Nonimmigrant and Immigrant Visa
Categories: Data Brief
Updated July 11, 2022
Congressional Research Service
https://crsreports.congress.gov
R45938

link to page 3 link to page 4 link to page 9 link to page 10

link to page 4 link to page 9 Nonimmigrant and Immigrant Visa Categories: Data Brief

Introduction
Congress has an interest in the visa categories by which foreign nationals may enter or be present
in the United States and how they are being used. U.S. immigration policy is governed largely by
the Immigration and Nationality Act (INA), which was first codified in 1952 and has been
amended significantly several times since.1 The United States has long distinguished temporary
immigration from permanent immigration. Temporary immigration occurs through the admission
of visitors for specific purposes and limited periods of time, and encompasses two dozen
categories (which are commonly referred to by the letter and numeral that denote their
subparagraph in the INA).2 Permanent immigration occurs through family- and employer-
sponsored categories, the diversity immigrant visa lottery, refugee and asylee admissions, and
other pathways.
This brief report provides the following information:
 a list of nonimmigrant (i.e., temporary)3 visa categories and lawful permanent
resident (LPR)4 categories;
 a description of each category;
 the allowed duration of stay in the United States for each nonimmigrant visa
category;
 the annual numeric limit (or cap), if applicable, for each nonimmigrant and LPR
category; and
 the number of visas that were issued or of individuals obtaining LPR status for
each category in the most recent year for which data are available.5
This information is provided in two tables: Table 1 contains information for nonimmigrant visa
categories, and Table 2 contains information for LPR categories.

1 The INA is Title 8 of the U.S. Code. For an overview of U.S. immigration policy, see CRS Report R45020, Primer on
U.S. Immigration Policy.
2 These categories are found in INA §101(a)(15), 8 U.S.C. §1101(a)(15).
3 Nonimmigrants are foreign nationals lawfully admitted to the United States for a specific purpose and period of time,
including tourists, diplomats, students, temporary workers, and exchange visitors, among others. For more information,
see CRS Report R45040, Immigration: Nonimmigrant (Temporary) Admissions to the United States.
4 LPRs are foreign nationals lawfully admitted to the United States to live permanently. For more information, see CRS
Report R42866, Permanent Legal Immigration to the United States: Policy Overview.
5 In this report, data on nonimmigrant visa issuances come from the Department of State, which has published data for
FY2021. Data on persons obtaining LPR status come from the Department of Homeland Security (DHS), which has not
published FY2021 data as of the cover date of this report; thus, LPR data in this report are for FY2020.
Congressional Research Service
1

link to page 8 Nonimmigrant and Immigrant Visa Categories: Data Brief

Table 1. Nonimmigrant Visas, FY2021
FY2021
Visa
Initial Duration of
Annual Numeric
Visa
Category
Description
Staya
Limit
Issuances
A-1
Ambassador, public minister, career
Duration of
None
9,171
diplomat, or consul, and immediate
assignment
family
A-2
Other foreign government official or Duration of
None
47,027
employee, and immediate family
assignment
A-3
Attendant, servant, or personal
Up to three years
None
696
employee of A-1/A-2, and
immediate family
B-1
Visitor for business
Six months to one
None
13,449
year
B-2
Visitor for pleasure
Six months to one
None
2,492
year
B-1/B-2
Visitor for business and pleasure
Six months to one
None
814,957
year
B-1/B-2/
Border crossing cards for Mexicans
Up to 30 days (or
None
470,501
BCC
longer if coupled with
B-1 or B-2)
B-1/B-2/
Mexican Lincoln Border Crossing
Up to 30 days (or
None
42,388
BCV
Visa
longer if coupled with
B-1 or B-2)
C-1
Person in transit
Up to 29 days
None
3,790
C-1/D
Combination transit/crew member
Up to 29 days
None
158,018
C-2
Person in transit to United Nations
Up to 29 days
None
4
Headquarters
C-3
Foreign government official and
Up to 29 days
None
2,507
immediate family, attendant, servant,
or personal employee in transit
CW-1
Commonwealth of the Northern
Up to one year
For FY2021: 12,000
400
Marianas (CNMI) transitional
plus 3,000 for
worker
disaster recovery
workers
CW-2
Spouse or child of CW-1
Up to one year
None
129
D
Crew member
Up to 29 days
None
2,497
E-1
Treaty trader, spouse and child, and
Up to two years
None
4,851
employee
E-2
Treaty investor, spouse and child,
Up to two years
None
33,129
and employee
E-2C
CNMI treaty investor, spouse, and
Up to two years
None
20
child
E-3
Australian specialty occupation
Up to two years
10,500
2,309
professional
E-3D
Spouse or child of E-3
Up to two years
None
1,623
E-3R
Returning E-3
Up to two years
None
1,092
Congressional Research Service
2

link to page 8 Nonimmigrant and Immigrant Visa Categories: Data Brief

FY2021
Visa
Initial Duration of
Annual Numeric
Visa
Category
Description
Staya
Limit
Issuances
F-1
Foreign student (academic or
Duration of study
None
357,839
language training program)
(limited to 12 months
for secondary school
students)
F-2
Spouse or child of F-1
Duration of study
None
19,820
F-3
Border commuter academic or
Duration of study
None
0
language student
G-1
Principal resident representative of
Duration of
None
5,028
recognized foreign member
assignment
government to international
organization, staff, and immediate
family
G-2
Other representative of recognized
Duration of
None
3,772
foreign member government to
assignment
international organization, staff, and
immediate family
G-3
Representative of nonrecognized or
Duration of
None
171
nonmember foreign government to
assignment
international organization, staff, and
immediate family
G-4
International organization officer or
Duration of
None
15,016
employee, and immediate family
assignment
G-5
Attendant, servant, or personal
Up to three years
None
83
employee of G-1 through G-4, and
immediate family
H-1B
Temporary worker—professional
Specialty occupation:
Specialty occupation
61,569
specialty occupation
up to three years;
or fashion model:
Department of
65,000, plus 20,000
Defense (DOD)
for those with U.S.
research &
advanced degrees;
development: up to
renewals and
five years
certain
research/educationa
l employers are not
counted against cap;
DOD research &
development: 100 at
any time
H-1 B-1
Free trade agreement professional
Up to one year
1,400 for Chile;
Chile: 1,097
from Chile or Singapore
5,400 for Singapore
Singapore:
489
H-2A
Temporary worker—agricultural
Up to one year
None
257,898
workers
H-2B
Temporary worker—nonagricultural Up to one year (up to
66,000
95,053
workers
three years in the case
of a one-time event)
H-3
Temporary worker—trainee
Alien trainee: up to
Alien trainee: none
382
two years
Special education
exchange visitor
Congressional Research Service
3

link to page 8 Nonimmigrant and Immigrant Visa Categories: Data Brief

FY2021
Visa
Initial Duration of
Annual Numeric
Visa
Category
Description
Staya
Limit
Issuances
program: up to 18
Special education
months
exchange visitor
program: 50
H-4
Spouse or child of H-1B, H-1B-1, H-
Same as H-1, H-2, or
None
55,444
2A, H-2B, or H-3
H-3 spouse/parent
I
Representative of foreign
Duration of
None
4,550
information media, spouse and child
employment
J-1
Cultural exchange visitor
Duration of program
None
129,662
J-2
Spouse or child of J-1
Duration of program
None
18,961
K-1
Fiancé(e) of U.S. citizen
Valid for four months;
None
19,218
must marry within 90
days of entry to adjust
to LPR status
K-2
Child of K-1
Same as parent
None
2,699
K-3
Spouse of U.S. citizen awaiting lawful Up to two years
None
2
permanent resident visa
K-4
Child of K-3
Up to two years or
None
0
until 21st birthday
L-1
Intracompany transferee (executive,
Up to three years; up
None
24,863
managerial, and specialized
to one year when
personnel continuing employment
beneficiary is coming
with international firm or
to open or be
corporation)
employed in a new
office
L-2
Spouse or child of L-1
Same as spouse/parent
None
30,354
M-1
Vocational student
Duration of study
None
4,554
M-2
Spouse or child of M-1
Same as spouse/parent
None
219
M-3
Border commuter vocational or
Duration of study
None
0
nonacademic student
NATO-1
Principal permanent representative
Tour of duty
None
26
of member nations to North
Atlantic Treaty Organization
(NATO), high ranking NATO
officials, and immediate family
members
NATO-2
Other representatives of member
Tour of duty
None
6,977
states to NATO (including any of its
subsidiary bodies) and immediate
family members; dependents of
member of a force entering in
accordance with provisions of
NATO agreements, members of
such force
NATO-3
Official clerical staff accompanying a
Tour of duty
None
1
representative of a member state to
NATO, and immediate family
NATO-4
Officials of NATO (other than those Tour of duty
None
70
classifiable as NATO-1), and
immediate family
Congressional Research Service
4

link to page 8 Nonimmigrant and Immigrant Visa Categories: Data Brief

FY2021
Visa
Initial Duration of
Annual Numeric
Visa
Category
Description
Staya
Limit
Issuances
NATO-5
Experts employed in missions on
Tour of duty
None
10
behalf of NATO (other than
NATO-4 officials), and their
dependents
NATO-6
Civilian employees of a force
Tour of duty
None
496
entering in accordance with the
provisions of NATO agreements or
attached to NATO headquarters,
and their dependents
NATO-7
Attendant, servant, or personal
Up to three years
None
2
employee of NATO-1 through
NATO-6, and immediate family
N-8
Parent of certain special immigrants
Up to three years, as
None
10
(pertaining to international
long as special
organizations)
immigrant remains a
child
N-9
Child of N-8 or of certain special
Up to three years, or
None
1
immigrants (pertaining to
until no longer a child,
international organizations)
whichever is shorter
O-1
Person with extraordinary ability in
Up to three years
None
7,294
the sciences, arts, education,
business, or athletics
O-2
Person accompanying and assisting
Up to three years
None
2,870
in the artistic or athletic
performance by O-1
O-3
Spouse or child of O-1 or O-2
Up to three years
None
2,838
P-1
Internationally recognized athlete or
Up to five years for
None
8,825
member of an internationally
individual, up to one
recognized entertainment group and year for group or team
essential support
P-2
Artist or entertainer in a reciprocal
Up to one year
None
13
exchange program and essential
support
P-3
Artist or entertainer in a culturally
Up to one year
None
743
unique program and essential
support
P-4
Spouse or child of P-1, P-2, or P-3
Same as spouse/parent
None
972
Q-1
International cultural exchange
Up to 15 months
None
98
program participant
R-1
Religious worker
Up to 30 months
None
1,942
R-2
Spouse or child of R-1
Up to 30 months
None
835
S-5
Witness or informant in criminal
Up to three years
200
0
matter
S-6
Witness or informant in terrorism
Up to three years
50
0
matter
S-7
Spouse or child of S-5 and S-6
Up to three years
None
0
Congressional Research Service
5

link to page 8 Nonimmigrant and Immigrant Visa Categories: Data Brief

FY2021
Visa
Initial Duration of
Annual Numeric
Visa
Category
Description
Staya
Limit
Issuances
T-1
Victim of a severe form of trafficking Up to four years; may
5,000
0
in persons
adjust to LPR status if
conditions are met
T-2
Spouse of T-1
Same as T-1
None
32
T-3
Child of T-1
Same as T-1
None
173
T-4
Parent of T-1 under age 21
Same as T-1
None
28
T-5
Unmarried sibling under age 18 of
Same as T-1
None
29
T-1 under age 21
T-6
Adult or minor child of T-2, T-3, T-
Same as T-1
None
17
4, or T-5
TN
NAFTA professional
Up to three years
None
24,904
TD
Spouse or child of TN
Up to three years
None
11,919
U-1
Victim or informant of criminal
Up to four years; may
10,000
138
activity
adjust to LPR status if
conditions are met.
U-2
Spouse of U-1
Same as U-1
None
96
U-3
Child of U-1
Same as U-1
None
894
U-4
Parent of U-1 under age 21
Same as U-1
None
17
U-5
Unmarried sibling under age 18 of
Same as U-1
None
20
U-1 under age 21
V-1
Spouse of LPR who has had
Up to two years
None
0
immigrant visa petition pending for
three years or longer; transitional
visa that leads to LPR status when
visa becomes available
V-2
Child of LPR who has had immigrant Up to two years, or
None
0
visa petition pending for three years
until 21st birthday
or longer
V-3
Child of V-1 or V-2
Up to two years, or
None
0
until 21st birthday

Total

2,792,083
Source: Visa Category, Description, Duration of Stay, and Annual Numeric Limit: §§101(a)(15), 212, and 214 of
the Immigration and Nationality Act (8 U.S.C. §§1101(a)(15), 1182, and 1184); and §214 of 8 C.F.R. FY2021 Visa
Issuances: U.S. Department of State, Report of the Visa Office 2021, Table XV (B).
a. Some visa categories allow for an extension of stay. For more information, see Appendix in CRS Report
R45040, Immigration: Nonimmigrant (Temporary) Admissions to the United States.
Congressional Research Service
6

link to page 9 link to page 9 link to page 10 link to page 10 Nonimmigrant and Immigrant Visa Categories: Data Brief

Table 2. LPR Categories, FY2020
LPR
Annual
FY2020 LPR
Category
Description
Numeric Limit
Recipientsa
Employment-Based Preference Immigrants
EB-1
Priority workers
40,040
47,388
EB-2
Professionals with advanced degrees or aliens of
40,040
43,666
exceptional ability
EB-3
Skil ed workers, professionals, and needed unskil ed
40,040a
43,218
workers
(including up to
10,000 for
unskil ed “other
workers”)
EB-4
Special immigrants (including religious workers, employees
9,940
10,704
of U.S. government abroad, and juvenile court dependents)
(including up to
5,000 religious
workers)
EB-5
Investors/employment creation
9,940
3,983
Family-Based Immigrants

IR-1
Spouses of U.S. citizens
No annual limit
195,718
IR-2
Children of U.S. citizens (includes orphans and adoptees)
No annual limit
37,379
IR-3
Parents of U.S. citizens
No annual limit
88,051
F-1
Unmarried sons/daughters of U.S. citizens and their
23,400
11,383
children
F-2
Spouses, children, and unmarried sons/daughters of LPRs
114,200
51,701
F-3
Married sons/daughters of U.S. citizens and their spouses
23,400
13,930
and children
F-4
Brothers/sisters of U.S. citizens (age 21 or older) and their
65,000
44,546
spouses and children
Diversity
Individuals from countries that send relatively few
55,000c
25,028
immigrants to the United States
Refugees
Aliens admitted to the United States as refugees based on
No annual limit
44,404
persecution claims who have been physically present in the
United States for at least one year
Asylees
Aliens granted asylum based on persecution claims who
No annual limit
19,471
have been physically present in the United States for at
least one year
Other
Includes parolees, children born abroad to alien residents,
Various limitsd
26,792
certain Iraqis and Afghans employed by the U.S.
government, cancellation of removal, victims of human
trafficking, and victims of crime
Total

707,362
Source: LPR Category, Description, and Annual Numeric Limit: INA §§203(a), 203(b), and 204 (8 U.S.C.
§§1153(a) 1153(b), and 1154). FY2020 Recipients: U.S. Department of Homeland Security, Yearbook of
Immigration Statistics FY2020, Table 6.
a. Categories in which the number of LPR recipients exceeds the statutory annual numeric limit are largely
due to timing differences between when LPR status is officially granted, and when immigrants actually arrive
in the United States and are counted by DHS as green card recipients. These differences also result from
the rol -downs of unused visa numbers from higher-priority categories. For more information, see Table 1
in CRS Report R42866, Permanent Legal Immigration to the United States: Policy Overview.
Congressional Research Service
7

Nonimmigrant and Immigrant Visa Categories: Data Brief

b. The Immigration and Nationality Act limits EB-3 immigrant visas to 40,040 each year. From FY2002 through
FY2019, that ceiling was reduced by up to 5,000 each year to accommodate adjustments made under the
Nicaraguan Adjustment and Central American Relief Act (NACARA, Title II of P.L. 105-100, as amended by
P.L. 105-139, Section 1(e)). For FY2020, this reduction was limited to approximately 350.
c. The Immigration and Nationality Act provides for 55,000 diversity immigrant visas each year. From FY1999
through FY2020, that annual ceiling was reduced by up to 5,000 each year to accommodate adjustments
made under the Nicaraguan Adjustment and Central American Relief Act (NACARA, Title II of P.L. 105-100
as amended by P.L. 105-139, Section 1(e)). For FY2020, this reduction was limited to approximately 350,
and for FY2021, this reduction was limited to approximately 150.
d. For more information on these categories, see CRS Report R42866, Permanent Legal Immigration to the
United States: Policy Overview.

Author Information

Jill H. Wilson

Analyst in Immigration Policy

Disclaimer
This document was prepared by the Congressional Research Service (CRS). CRS serves as nonpartisan
shared staff to congressional committees and Members of Congress. It operates solely at the behest of and
under the direction of Congress. Information in a CRS Report should not be relied upon for purposes other
than public understanding of information that has been provided by CRS to Members of Congress in
connection with CRS’s institutional role. CRS Reports, as a work of the United States Government, are not
subject to copyright protection in the United States. Any CRS Report may be reproduced and distributed in
its entirety without permission from CRS. However, as a CRS Report may include copyrighted images or
material from a third party, you may need to obtain the permission of the copyright holder if you wish to
copy or otherwise use copyrighted material.

Congressional Research Service
R45938 · VERSION 5 · UPDATED
8