What types of U.S. visas are there?

There are two main categories. Non-immigrants are visas for temporary visitors, people visiting the United States, and Immigrant visas for those permanently moving to the United States.

How to apply for a U.S. visa?

First, choose the visa you need from the State.gov list. Select the link next to the type of visa. When you select the link to apply for an immigrant visa, you will leave the Department of State website and go to the U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services website.

A guide to the U.S. visa: types & requirements

ویزه څه ده؟

A visa is an official document that allows people to travel to the United States for a specific purpose. A visa is stamped or placed into someone’s passport or travel document. A visa indicates the number of times a traveler can enter the United States.

Do I need a visa?

Not all people traveling to the U.S. require a visa. The Visa Waiver Program (VWP) allows citizens of 40 countries to travel without one. You must meet the following requirements:

Be a citizen or national of the countries listed here
یو پاسپورت ولرئ چې لږترلږه د 6 میاشتو لپاره د اعتبار وړ وي له هغه نیټې څخه چې تاسو متحده ایالاتو ته د سفر پلان لرئ.
د سفر اجازه ورکولو لپاره یو معتبر بریښنایی سیسټم ولرئ (ESTA)
Be traveling for business or tourism
پلان لرئ چې په متحده ایالاتو کې د 90 ورځو یا لږ لپاره پاتې شئ

What are the types of U.S. visas?

There are two categories of visas:

د غیر مهاجرت ویزې د هغو خلکو لپاره دي چې په لنډمهاله توګه متحده ایالاتو ته ځي.

Immigrant visas are for people moving to the U.S. permanently. When a person with an immigrant visa enters the U.S., they become an “LPR” or legal permanent resident.

Nonimmigrant visas

د غیر مهاجرت ویزې ډیری برخه د سوداګرۍ او سیاحت لپاره نړیوالو مسافرینو، زده کونکو، لنډمهاله کارګرانو او د تبادلې لیدونکو ته ورکول کیږي.

Visa	ډول	For	Requirements	Form(s)	Fees
Visitor visas	B-1, B-2	Business, pleasure, tourism, or medical treatment for a short period of time	Prove you have funds to cover all costs of your trip and that you intend to return home at the end of your stay in the U.S.	DS-160	$185
Student visas	F, M	Academic or vocational program for international students	Prove acceptance into an academic or vocational program	DS-160	$185
Temporary worker visas	H-1B, H-1B1, H-2A, H-2B, H-3, L, O, P-1, P-2, P-3, Q-1	Employment for a short period of time	Approved Form I-129 petition	DS-160	$205 (Plus I-129 Filing Fees)
Visas for victims of certain crimes	T, U	Victims of human trafficking and other crimes	Be willing to help U.S. law enforcement investigate or prosecute crimes that you were a victim of in the U.S.	I-914 I-918	$0
Visas for spouses of U.S. citizens	K-3	Spouses of U.S. citizens to enter the U.S. while they wait for an immigrant visa petition to be approved	Approved Form I-129F petition; proof that your marriage is genuine and has financial support	DS-160	$265
Visas for fiances of U.S. citizens	K-1	Fiances of U.S. citizens to travel to the U.S. to marry	Approved Form I-129F petition; evidence of relationship	DS-160	$265 (Plus I-129F Filing Fees)
Visas for employees of international organizations and NATO	G, NATO	Diplomats, government officials, and employees who work for international organizations or NATO	Diplomatic note or travel order	DS-160	$0

د-غیر-مهاجرت-ویزې

Most immigrant visas are issued to family members of U.S. citizens and Green Card holders, followed by people coming to the U.S. for work.

Visa	ډول	For	Requirements	Form(s)	Fees
Family-based visas	IR1, CR1, IR3, IH3, IR4, IH4, IR2, CR2, IR5, F1, F3, F4, F2A, F2B	– Spouse or child (of any age, married or unmarried) of a U.S. citizen – Parent or sibling of a U.S. citizen 21 or older – Spouse or unmarried child of a U.S. LPR	Approved Form I-130 petition, Affidavit of support (Form I-864)	I-130 I-864 DS-260	$325 $120 Affidavit of Support Plus I-130 Filing Fees
Employer-based visas	E1, E2, E3, EW3, E4, E5, Ew3, C5, T5, R5, I5, SD, SR	Priority workers, professionals holding advanced degrees, skilled workers, professionals, and unskilled workers, religious workers	DOL certification approval, approved Form I-140 petition, proof of job offer, proof of financial support	I-140 DS-260	$345
Special Immigrant Visas for Afghans who worked for U.S. and Afghan Translators/Interpreters	SIV	Afghans who were employed by or on behalf of the U.S. government or who worked with the U.S. military as a translator or interpreter	Proof of employment for at least 12 months, recommendation letter from employer	I-360	$0
Diversity visas	DV	People from countries designated for diversity visas	Proof of high school education or two years of work experience	DS-260	$330
Visas for returning residents	SB-1	Permanent or conditional residents who have left the U.S. for more than one year	Permanent resident card, reentry permit	DS-117 DS-260	$180

Find a complete list of immigrant and nonimmigrant visas.

زه باید د کوم ډول ویزې لپاره غوښتنه وکړم؟

Each visa relates to a specific group and purpose of travel. Use the Department of State’s Visa Wizard tool to figure out which visa you should apply for.

Contact your local U.S. Embassy or Consulate for questions about which visa services they offer and requirements.

زه څنګه کولی شم د ویزې لپاره غوښتنه؟

Follow the instructions for filing each form. Be prepared to pay fees and provide supporting documents. Find more detailed steps on family-based visas.

زه څنګه د خپل غوښتنلیک وضعيت وګورئ؟

You can check the status of your application online via the Consular Electronic Application Center (CEAC). You will need to type in your case number.

You can also check visa interview wait times for your local embassy or consulate. This only provides interview wait times for non-immigrant visas.

How can I prepare for the visa interview?

Nonimmigrant visa interviews are generally required for applicants 14-79 years of age. Immigrant visa interviews are required for all applicants immigrating to the U.S.

ستاسو د مرکې لپاره چمتو کړئ. تاسو اړتیا لرئ چې د ویزې غوښتنلیک تایید پاڼه، د غوښتنلیک فیس تادیه رسید، او پاسپورت خپلې مرکې ته راوړو. تاسو ممکن د خپل سفر په اړه خپل عکس او اسناد هم راوړو ته اړتیا ولرئ.

Immigrant visa applicants will also need to complete a medical examination and bring current evidence of financial support to your interview.

د متحده ایالاتو په سفارت یا قونسلګرۍ کې په مرکه کې ګډون وکړئ. د قونسلګرۍ افسر به ستاسو په مرکه کې ستاسو د ډیجیټل ګوتو نښې سکینونه راټول کړي. افسر به تاسو څخه پوښتنې وکړي ترڅو پریکړه وکړي چې ایا تاسو د ویزې لپاره وړ یاست. که تاسو ژباړونکي ته اړتیا لرئ، مقررات د موقعیت له مخې توپیر لري. د وخت څخه مخکې پوښتنه وکړئ.

زه څنګه کولی شم د ویزې لپاره غوښتنه؟

په ډیرو مواردو کې، د قونسلګرۍ افسر به ستاسو د مرکې په پای کې ستاسو د غوښتنلیک د پریکړې په اړه تاسو ته خبر درکړي.

If your visa application is approved, the officer will place a visa in your passport. You will get instructions on when and how your passport will be returned to you. You may have the option of picking up your passport another day or having it shipped to your home. You should then:

ډاډ ترلاسه کړئ چې ستاسو د ویزې معلومات سم دي.
مخکې له دې چې تاسو متحده ایالاتو ته سفر وکړئ USCIS ته د ویزې صادرولو فیس ورکړئ.

If your visa application is denied, the officer will explain why you are ineligible for a visa to come to the U.S. If you are not eligible for a visa, you may be able to apply for a waiver. The officer will let you know if a waiver is available and how you can apply for it.

If your visa application is put on hold, it means your case needs more processing. The officer may say you are missing documentation or ask for more evidence. The officer will give you instructions on which documents are missing and how to submit those documents after your interview.

How can I extend my stay in the U.S.?

You can file Form I-539 to extend your stay in the U.S. You should file for an extension at least 45 days before your visa expires. You can also use this form to change your nonimmigrant status. You can submit your application online or by mail.

If you do not have another legal immigration status and your authorized period of stay under your visa ends, you will become undocumented. If you stay without legal status, you will risk being detained and deported.

متحده ایالاتو ته د سفر (یا پاتې کیدو) نورې لارې کومې دي؟

The U.S. allows humanitarian programs that allow certain people to stay in the U.S. temporarily or permanently for humanitarian reasons.

An immigration lawyer or legal representative can help you review your options. Many organizations and lawyers offer free or low-cost legal services.

Find help outside the USA

See a list of groups that help migrants, refugees, and asylum seekers worldwide. Learn where to get help by the Mexico border, help with sponsorship, and more.

مرسته ترلاسه کړئ

ددې پاڼي معلومات له USA.gov, USCIS, the Department of State, او نورو باوري سرچینو څخه په لاس راغلی دي. زموږ موخه دا ده چې د پوهیدلو لپاره اسانه معلومات وړاندې کړو کوم چې په منظم ډول تازه کیږي. دا معلومات حقوقي مشوره نه ده.