Visa Classifications and Categories
With years of experience in immigration law, our attorneys provide competent, diligent and personalized representation. We always keep abreast of the latest developments in the law, and make sure our clients are aware of any changes that may affect their immigration status.
As part of our commitment to keeping our clients informed, we have provided some brief information about visa classifications and categories. For more detailed information about visas, please contact our office.
At The Katsman Law Firm P.A. we provide professional immigration representation in obtaining the following Non-Immigrant Visas:
These temporary visas allow a person to enter the United States for a specific purpose and fixed amount of time.
- B1: Temporary visitors for business
- B2: Temporary visitors for pleasure
- E1: Treaty traders (and spouse/child)
- E2: Treaty investors (and spouse/child)
- F1: Academic students (and spouse/child)
- H1B: Employees in specialty occupations/professions
- H1B: Free Trade Agreement workers in a specialty occupation or professional from Chile and Singapore
- H2B: Workers performing other (non-agricultural) services
- H3: Professional trainees
- J1: Cultural and Exchange Visitors (and spouse/child)
- K1: Fiancée/fiancé of U.S. citizen (and spouse/child)
- K3: Spouse of U.S. citizen awaiting availability of immigrant visa (and spouse/child)
- L1: Multinational Executives or Managers (and spouse/child)
- M1: Vocational Students
- M2: Spouse/children of Vocational Students
- O1: Individuals with extraordinary ability/achievement in science, art, education, business, athletics (and spouse/child)
- P1: Internationally Recognized Athletes/Entertainers (and spouse/child)
- P3: Artists/Entertainers in Culturally Unique Programs (and spouse/child)
- R1: Workers in religious occupations or vocations (and spouse/child)
- TN: NAFTA professionals (Canadian and Mexican Citizens)
And more.
Immigrant Visas
These visas allow a person to come to the United States with the intent to stay permanently. There are two common types of immigrant visas: Family-Based and Employment-Based.
Family-Based Visas
Spouses of U.S. citizens, Children of U.S. citizens, and Parents of U.S. citizens who are over 21 may apply for family-based visas as immediate relatives. Other family based Immigrant Visas include the following preference categories:
- 1st preference: Unmarried sons and daughters (over 21) of U.S. Citizens
- 2nd preference: 2A Spouses and children (under 21) of persons lawfully admitted for Permanent Residence and 2B unmarried sons and unmarried daughters (over 21) of persons lawfully admitted for permanent residence
- 3rd preference: Married Sons and Daughters of U.S. Citizens
- 4th preference: Brothers and Sisters of U.S. Citizens
Employment-Based Visas
Employment-based visas are available on the basis of an offered employment relationship. The employment based preferences are as follows:
- 1st preference: Priority workers (Persons with Extraordinary Abilities, Outstanding Professors and Researchers, certain Multinational Executives and Managers)
- 2nd preference: Members of professions holding advanced degrees (Aliens of exceptional ability and persons qualifying for national interest waivers)
- 3rd preference: Skilled workers, professionals, and other workers
- 4th preference: Special immigrants including religious professionals and other religious occupations, battered spouses and widowed spouses of U.S. Citizens
- 5th preference: Immigrant Investors
Other Avenues for Immigrant Visas
- Asylees
- Diversity Visa Lottery
- Cancellation of Removal (can only be granted by an Immigration Judge)
- Cuban Adjustment Act
To schedule a professional consultation, please call (305) 405-4545 or contact our office.