offer your expertise for maybe a year at the US headquarters of IBM. You’d be going as an Intracompany Transferee. Your family can go too. Read More


Employment-Based Immigration: First Preference EB-1

EB1 Extraordinary Ability visa, also known as the EB1A or EB1EA visa, is the only EB-1 visa that allows you to petition directly on your own behalf, with the need for a US-based employer to first file for labor certification from the Department of Labor on your behalf. The EB, which is also processed much faster than the EB-2 or EB-3 categories, can be a magnet for highly accomplished and distinguished scholars, researchers, post-doctoral research fellows, PhD students and other advanced degree professionals. Read More


Employment-Based Immigration: Second Preference EB-2

The Employment Based EB-2 Visa is designed for Second Priority workers. This refers to professionals with advanced degrees and people whose exceptional ability in the sciences, arts, or business is expected to substantially benefit the American economy, welfare, or cultural or educational interests. This visa requires a prior job offer from a prospective US-based employer. Read More


Employment-Based Immigration: Third Preference EB-3

The EB-3 Visa is designed for Third Priority workers. It exists because most people would not fit the elevated and demanding requirements of the EB-1 and EB-2 visas such as exceptional ability, global recognition, and advanced education. The EB-3 visa, with less exacting requirements, makes room for skilled workers, professionals, and other workers. Read More


Diversity Immigrant Visa Program (Do It Yourself)

You probably know it better as the ‘Green Card Lottery’. The Diversity Visa is one of the most visible and durable signs of the United States’ commitment to having a population as ethnically diverse as possible. If you are from a country that is not very well represented in the United States ethnic mix and can meet a few other straightforward but strict conditions, you can enter the ‘Green Card Lottery’. Read More

Free Trade Agreement Professional Visa H-1B1

As with the H-1B, you will need to show that a US-based employer has offered you a temporary position that fits the definition of a specialty occupation. This means that you will be performing a job that requires specialized knowledge that can generally be gained only through a bachelor’s degree or higher, or its equivalent.. Read More


Treaty Trader / Investor Visa E-1 & E-2

One of the ways in which the United States promotes international trade and commerce is by entering into treaties of friendship, commerce and navigation with selected countries. This opens the door for buying and selling goods and services, as well as investment, between the US and the treaty country. Read More


NAFTA Professionals

In 1994, the United States signed a trilateral agreement with its neighbors with whom it shares a border, Canada to the north and Mexico to the south. The North American Free Trade Agreement, simplified as NAFTA, led to the creation of the Trade NAFTA or TN visa, a special non-immigrant visa that speeds up work authorization for a citizen of Canada or a national of Mexico. Read More


Business Visa B1

Why do people go to the United States? The commonest two answers are tourism or doing business. These two reasons so overwhelmingly outweigh all others that they are usually combined into a single B1/B2 visa that allows you to enter the US for either tourism or business.
Read More


Green Card for Broadcaster EB-4 Visa

To be eligible as a special immigrant broadcaster for an EB-4 visa, you need to meet the USAGM definition of ‘broadcaster’ which includes reporters, writers, translators, editors, producers, announcers, news broadcast hosts or news analysis specialists. It excludes persons who provide purely technical or support services or work in the entertainment field. Read More


I-1 Visa for Members of Foreign Media, Press, and Radio

The I-1 visa is perhaps the simplest of all US visas. It requires no complicated paperwork, no US-based sponsor or employer, no complicated credentials to establish, and no proof of awards, recognition or distinction. All you need to be is an accredited employee of a media organization in your own country, with a letter from your employer confirming this. Read More


Extraordinary Ability O-1 Visa

If you happen to be an individual with extraordinary abilities or talent in the sciences, the arts, education, business or athletics, or if you have extraordinary achievements in the film or TV industry, recognized nationally or internationally, then the O-1 (that’s alphabet ‘O’ and number 1) visa might be exactly what you need. Read More


Crewmember Visa

You are eligible for C-1/D visa if you are a pilot or a flight attendant on a commercial airplane; a captain, an engineer, or a deckhand on a sea vessel; a lifeguard, a cook, a waiter, a beautician, or another type of service staff on a cruise ship; or a trainee on board a training vessel.
Read More


Religious Worker R-1 Visa

You qualify as a religious worker if you are a minister or priest of a religion authorized by a recognized denomination to carry out or preside over religious worship and to perform other duties and rituals usually performed by members of the clergy, such as administering the sacraments or their equivalent. Read More


USA Government Visitor Program

Through the USA Government Visitor program, distinguished international visitors develop and strengthen professional relationships with American Government Agencies. Read More


International Visitor Program (IVP) Visa

The International Visitor Program is a people-to-people program under the Exchange Visitor Program (EVP) and is perfect if you are a specialist of distinction, nationally or internationally, recognized as a leader or seen as having great promise and potential in your field of specialization.
Read More


EB-5 Immigrant Investor Visa Program

You are eligible for an EB-5 if you are wealthy, want to invest a significant sum of money into a US business or project, and can show that your investment will lead to the creation of at least 10 full-time jobs for US citizens. Read More


Specialty H1-B Visa

The H-1B visa allows United States employers to temporarily employ foreign workers in a job that requires specialized knowledge or experience — known as specialty occupations — to work in the US. Examples of specialty fields are biotechnology, chemistry, computing, architecture, engineering, statistics, physical sciences, and journalism. In health, it can include medicine, dentistry, nursing, physiotherapy, economics, education, research, law, accounting, business specialties, technical writing, theology, and the arts, among others. Read More


Trainee Special Education H-3

Let’s say you come from the small nation of Burkina Faso and want to learn about wildlife conservation. Your country doesn’t offer a course in that, but the United States does. The H-3 non-immigrant visa category was designed exactly for people like you. Read More


Specialist Program J-1 Visa

The Specialist Program bears a close resemblance to the Short-Term Scholar Program and was designed to provide opportunities for non-US experts in a field of specialized knowledge, or skills to visit the United States to increase the exchange of ideas with American counterparts by observing, consulting or demonstrating their expertise. Read More


Athletes Artists Entertainers P Visa

The P visa category was specifically created to welcome certain kinds of individuals on temporary visits to the US, including outstanding athletes, athletic teams, artists and entertainment companies (including circuses) who have a job offer from an American employer. There is no annual limit on the number of people who can receive P visas. Read More


Diversity Immigrant Visa Program (Do It Yourself)

You probably know it better as the ‘Green Card Lottery’. The Diversity Visa is one of the most visible and durable signs of the United States’ commitment to having a population as ethnically diverse as possible. If you are from a country that is not very well represented in the United States ethnic mix and can meet a few other straightforward but strict conditions, you can enter the ‘Green Card Lottery’. Read More

ESTA Visa USA – do it yourself….

The ESTA, or Electronic System for Travel Authorization, is not a visa at all, but a simple online authorization that must be obtained by any citizen of one of the 39 participant countries of the Visa Waiver Program of the United States. It is easy to apply directly on the US Government website as long as you use our step-by-step ESTA VISA USA Guide. Read More


B2 Visitor Visa Tourist

The B2 Visitor Visa is one of the most generous and welcoming of non- immigrant visas for entering the United States. Once issued, it is valid for 10 years of multiple entries, with each visit as long as six months. Read More


College and Student J-1 Visa

You can apply for the J-1 College and Student Visa if you’re a student or have recently graduated, or if you are seeking an internship to satisfy a degree requirement in your home country. Read More


Au Pair Exchange Visitor Visa USA

The Au Pair Visa encourage people from other cultures to visit the USA. The Au Pair program offers you a warm, rewarding and enjoyable intercultural opportunity to live and contribute as part of an American family while working and studying. Read More


J-1 Visa Summer Work Travel Program

The Summer Work Travel Program (SWTP) is undeniably one of the most popular exchange programs in the US Exchange Visitor Program. Of the 8.3 million people who have entered the US since 1987 on a J-1 exchange visitor visa, over 2.3 million have been exchange students in the Summer Work Travel Program. Read More


Trainee Program J-1 Visa

The Trainee Program represents a distinctive opportunity to young professionals all over the world to visit the United States to both advance their skills and enjoy USA’s life and culture. Read More


Secondary School Student Program

The Secondary School Student Program (SSSP) is a unique opportunity for secondary school students from all over the world to travel to the USA and study at an accredited public or private high school for an academic semester or year while living with an American host family or an approved boarding school. Read More


Intern Program J-1 Visa USA

Under the Intern Program, non-US college and university students or recent graduates can come to the United States to American culture and lifestyles while receiving hands-on experience in their chosen professional, occupational or business area of study field as an intern with a company. Read More


F-1 Student Visa USA

The F-1 Student visa would be your choice for entering the United States to pursue an academic course of study (rather than a vocational course of training). With the F-1 visa, you can be a full-time student at an accredited college, university, seminary, conservatory, academic high school, elementary school or other academic institution, or else in an English language training program. Read More


M-1 Student Visa USA

The M1 Student visa would be your choice for entering the United States to pursue a course of non-academic or vocational training. Your purpose would be to master a certain skill rather than obtain an academic degree, diploma or certificate. At the end of course, you may receive a certification of attendance and mastery. Read More


Research Scholar Program J-1 Visa

The Research Scholar Program was designed to promote the free flow and exchange of ideas, research, mutual enrichment and linkages between research and academic institutions in the United States and foreign countries through the participation of their professors, researchers, post- or pre-doctoral students, graduate students and professionals such as doctors and attorneys. Read More


Camp Counselor Program

The Camp Counselor Program is a great opportunity for post-secondary students, youth workers and teachers to share their culture and ideas with the people of the United States in camp settings throughout the country. Read More


Visitor B-2 Visa (Medical Treatment)

The Visitor B-2 visa is the perfect choice for someone planning a holiday in the US or who wants to meet up with family and friends. The B-2 is a non-immigrant visa valid for ten years that allows you multiple entries into the United States for specific defined non-work-related purposes, including undergoing medical treatment. Read More


Fiance of US Citizen K-1 Visa

No matter which kind of fiancé you are, you will need a US citizen to whom you are engaged to be married. You will enter the US on a K-1 Non-immigrant visa and will have a period of 90 days during which to solemnize your marriage to the US citizen. Read More


Nonimmigrant Visa for a Spouse K-3

One of the downsides of entering the United States as an immigrant is loneliness. A married person may enter the US as a Lawful Permanent Resident but meanwhile, they are really missing their wife and children. The K-3 non-immigrant visa was created to help shorten the physical separation between foreign citizens and their US citizen spouses while they inch towards a Green Card. Read More


Green Card through Family in the USA

If you are the spouse, unmarried child under the age of 21, orphan adopted abroad by US citizens, or parent of a US citizen who is at least 21 years old, you are instantly eligible. There is no annual limit to how many immediate relatives of US citizens may be allowed to immigrate to the US. Read More


Physician Program J-1 Visa

Under the Physician Program, non-US physicians can participate in graduate medical education programs or clinical training programs at US schools of medicine that are members of the Accreditation Council for Graduate Medical Education (ACGME). Read More


Professor Program J-1 Visa

The Professor Program was designed to promote the free flow and exchange of ideas, research, mutual enrichment and linkages between research and academic institutions in the United States and foreign countries through the participation of their professors, researchers, post- or pre-doctoral students, graduate students and other professionals such as doctors and attorneys. Read More


Short-Term Scholar Program J-1 Visa

The Short-Term Scholar Program was designed to enable professors, research scholars and other individuals with specialized knowledge or skills to travel to the USA on a short-term visit to lecture, observe, consult, train or demonstrate their special skills. Read More


Teacher Program J-1 Visa

The Teacher Program visa gives foreign teachers a great opportunity to teach in accredited American primary and secondary schools while also experiencing the life and culture of the United States.  Read More


Intracompany Transferee

Let’s say you’re working as chief of software development for IBM — but you’re not working at IBM, USA. Instead, you’re in the IBM office in Seoul, South Korea. Your bosses decide that you’re so good at your work that they’d like to offer your expertise for maybe a year at the US headquarters of IBM. You’d be going as an Intracompany Transferee. Your family can go too. Read More


Employment-Based Immigration: First Preference EB-1

EB1 Extraordinary Ability visa, also known as the EB1A or EB1EA visa, is the only EB-1 visa that allows you to petition directly on your own behalf, with the need for a US-based employer to first file for labor certification from the Department of Labor on your behalf. The EB, which is also processed much faster than the EB-2 or EB-3 categories, can be a magnet for highly accomplished and distinguished scholars, researchers, post-doctoral research fellows, PhD students and other advanced degree professionals. Read More


Employment-Based Immigration: Second Preference EB-2

The Employment Based EB-2 Visa is designed for Second Priority workers. This refers to professionals with advanced degrees and people whose exceptional ability in the sciences, arts, or business is expected to substantially benefit the American economy, welfare, or cultural or educational interests. This visa requires a prior job offer from a prospective US-based employer. Read More


Employment-Based Immigration: Third Preference EB-3

The EB-3 Visa is designed for Third Priority workers. It exists because most people would not fit the elevated and demanding requirements of the EB-1 and EB-2 visas such as exceptional ability, global recognition, and advanced education. The EB-3 visa, with less exacting requirements, makes room for skilled workers, professionals, and other workers. Read More


Free Trade Agreement Professional Visa H-1B1

As with the H-1B, you will need to show that a US-based employer has offered you a temporary position that fits the definition of a specialty occupation. This means that you will be performing a job that requires specialized knowledge that can generally be gained only through a bachelor’s degree or higher, or its equivalent.. Read More


Treaty Trader / Investor Visa E-1 & E-2

One of the ways in which the United States promotes international trade and commerce is by entering into treaties of friendship, commerce and navigation with selected countries. This opens the door for buying and selling goods and services, as well as investment, between the US and the treaty country. Read More


NAFTA Professionals

In 1994, the United States signed a trilateral agreement with its neighbors with whom it shares a border, Canada to the north and Mexico to the south. The North American Free Trade Agreement, simplified as NAFTA, led to the creation of the Trade NAFTA or TN visa, a special nonimmigrant visa that speeds up work authorization for a citizen of Canada or a national of Mexico. Read More


Business Visa B1

Why do people go to the United States? The commonest two answers are tourism or doing business. These two reasons so overwhelmingly outweigh all others that they are usually combined into a single B1/B2 visa that allows you to enter the US for either tourism or business.
Read More


Green Card for Broadcaster EB-4 Visa

To be eligible as a special immigrant broadcaster for an EB-4 visa, you need to meet the USAGM definition of ‘broadcaster’ which includes reporters, writers, translators, editors, producers, announcers, news broadcast hosts or news analysis specialists. It excludes persons who provide purely technical or support services or work in the entertainment field. Read More


I-1 Visa for Members of Foreign Media, Press, and Radio

The I-1 visa is perhaps the simplest of all US visas. It requires no complicated paperwork, no US-based sponsor or employer, no complicated credentials to establish, and no proof of awards, recognition or distinction. All you need to be is an accredited employee of a media organization in your own country, with a letter from your employer confirming this. Read More


Extraordinary Ability O-1 Visa

If you happen to be an individual with extraordinary abilities or talent in the sciences, the arts, education, business or athletics, or if you have extraordinary achievements in the film or TV industry, recognized nationally or internationally, then the O-1 (that’s alphabet ‘O’ and number 1) visa might be exactly what you need. Read More


Crewmember Visa

You are eligible for C-1/D visa if you are a pilot or a flight attendant on a commercial airplane; a captain, an engineer, or a deckhand on a sea vessel; a lifeguard, a cook, a waiter, a beautician, or another type of service staff on a cruise ship; or a trainee on board a training vessel.
Read More


Religious Worker R-1 Visa

You qualify as a religious worker if you are a minister or priest of a religion authorized by a recognized denomination to carry out or preside over religious worship and to perform other duties and rituals usually performed by members of the clergy, such as administering the sacraments or their equivalent. Read More


USA Government Visitor Program USA

Through the USA Government Visitor program, distinguished international visitors develop and strengthen professional relationships with American Government Agencies. Read More


International Visitor Program (IVP) Visa

The International Visitor Program is a people-to-people program under the EVP and is perfect if you are a specialist of distinction, nationally or internationally, recognized as a leader or seen as having great promise and potential in your field of specialization. Read More


EB-5 Immigrant Investor Visa Program

You are eligible for an EB-5 if you are wealthy, want to invest a significant sum of money into a US business or project, and can show that your investment will lead to the creation of at least 10 full-time jobs for US citizens. Read More


Specialty H1-B Visa

The H-1B visa allows United States employers to temporarily employ foreign workers in a job that requires specialized knowledge or experience — known as specialty occupations — to work in the US. Examples of specialty fields are biotechnology, chemistry, computing, architecture, engineering, statistics, physical sciences, and journalism. In health, it can include medicine, dentistry, nursing, physiotherapy, economics, education, research, law, accounting, business specialties, technical writing, theology, and the arts, among others. Read More


Trainee Special Education H-3

Let’s say you come from the small nation of Burkina Faso and want to learn about wildlife conservation. Your country doesn’t offer a course in that, but the United States does. The H-3 non-immigrant visa category was designed exactly for people like you. Read More


Specialist Program J-1 Visa

The Specialist Program bears a close resemblance to the Short-Term Scholar Program and was designed to provide opportunities for non-US experts in a field of specialized knowledge, or skills to visit the United States to increase the exchange of ideas with American counterparts by observing, consulting or demonstrating their expertise. Read More


Athletes Artists Entertainers P Visa

The P visa category was specifically created to welcome certain kinds of individuals on temporary visits to the US, including outstanding athletes, athletic teams, artists and entertainment companies (including circuses) who have a job offer from an American employer. There is no annual limit on the number of people who can receive P visas. Read More


Diversity Immigrant Visa Program (Do It Yourself)

You probably know it better as the ‘Green Card Lottery’. The Diversity Visa is one of the most visible and durable signs of the United States’ commitment to having a population as ethnically diverse as possible. If you are from a country that is not very well represented in the United States ethnic mix and can meet a few other straightforward but strict conditions, you can enter the ‘Green Card Lottery’. Read More

If you have questions, please check out our FAQs. You’ll probably find the answer you want right there. Your also welcome to send us an email if you need further clarifications and we’ll get an answer back to you within 24 hours. That’s a promise!