Every way into United States.

Nonimmigrant visa for tourism, visiting family/friends, and medical treatment. Admission is typically up to 6 months per entry; visa validity depends on nationality reciprocity (up to 10 years for many countries, often issued combined as B-1/B-2). Applicants must show nonimmigrant intent and ties to their home country; MRV fee is $185.

Government fee

$185

Service fee

$160

Max stay

180 days

Electronic travel authorization for citizens of ~40 Visa Waiver Program countries for tourism or business stays up to 90 days, no extensions or status change. Valid 2 years (or until passport expiry) for multiple entries. Travelers who visited Cuba, Iran, Iraq, North Korea, Syria, etc. or hold dual nationality of certain countries are ineligible and need a B visa.

Government fee

$40.27

Service fee

$54

Processing time

3 days

Max stay

90 days

Validity

730 days

For immediate and continuous transit through the United States to a third country; the US has no airside transit, so all transiting passengers need a visa or ESTA. Admission is limited to a maximum of 29 days. Crew members use the combined C-1/D visa. MRV fee $185.

Government fee

$185

Service fee

$160

Max stay

29 days

For short business activities: meetings, negotiations, conferences, consultations; productive employment in the US is not allowed. Usually issued combined with B-2; admission typically up to 6 months per entry, validity per reciprocity schedule. MRV fee $185.

Government fee

$185

Service fee

$160

Max stay

180 days

For full-time academic study (university, college, high school, or accredited language program) at a SEVP-certified school that issues Form I-20. Admitted for 'duration of status' covering the program plus optional practical training (OPT, 12 months, +24 for STEM). Besides the $185 MRV fee, a $350 SEVIS I-901 fee is mandatory before the visa interview.

• Work: up to 20 h/week
• Study: Full-time academic study
• Family: F-2 dependents cannot work

Government fee

$185

Service fee

$220

For full-time vocational or non-academic technical study (e.g. flight school, cosmetology, technical programs) at a SEVP-certified school issuing Form I-20. Admitted for the program length up to one year, extendable to a maximum of 3 years; on-campus work and study transfers are heavily restricted. Requires the $350 SEVIS I-901 fee plus $185 MRV fee.

• Study: Full-time vocational study
• Family: M-2 dependents cannot work

Government fee

$185

Service fee

$220

Max stay

365 days

Covers 15 State Department exchange categories including au pair (12 months, extendable), summer work travel (up to 4 months), intern (12 months), trainee (18 months), research scholar (up to 5 years), and physician. Requires sponsorship by a designated program sponsor that issues Form DS-2019; some categories carry a 2-year home residency requirement (212(e)). SEVIS I-901 fee is $220 ($35 for au pair, camp counselor and summer work travel); MRV fee $185 (waived for US-government-funded programs).

• Work: Work/training tied to program
• Study: Study per exchange program category
• Family: J-2 spouse may apply for work authorization

Government fee

$185

Service fee

$220

Permanent-residence route for advanced-degree professionals or persons of exceptional ability whose proposed endeavor has substantial merit and national importance; the national interest waiver removes the job-offer and labor-certification requirements, allowing self-petition. I-140 fee $715 plus $345 immigrant visa fee for consular processing. Modeled here under skilled_work (employment-based 2nd preference); subject to visa bulletin backlogs for some nationalities.

• Work: Unrestricted work as LPR
• Study: May study freely as LPR
• Residency: Immigrant visa to Green Card (permanent)
• Family: Spouse and children get green cards

Government fee

$715

Service fee

$220

Employer-sponsored visa for specialty occupations requiring at least a bachelor's degree; annual cap of 85,000 (65,000 + 20,000 US-advanced-degree) allocated by electronic registration ($215 per registration, FY2027 round ran 4-19 Mar 2026 under a new wage-weighted selection rule effective 27 Feb 2026). Granted up to 3 years, extendable to 6 (longer if a green card process is underway); dual intent permitted. Employer petition fees include I-129 $780 ($460 small employers/nonprofits), $500 fraud fee, ACWIA $750/$1,500 and $600 asylum program fee; applicant MRV fee is $205.

• Work: Employer-tied (petitioning company)
• Study: May study while maintaining status
• Residency: Dual intent; route to green card (EB-2/EB-1)
• Family: H-4 dependents; some H-4 spouses can work

Government fee

$205

Service fee

$220

Validity

1,095 days

For seasonal, peak-load or intermittent non-agricultural jobs (hospitality, landscaping, seafood processing, resorts) with a DOL-certified US employer. Statutory cap of 66,000 per year (33,000 per half-year), routinely supplemented by DHS with additional visas; stay matches the certification (usually under 10 months), 3-year maximum. Employer files I-129 ($1,080; $540 small/nonprofit) plus $150 fraud fee; worker pays the $205 MRV fee.

• Work: Seasonal, employer-tied
• Study: Incidental study only
• Family: H-4 may accompany but cannot work

Government fee

$205

Service fee

$220

For seasonal/temporary agricultural work with a US employer who has obtained a DOL temporary labor certification; nationals of eligible-country list (others case-by-case). Granted for the certification period (typically up to 10 months), extendable to a 3-year maximum, after which 60 days outside the US are required; no annual cap. Employer files I-129 ($1,090; $545 small/nonprofit) plus $150 fraud fee; worker pays $205 MRV fee, and employers must provide housing and transportation.

• Work: Seasonal, employer-tied
• Study: Incidental study only
• Family: H-4 may accompany but cannot work

Government fee

$205

Service fee

$220

For managers/executives (L-1A) or specialized-knowledge employees (L-1B) transferring to a US parent, branch, subsidiary or affiliate after 1 continuous year of qualifying employment abroad in the last 3 years. Initial grant up to 3 years (1 year for new offices); maximum 7 years for L-1A and 5 for L-1B; dual intent allowed and L-1A maps to the EB-1C green card. Employer files I-129 ($1,385; $695 small/nonprofit) plus $500 fraud fee; blanket-L applicants pay an extra $500 fraud fee with the $205 MRV fee.

• Work: Employer-tied (petitioning company)
• Study: May study while maintaining status
• Residency: Dual intent; route to green card (EB-2/EB-1)
• Family: L-2 spouse can work; children included

Government fee

$205

Service fee

$270

Validity

1,095 days

Permanent residence for investing at least $800,000 in a Targeted Employment Area (rural/high-unemployment) or infrastructure project, or $1,050,000 elsewhere, creating 10 full-time US jobs; most investors use Regional Center projects. I-526E petition fee is $11,160 plus a $1,000 EB-5 Integrity Fund fee; investors first receive a 2-year conditional green card, removed via I-829. Concurrent adjustment of status is possible for investors already in the US.

• Work: Unrestricted work as LPR
• Study: May study freely as LPR
• Residency: Immigrant visa to Green Card (permanent)
• Family: Spouse and children get green cards

Government fee

$11,160

Min. investment

$800,000

Nonimmigrant visa for nationals of ~80 treaty countries who invest a 'substantial' amount (no statutory minimum; commonly $100k+ in practice) in a real, operating US business they direct and develop; the business must not be marginal. Visa validity depends on reciprocity (up to 5 years, multiple entry); each admission is 2 years and the status is renewable indefinitely while the business operates, but it confers no direct green-card path. MRV fee is $315; spouses receive work authorization.

• Work: Work in own treaty business
• Study: May study while maintaining status
• Family: E-2 spouse can work; children included

Government fee

$315

Max stay

730 days

Permanent residence for relatives of US citizens (parents, children, siblings) and of green-card holders (spouses, unmarried children). Immediate relatives (spouse/minor child/parent of a citizen) are uncapped; preference categories F1-F4 are numerically capped with waits ranging from ~2 to 20+ years depending on category and country (Mexico/Philippines F4 longest). Fees: I-130 $675, immigrant visa fee $325, Affidavit of Support $120, USCIS immigrant fee $235; sponsor income 125% of poverty guidelines required.

Government fee

$675

Service fee

$270

Validity

180 days

For the foreign fiancé(e) of a US citizen to enter and marry within 90 days, then apply for a green card via adjustment of status (I-485, $1,440). The US citizen files Form I-129F ($675); the couple must generally have met in person within the prior 2 years, and the petitioner must meet 100% of the federal poverty guidelines. The K-1 visa itself costs $265 (MRV) and is single-entry, valid 6 months.

Government fee

$675

Service fee

$270

Max stay

90 days

Validity

180 days

Immigrant visa for the spouse of a US citizen, granting permanent residence on entry (CR-1 conditional 2-year card if married under 2 years, otherwise 10-year IR-1 card). The citizen files Form I-130 ($675 paper / $625 online); the applicant then pays a $325 immigrant visa fee and $120 Affidavit of Support fee, and the sponsor must show income of at least 125% of the poverty guidelines. Also available to spouses of green-card holders as F2A preference. Citizenship eligibility after 3 years of residence.

Government fee

$675

Service fee

$270

Validity

180 days

For individuals with extraordinary ability in sciences, education, business or athletics (O-1A) or extraordinary achievement in arts, film and TV (O-1B), demonstrated by sustained acclaim (major award or at least 3 of 8 regulatory criteria). Requires a US petitioner/agent (I-129 fee $1,055; $530 small employers/nonprofits) and an advisory opinion from a peer group/union. Granted up to 3 years with unlimited 1-year extensions; no annual cap or lottery.

• Work: Employer/petitioner-tied
• Study: May study while maintaining status
• Residency: Dual intent; route to green card (EB-1)
• Family: O-3 dependents cannot work

Government fee

$205

Service fee

$270

Validity

1,095 days

Immigrant (permanent residence) route for individuals at the very top of their field in sciences, arts, education, business or athletics; self-petition allowed with no employer or labor certification. Requires a one-time major international award or at least 3 of 10 criteria plus evidence of continued work in the field. Form I-140 fee is $715; consular applicants also pay the $345 immigrant visa fee; leads directly to a green card (10-year card, renewable, citizenship eligibility after 5 years).

• Work: Unrestricted work as LPR
• Study: May study freely as LPR
• Residency: Immigrant visa to Green Card (permanent)
• Family: Spouse and children get green cards

Government fee

$715

Service fee

$270

For ministers and persons in religious vocations/occupations working at least part time (20+ hrs/week) for a US non-profit religious organization, after 2 years of membership in the denomination. Initial admission up to 30 months, extendable to a 5-year maximum. The US organization petitions on Form I-129 ($1,015; $510 small/nonprofit) and may face a site inspection; applicant MRV fee is $205.

Government fee

$205

Service fee

$220

For journalists, reporters, film crews and editors of foreign media organizations (press, radio, film, digital) traveling to work in their profession while based abroad; the content must be informational/news, not commercial entertainment. Traditionally admitted for duration of employment; visa validity follows reciprocity. MRV fee $185; no petition required.

Government fee

$185

Service fee

$160

Annual lottery allocating up to ~55,000 immigrant visas to nationals of countries with low US immigration rates; requires high-school education or 2 years of qualifying work experience. Registration is free no longer: a $1 online entry fee applies from the DV-2027 cycle, and selectees pay a $330 visa application fee at interview. Selection does not guarantee a visa — winners must complete processing within the fiscal year.

Government fee

$330

Validity

180 days