What is an M Visa? The M visa is available to international students who are coming to the US to pursue a full-time course of study at an established vocational school or other nonacademic school that has been approved by the USCIS. Typical institutions that accept M students include community and junior colleges that provide […]
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The TN nonimmigrant visa was created after the passage of the North American Free Trade Agreement (NAFTA) in 1993. The agreement eased trade restrictions between Canada, the US and Mexico, and called for some new immigration rules. It eased restrictions on E and L visas, and created a new type of visa, the TN. Business […]
The P-1 visa category is the visa of choice for athletes and entertainers who do not meet the “extraordinary ability” standard required for an O visa. In practice, P visas are most often used for athletes and entertainers who perform as part of a team or entertainment group for trips of limited duration, such as […]
What is a P-2 visa? The P-2 nonimmigrant category is reserved for those who are coming to the US through an exchange program in which US based and a foreign-based organizations exchange artists and entertainers. The visas are available to both individuals and groups. There are few requirements for these exchange programs so long as […]
What is a Q-1 Visa? The Q-1 nonimmigrant visa is designed for foreign nationals who are coming to the US to participate in an international cultural exchange program. The Q-1 visa was created in 1990, mainly because of lobbying efforts by the Walt Disney Company and similar businesses. They feared that the J programs they […]
In 1998, Congress passed the Irish Peace Process Cultural and Training Program Act (IPPCTPA). This program is designed to further steps toward peace in Ireland by providing employment and training opportunities to young people who live in areas where sectarian violence has been common. The most important aspect of the IPPCTPA is the creation of […]
Religious workers seeking to temporarily enter the US to pursue work in their field are likely to enter using the R nonimmigrant visa. Who qualifies for an R visa? To qualify for an R visa, the applicant must be A minister, A person working in a professional capacity in a religious occupation or vocation, or A person […]
We hope that none of our readers ever need to make personal use of this information, but in the interest of making a complete survey of the nonimmigrant visa classifications, this week’s article discusses the S visa, often known among practitioners as the “snitch visa.” What is an S visa? The S visa is given […]
Who may qualify for a V Visa? A person may seek a V-1 or V-2 nonimmigrant status visa if the person: is married to a Permanent U.S. Resident (V-1), or is the unmarried child (under 21) of a Permanent U.S. Resident (V-2), is the principal beneficiary of a relative petition, filed before December 21, […]
In 2012, the INS finally implemented the new V nonimmigrant status to allow certain spouses and minor children of lawful permanent residents (“LPR”s) to reside and work in the United States while waiting to obtain immigrant status. This provision is one of several immigration benefits provided by the Legal Immigration Family Equity Act (“LIFE Act”) […]
