Visa policy of the United States

The U.S. government requires all individuals entering or departing the United States by air, or entering the United States by sea from outside the Americas, to hold one of the following documents:[1]

• U.S. passport
• Foreign passport; for entry, a U.S. visa is also required except for:
  • Citizens of the freely associated states (Marshall Islands, Micronesia and Palau)[2]
  • Nationals of certain neighboring jurisdictions (Canada and Bermuda generally; Bahamas, British Virgin Islands, Cayman Islands and Turks and Caicos Islands under certain conditions; and Mexico under limited categories)
  • Nationals of countries in the Visa Waiver Program (or of certain additional countries only for Guam and the Northern Mariana Islands)
• U.S. permanent resident card (Form I-551) or temporary I-551 stamp
• U.S. travel document serving as a re-entry permit (Form I-327) or refugee travel document (Form I-571)
• U.S. advance parole authorization (Form I-512), or employment authorization document (Form I-766) annotated "valid for re-entry to U.S." or "serves as I-512 advance parole"
• U.S. military or NATO identification with official travel order
• U.S. merchant mariner credential indicating U.S. citizenship
• NEXUS card indicating U.S. or Canadian citizenship (only to or from Canadian airports)
• U.S. government-issued transportation letter or boarding foil (for entry only)
• Foreign emergency travel document or U.S. removal order (for departure only)

For entry by land or sea from the Americas, individuals must present one of the documents acceptable for entry by air or one of the following:[1]

• U.S. passport card
• NEXUS, SENTRI, FAST or Global Entry card indicating U.S. or Canadian citizenship
• U.S. or Canadian enhanced driver's license
• Enhanced tribal card, Native American photo identification card, or Canadian Indian status card
• U.S. or Canadian birth certificate, U.S. Consular Report of Birth Abroad, U.S. naturalization certificate or Canadian citizenship certificate, only for children under age 16, or under age 19 in a supervised group[3]
• Government-issued photo identification along with U.S. birth certificate, Consular Report of Birth Abroad or naturalization certificate, only for travel by cruise ship returning to the same place of departure in the United States[4]

Nationals of Mexico may use a Border Crossing Card, which serves as a visa when presented with a passport. Without a passport, the card on its own also allows entry by land or sea while remaining within 25 miles from the Mexico–United States border (up to 75 miles in Arizona and 55 miles in New Mexico) for a stay of up to 30 days.[5][6]

Children born to a U.S. permanent resident mother during a temporary visit abroad do not need a passport or visa at the mother's first re-entry to the United States within two years after birth. Similarly, children born abroad to a parent with a U.S. immigrant visa after its issuance do not need a passport or visa if listed in the parent's passport with a birth certificate.[1]

While there are about 185 different types of U.S. visas,[7] there are two main categories:

• Nonimmigrant visa, for temporary stays such as for tourism, business, family visits, study, work or transit;
• Immigrant visa: for permanent residence in the United States. At the port of entry, upon endorsement with an I-551 admission stamp, the visa serves as evidence of permanent residence for one year, and the visa holder is processed for a green card. A child with an IR-3 or IH-3 visa automatically becomes a U.S. citizen upon admission and is processed for a certificate of citizenship (N-560).

A U.S. visa does not authorize entry into the United States or a stay in a particular status, but only serves as a preliminary permission to travel to the United States and to seek admission at a port of entry. The final admission to the United States is made at the port of entry by a U.S. Customs and Border Protection (CBP) office. A U.S. immigrant visa can take 2 weeks up to 4 months to obtain. For those entering in a nonimmigrant visa status, the admission details are recorded by the CBP officer on a Form I-94 (or Form I-94W for nationals of the Visa Waiver Program countries for short visits), which serves as the official document authorizing the stay in the United States in a particular status and for a particular period of time.[8] In order to immigrate, one should either have an immigrant visa or have a dual intent visa, which is one that is compatible with making a concurrent application for nonimmigrant and immigrant status.

Entering the United States on an employment visa may be described as a three-step process in most cases. First, the employer files an application with U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services requesting a particular type of category visa for a specific individual. If the employer's application is approved, it only authorizes the individual to apply for a visa; the approved application is not actually a visa. The individual then applies for a visa and is usually interviewed at a U.S. embassy or consulate in the native country. If the embassy or consulate grants the visa, the individual is then allowed to travel to the United States. At the airport, border crossing or other point of entry, the individual speaks with an officer from U.S. Customs and Border Protection to request admission, and if approved, the individual may then enter the United States.[7]

In addition to immigration sponsored by a U.S. family member or employer, about 55,000 immigrant visas are available each year to natives of certain countries under the Diversity Immigrant Visa program, also known as the green card lottery.

The United States grants visa-free entry to nationals of two neighboring jurisdictions under most circumstances:[5]

•  Canada – Nationals of Canada do not need a visa to visit the United States under most circumstances.[11] In addition, under the USMCA (and earlier NAFTA), they may obtain authorization to work under a simplified procedure.
•  Bermuda – British Overseas Territories citizens of Bermuda do not need a visa to visit the United States under most circumstances for up to 180 days.[11] They may also enter to study there without a visa.[12] To qualify for the visa exemption, they must present a British passport with "Government of Bermuda" on the cover, with the nationality listed as "British Overseas Territories Citizen" or "British Dependent Territories Citizen", and containing an endorsement stamp of "Holder is registered as a Bermudian", "Holder possesses Bermudian status" or "Holder is deemed to possess Bermudian status".[12]

The United States also grants visa-free entry to nationals of some other neighboring jurisdictions under certain conditions:[5]

•  Bahamas – Nationals of the Bahamas do not need a visa to the United States if they apply for entry at one of the preclearance facilities in Nassau or Freeport international airports. In addition to a Bahamian passport, applicants 14 years of age or older must present a police certificate issued by the Royal Bahamas Police Force in the previous six months indicating no criminal record.[13]
•  British Virgin Islands – British Overseas Territories citizens of the British Virgin Islands may travel without a visa to the U.S. Virgin Islands with their British Virgin Islands passport. They may also continue travel to other parts of the United States if they present a Certificate of Good Conduct issued by the Royal Virgin Islands Police Department indicating no criminal record.[5][14]
•  Cayman Islands – British Overseas Territories citizens of the Cayman Islands may travel without a visa to the United States. To qualify, they must receive a visa waiver from the Cayman Islands Passport and Corporate Services Office, for which they must present a Cayman Islands passport valid for at least six months beyond their intended departure from the United States, a fee of 25 Cayman Islands dollars, and a police clearance certificate for applicants age 13 or older.[15] The visa waiver is valid for only one entry and for travel directly from the Cayman Islands to the United States.[16]
•  Turks and Caicos Islands – British Overseas Territories citizens of the Turks and Caicos Islands may travel to the United States without a visa for short stays for business or pleasure. To qualify, they must travel directly from the territory to the United States, present a Turks and Caicos Islands passport or another travel document stating that they are British Overseas Territory citizens with the right of abode in the Turks and Caicos Islands, and applicants 14 years of age or older must also present a police certificate issued in the previous six months indicating no criminal record.[17]

Visa-free entry is also granted to limited categories of nationals of another neighboring country:

•  Mexico – Some nationals of Mexico do not need a visa to travel to the United States: government officials not permanently assigned to the United States and their accompanying family members, holding diplomatic or official passports, for stays of up to six months; members of the Kickapoo tribes of Texas or Oklahoma, holding Form I-872, American Indian Card; and crew members of Mexican airlines operating in the United States.[5] Other nationals of Mexico may travel to the United States with a Border Crossing Card, which functions as a visa and has similar requirements.[18] Under the USMCA (and earlier NAFTA), they may also obtain authorization to work under a simplified procedure.

As of 2022, 40 countries have been selected by the U.S. government for inclusion in the Visa Waiver Program (VWP). Their nationals do not need a U.S. visa for short stays, but they are required to obtain an electronic authorization (ESTA) prior to arrival.[20] Visitors may stay for up to 90 days in the United States, which also includes time spent in Canada, Mexico, Bermuda or the islands in the Caribbean if the arrival was through the United States.[1]

The Electronic System for Travel Authorization (ESTA) is not considered a visa, but a prerequisite to traveling to the United States under the Visa Waiver Program. ESTA has an application fee of US$4, and if approved, an additional fee of $17 is charged, for a total of $21. Once obtained, the authorization is valid for up to two years or until the traveler's passport expires, whichever comes first, and is valid for multiple entries into the United States. Passengers are advised to apply for ESTA at least 72 hours before departure.[35][36]

Travel by air or sea with ESTA must be made on a participating commercial carrier. The VWP does not apply at all if arriving by air or sea on an unapproved carrier (e.g. a private ship or plane), in which case a standard visa is required.[36] ESTA is also required for entry by land.[37]

As of 2021, those who have previously traveled to Iran, Iraq, Libya, North Korea, Somalia, Sudan, Syria or Yemen on or after March 1, 2011, or who are dual nationals of Iran, Iraq, North Korea, Sudan or Syria, are not eligible to travel under the VWP and must obtain a standard visa.[38] However, those who traveled to such countries as diplomats, military, journalists, humanitarian workers or legitimate businessmen may have this ineligibility waived.[39]

Although the visa policy of the U.S. also applies to the U.S. territories of Guam and the Northern Mariana Islands, both territories have additional visa waiver programs for certain nationalities. The Guam–CNMI Visa Waiver Program, first enacted in October 1988 and periodically amended, permits nationals from 12 countries in Asia, Europe and Oceania to enter Guam and the Northern Mariana Islands as tourists for up to 45 days without the need to obtain a U.S. visa or ESTA.[5] A parole policy also allows nationals of China visa-free access to the Northern Mariana Islands for up to 14 days.[40]

Travelers with a visa or ESTA are admitted to the territories in accordance with the terms of the visa or ESTA.

Travelers using the Guam–CNMI Visa Waiver Program or the parole are required to complete an I-736 form (online as of February 2018[51][52]), hold a machine-readable passport and nonrefundable return ticket, and are not permitted to travel to other parts of the United States. Because of special visa categories for the Northern Mariana Islands' foreign workers, traveling between Guam and the Northern Mariana Islands still requires a full immigration inspection, and all visitors departing Guam or Northern Mariana Islands are inspected regardless of final destination.[53]

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American Samoa entry stamp

U.S. visa policy does not apply to the territory of American Samoa, as it has its own entry requirements and maintains control of its own borders. Hence, neither a U.S. visa nor an ESTA can be used to enter American Samoa. If required, an entry permit or electronic authorization (OK Board) must be obtained from the Department of Legal Affairs of American Samoa.[54]

U.S. nationals may remain indefinitely in American Samoa.[55] To enter, they must present a U.S. passport, or apply online for an electronic authorization providing a copy of their birth certificate, identification card and itinerary. If they cannot present their original or certified birth certificate and valid identification, the application requires a fee of US$50 for verification of vital records.[56]

Nationals of countries in the Entry Permit Waiver Program (EPWP) may visit for up to 30 days without an entry permit. However, if arriving by air, they must apply online for an electronic authorization called "OK to Board" or "OK Board", at least 48 hours before travel, providing a biometric passport and itinerary. They must also pay a fee of US$20, before travel or on arrival.[55][57]

Entry Permit Waiver Program (EPWP) of American Samoa

Nationals of other countries need an entry permit. To apply, they must have a local sponsor, who must appear in person at the Immigration Office of the Department of Legal Affairs and provide either a deed of private land or signatures of the sponsor's sa'o (head chief) and pulenu'u (village mayor). Travelers must also provide a copy of their passport and itinerary, clearances from the District Court of American Samoa and Lyndon B. Johnson Tropical Medical Center, consent for a background check by the Department of Homeland Security of American Samoa, police and health clearances from the country of origin, and a fee of US$40 (no fee for children under 5 years of age). The application for an entry permit must be made at least 30 days before travel, and the permit is valid for a stay of up to 30 days.[61] Business travelers may apply for a multiple-entry permit, for a fee of US$50 per month, up to one year.[62]

Nationals of Samoa may apply for entry permits for a stay of up to 14 days (fee of US$10) or 30 days (fee of US$40, except for children under 5 years of age). Their application process requires fewer documents.[63][61]

Transit travelers of any nationality may apply for an electronic authorization free of charge, allowing a stay of up to 24 hours.[64]

Residents of the Chukotka Autonomous Okrug in Russia who are members of the indigenous population do not need a visa to visit Alaska if they have relatives (blood relatives, members of the same tribe, native people who have similar language and cultural heritage) in Alaska. Entry points are in Gambell and Nome.

Individuals must be invited by a relative in Alaska, must notify local authorities at least ten days before traveling to Alaska, and must leave Alaska within 90 days.

The agreement establishing this policy was signed by Russia (then the Soviet Union) and the United States on September 23, 1989. The United States made it effective as of July 17, 2015.[65][66]

Members of certain indigenous peoples born in Canada may enter and remain in the United States indefinitely "for the purpose of employment, study, retirement, investing, and/or immigration" or any other reason by virtue of the Jay Treaty of 1794, as codified in Section 289 of the Immigration and Naturalization Act.[67]

In order to qualify, an individual must possess "at least 50 per centum blood of the American Indian Race".[67][68] Tribal membership alone does not qualify an individual.[67] The individual bears the burden of proof in establishing eligibility, typically by way of presenting identification based on reliable tribal records, birth certificates, and other documents establishing the percentage of Indian blood.[69] A Canadian Certificate of Indian Status is insufficient proof because it does not indicate the percentage of Indian blood.[69]

This provision does not extend to family members unless they qualify in their own right.[67][69][70] However, qualifying American Indians residing in the United States are considered to be lawfully admitted for U.S. permanent residence and therefore may file a petition for their spouse and dependent children, subject to statutory numerical limitations and a potential backlog of applications.[67][71][72]

To travel to the United States by air from November 8, 2021, or by land from January 22, 2022, nonimmigrant foreign nationals age 18 years or older must be fully vaccinated for COVID-19, with exceptions for crew members, military, government officials, medical contraindications, humanitarian, emergency or national interest cases, and nationals of countries with limited availability of COVID-19 vaccines not traveling for tourism or business.[73][74] For this purpose, a person is considered fully vaccinated two weeks after taking a single-dose vaccine authorized by the FDA or WHO, the second dose of two-dose vaccines authorized by the FDA or WHO (the two doses may be of the same or different vaccines), or the full series of a vaccine in certain clinical trials.[73]

As of September 2022, travel to American Samoa is limited to its residents and personnel authorized by its government. Travelers must also be fully vaccinated for COVID-19 if eligible for such vaccine.[75]

The United States has suspended the issuance of certain types of visas for certain people from certain countries as sanctions for their lack of cooperation in accepting the return of their nationals deported from the United States.[76][77] As of September 2022, these sanctions apply to nationals of Eritrea[78] and to certain government officials and their family members of Cambodia,[79] China[80][81] (also under separate sanctions[82][83]), Laos,[84] Myanmar,[85] Pakistan[86] and Sierra Leone.[87]

The United States has also suspended the issuance of visas in Cuba and Venezuela due to the ordered departure of U.S. government personnel, but nationals of these countries may still apply for visas at U.S. embassies or consulates in other countries.[88][89]

Visits to the United States Minor Outlying Islands – Baker Island,[90] Howland Island,[91] Jarvis Island,[92] Johnston Atoll,[93] Kingman Reef,[94] Midway Atoll,[95] Navassa Island,[96] Palmyra Atoll[97] and Wake Island[98] – are severely restricted. The islands are not accessible to the general public, and all visits require special permits from the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service, or from The Nature Conservancy for Palmyra Atoll[97] or from the U.S. Air Force for Wake Island.[99]

A visas are issued to representatives of a foreign government traveling to the United States to engage in official activities for that government. A visas are granted to foreign government ambassadors, ministers, diplomats, as well as other foreign government officials or employees traveling on official business (A-1 visa). Certain foreign officials require an A visa regardless of the purpose of their trip. The A visa is also granted to immediate family members of such foreign government officials, defined as "the principal applicant's spouse and unmarried sons and daughters of any age who are not members of some other household and who will reside regularly in the household of the principal alien" (A-2 Visa) and which "may also include close relatives of the principal alien or spouse who are related by blood, marriage, or adoption who are not members of some other household; who will reside regularly in the household of the principal alien; and who are recognized as dependents by the sending government (A-3 Visa).[117]

The most common non-immigrant visa is the multiple-purpose B-1/B-2 visa, also known as the "visa for temporary visitors for business or pleasure." Visa applicants sometimes receive either a B-1 (temporary visitor for business) or a B-2 (temporary visitor for pleasure) visa, if their reason for travel is specific enough that the consular officer does not feel they qualify for combined B-1/B-2 status.[118] Holders may also attend short non-credit courses. Mexican citizens are eligible for Border Crossing Cards.[119]

From November 29, 2016, all holders of Chinese passports who also hold 10-year B visas are required to enroll in the Electronic Visa Update System (EVUS) before traveling to the United States. This requirement may be extended to other nationalities in the future.[120][121]

Effective January 24, 2020, B visas are not issued to individuals expected to give birth during their stay, unless they demonstrate that the primary purpose of their visit is not to obtain U.S. citizenship for the child.[122] In addition, B visa applicants seeking medical treatment in the United States must demonstrate their arrangements for the medical treatment and sufficiently establish their ability to pay for it.[122]

  United States

  Visa-exempt countries

US B visa refusal rate in 2019, over:

Under 3%

3%

5%

10%

20%

30%

40%

50%

The Adjusted Refusal Rate is based on the refusal rate of B visa applications. B visas are adjudicated based on applicant interviews; the interviews generally last between 60 and 90 seconds.[125] Due to time constraints, adjudicators profile applicants.[125] Certain demographics, such as young adults who are single and unemployed, almost never receive visas, unless they articulate a compelling reason.[125] Adjudicators are evaluated on how fast they carry out interviews, not the quality of adjudication decisions.[126] The validity of B visa decisions is not evaluated.[126]

To qualify for the Visa Waiver Program, a country must have had a nonimmigrant visa refusal rate of less than 3% for the previous year or an average of no more than 2% over the past two fiscal years with neither year going above 2.5%.[127] In addition, the country must provide visa-free access to United States citizens and has to be either an independent country or a dependency of a VWP country (which has precluded Hong Kong and Macau from participating in the program). (Until April 4, 2016, Argentina charged $160 to U.S. citizens to enter.)

The Adjusted Visa Refusal Rates for B visas were as follows:

Country/Region	Fiscal Year 2008[128]	Fiscal Year 2014[129]	Fiscal Year 2015[130]	Fiscal Year 2016[131]	Fiscal Year 2017[132]	Fiscal Year 2018[133]	Fiscal Year 2019[134]	Fiscal Year 2020[135]
Afghanistan	51.00%	46.70%	61.03%	73.80%	72.14%	71.39%	68.42%	56.05%
Albania	38.70%	39.80%	36.82%	35.95%	40.45%	41.92%	41.45%	40.06%
Algeria	20.30%	23.10%	25.92%	36.00%	43.96%	39.26%	44.22%	49.69%
Angola	17.10%	21.40%	26.77%	48.52%	36.01%	51.76%	58.26%	62.15%
Antigua and Barbuda	21.70%	20.80%	20.17%	22.11%	20.50%	19.07%	15.25%	23.44%
Argentina	3.10%	1.40%	2.14%	2.14%	1.79%	1.73%	2.07%	2.79%
Armenia	53.30%	43.80%	47.17%	45.88%	51.87%	53.83%	51.65%	56.47%
Azerbaijan	14.00%	13.50%	12.93%	14.83%	27.63%	28.45%	25.43%	26.41%
Bahrain	6.60%	4.70%	3.81%	6.26%	9.53%	6.96%	13.55%	9.04%
Bangladesh	48.20%	50.80%	59.96%	62.82%	60.88%	40.05%	39.78%	40.34%
Barbados	10.10%	9.80%	9.54%	11.24%	8.72%	7.07%	6.76%	10.79%
Belarus	21.10%	14.00%	12.53%	14.87%	21.69%	23.26%	21.93%	27.01%
Belize	25.40%	16.40%	30.47%	35.21%	30.91%	34.55%	28.63%	23.31%
Benin	39.10%	31.40%	35.74%	38.01%	42.10%	47.74%	48.48%	45.27%
Bhutan	48.30%	43.60%	54.55%	69.78%	52.43%	59.63%	57.13%	53.56%
Bolivia	23.60%	13.60%	13.56%	14.36%	18.08%	22.19%	24.17%	20.36%
Bosnia-Herzegovina	21.30%	16.10%	20.38%	19.70%	16.37%	23.50%	25.27%	16.01%
Botswana	15.60%	16.90%	16.67%	18.97%	17.94%	18.67%	17.54%	19.26%
Brazil	5.50%	3.20%	5.36%	16.70%	12.34%	12.73%	18.48%	23.16%
Bulgaria	13.30%	15.20%	17.26%	16.86%	14.97%	11.32%	9.75%	12.52%
Burkina Faso	44.40%	37.40%	50.37%	65.35%	75.74%	71.16%	62.32%	62.86%
Burundi	58.80%	50.00%	58.35%	61.33%	75.55%	74.39%	73.16%	77.72%
Cambodia	44.30%	39.90%	48.41%	35.62%	41.05%	54.22%	33.65%	26.50%
Cameroon	46.70%	28.20%	29.89%	36.84%	47.29%	32.63%	57.97%	57.12%
Cape Verde	42.70%	28.70%	36.05%	45.89%	50.70%	52.27%	52.66%	42.74%
Central African Republic	39.60%	46.60%	32.43%	35.12%	44.24%	36.03%	37.45%	48.67%
Chad	41.40%	32.40%	33.87%	42.53%	51.65%	60.80%	70.16%	70.60%
China	18.20%	9.00%	10.03%	12.35%	14.57%	17.00%	18.22%	22.12%
Colombia	25.60%	12.30%	15.52%	17.79%	21.93%	35.11%	41.93%	46.82%
Comoros	14.00%	17.00%	54.44%	53.73%	48.45%	69.46%	53.02%	86.15%
Congo	33.20%	35.40%	40.77%	46.55%	48.47%	52.23%	60.49%	59.34%
Costa Rica	21.20%	11.40%	9.83%	8.39%	6.49%	9.91%	18.66%	24.77%
Croatia	5.10%	6.10%	5.29%	6.78%	5.10%	5.92%	4.02%	2.69%
Cuba	45.20%	66.20%	76.03%	81.85%	77.17%	50.97%	53.40%	60.15%
Cyprus	1.70%	3.50%	3.53%	2.03%	1.69%	2.38%	2.78%	6.21%
Democratic Republic of the Congo	36.20%	39.10%	45.62%	45.63%	49.94%	50.56%	53.80%	58.03%
Djibouti	42.50%	50.10%	52.00%	47.09%	74.80%	82.96%	85.35%	69.79%
Dominica	29.50%	29.00%	33.33%	31.63%	28.74%	37.13%	26.83%	30.38%
Dominican Republic	45.60%	35.90%	33.78%	31.88%	35.78%	49.54%	53.21%	39.18%
East Timor	16.70%	25.00%	12.68%	26.67%	7.02%	8.16%	4.23%	21.43%
Ecuador	40.00%	20.80%	31.34%	29.18%	27.95%	31.38%	34.05%	33.44%
Egypt	35.30%	34.00%	33.57%	28.61%	34.24%	32.15%	31.83%	35.16%
El Salvador	45.70%	36.30%	45.72%	57.12%	52.97%	51.49%	58.18%	62.95%
Equatorial Guinea	11.10%	17.80%	19.30%	17.75%	18.21%	21.29%	27.79%	59.18%
Eritrea	51.10%	41.70%	55.67%	50.49%	71.69%	69.54%	65.39%	63.62%
Eswatini	13.00%	10.00%	12.95%	8.03%	12.59%	8.49%	5.73%	5.52%
Ethiopia	46.70%	44.90%	48.32%	38.13%	50.30%	41.74%	45.46%	39.73%
Fiji	38.00%	14.00%	14.92%	20.23%	26.59%	41.74%	38.96%	44.44%
Gabon	23.00%	13.50%	15.74%	21.29%	26.10%	40.00%	45.41%	37.61%
Gambia	55.70%	69.30%	75.64%	69.87%	70.27%	64.22%	72.30%	66.84%
Georgia	46.60%	48.20%	50.58%	62.82%	61.09%	62.35%	63.85%	66.91%
Ghana	50.10%	59.80%	63.28%	65.70%	56.18%	49.35%	55.60%	57.01%
Grenada	29.90%	29.50%	32.00%	35.71%	26.94%	26.44%	19.49%	24.76%
Guatemala	33.80%	35.90%	45.37%	48.68%	47.14%	53.62%	58.64%	52.36%
Guinea	63.80%	47.80%	59.81%	63.53%	64.59%	66.16%	73.29%	63.79%
Guinea-Bissau	63.40%	56.50%	65.18%	71.88%	71.61%	76.09%	65.33%	66.36%
Guyana	56.60%	40.20%	37.28%	25.76%	37.92%	70.62%	62.96%	62.20%
Haiti	54.40%	58.20%	60.45%	64.52%	71.44%	67.59%	60.81%	50.16%
Honduras	33.60%	36.80%	39.73%	42.76%	40.35%	60.32%	61.71%	52.10%
Hong Kong	3.30%	3.10%	4.36%	4.61%	3.45%	4.25%	3.23%	4.50%
India	24.70%	19.80%	23.78%	26.02%	23.29%	26.07%	27.75%	27.26%
Indonesia	37.00%	8.30%	8.71%	11.19%	10.99%	12.81%	12.46%	12.19%
Iran	42.50%	41.80%	38.55%	45.02%	58.66%	87.66%	86.58%	85.88%
Iraq	46.30%	41.40%	52.82%	51.71%	60.71%	56.95%	49.94%	45.24%
Israel	3.00%	8.20%	3.85%	4.09%	4.88%	5.10%	5.33%	6.52%
Ivory Coast	40.90%	29.80%	28.59%	37.38%	33.72%	33.81%	35.73%	40.66%
Jamaica	35.50%	32.30%	37.62%	35.64%	46.78%	54.46%	56.59%	57.07%
Jordan	43.20%	26.90%	37.59%	40.34%	40.06%	42.62%	45.26%	44.44%
Kazakhstan	11.70%	9.90%	12.70%	27.55%	32.81%	39.38%	42.58%	47.34%
Kenya	35.60%	27.30%	27.34%	26.60%	33.17%	41.59%	49.86%	50.26%
Kiribati	26.20%	15.40%	16.05%	5.81%	5.13%	25.33%	11.69%	55.56%
Kosovo	47.90%	38.10%	44.03%	41.48%	37.92%	35.97%	36.76%	39.47%
Kuwait	6.50%	5.70%	5.73%	4.56%	8.32%	2.71%	3.27%	5.01%
Kyrgyzstan	32.10%	43.20%	55.75%	51.68%	55.58%	58.9%	67.75%	65.60%
Laos	73.40%	61.10%	66.68%	62.37%	63.66%	64.06%	65.60%	70.57%
Lebanon	27.90%	16.10%	27.10%	25.41%	31.75%	25.22%	23.85%	28.44%
Lesotho	32.10%	16.70%	13.95%	21.20%	35.97%	21.94%	28.24%	26.74%
Liberia	70.70%	49.40%	62.45%	70.23%	64.98%	64.36%	73.93%	67.62%
Libya	27.10%	33.90%	43.02%	40.58%	45.50%	73.73%	89.05%	80.90%
Madagascar	11.90%	11.60%	11.01%	12.12%	11.00%	11.77%	7.69%	14.36%
Malawi	28.90%	12.30%	10.23%	14.52%	26.49%	28.20%	37.05%	42.67%
Malaysia	5.60%	4.60%	3.34%	3.65%	3.93%	4.94%	4.91%	6.97%
Maldives	4.70%	6.70%	15.49%	47.56%	27.74%	9.88%	33.65%	22.88%
Mali	48.10%	54.00%	52.77%	57.58%	59.43%	50.60%	55.89%	55.99%
Mauritania	51.00%	52.20%	61.45%	71.45%	67.30%	61.58%	67.79%	80.15%
Mauritius	11.60%	2.20%	5.71%	5.53%	8.29%	6.49%	6.59%	6.22%
Mexico	11.40%	15.60%	20.17%	23.49%	22.50%	24.93%	26.66%	23.16%
Moldova	36.70%	40.10%	41.83%	36.35%	49.12%	61.10%	58.03%	51.00%
Mongolia	53.60%	27.90%	34.76%	43.63%	53.62%	56.51%	54.60%	45.47%
Montenegro	25.60%	28.00%	31.26%	28.69%	26.41%	35.35%	39.10%	58.53%
Morocco	24.00%	21.90%	20.60%	26.77%	36.99%	42.88%	28.48%	23.35%
Mozambique	13.80%	4.00%	4.03%	10.29%	26.18%	10.22%	14.24%	18.64%
Myanmar	41.90%	15.50%	16.32%	13.02%	17.88%	23.12%	30.91%	40.68%
Namibia	6.80%	7.60%	7.43%	5.56%	6.31%	8.40%	6.60%	5.20%
Nauru	66.70%	42.90%	5.26%	13.33%	20.97%	21.43%	20.83%	25.00%
Nepal	51.20%	38.20%	42.19%	49.54%	46.42%	51.53%	50.70%	48.11%
Nicaragua	41.80%	35.80%	41.19%	44.54%	43.28%	46.75%	63.52%	63.17%
Niger	55.70%	36.40%	31.10%	31.14%	30.65%	43.33%	42.76%	53.50%
Nigeria	36.00%	33.20%	32.56%	41.44%	44.95%	57.47%	67.20%	64.83%
Non-nationality based issuances[lower-alpha 24]	n/a	n/a	n/a	28.92%	35.61%	40.27%	43.16%	46.06%
North Korea	16.30%	55.60%	47.67%	15.00%	54.55%	100.00%	100%	0.00%
North Macedonia	33.50%	29.80%	36.08%	33.84%	28.69%	31.29%	36.19%	29.62%
Oman	2.20%	2.10%	2.00%	1.93%	3.46%	4.87%	5.13%	6.32%
Pakistan	46.30%	38.00%	40.40%	46.43%	49.40%	47.89%	48.26%	45.62%
Palestine	55.60%	36.70%	42.68%	40.64%	50.98%	53.87%	52.92%	58.27%
Panama	19.20%	10.00%	11.36%	12.05%	11.61%	11.71%	18.93%	15.33%
Papua New Guinea	3.40%	7.40%	5.14%	10.56%	9.34%	6.84%	1.74%	6.64%
Paraguay	14.40%	6.10%	6.15%	7.47%	6.83%	8.02%	12.41%	16.80%
Peru	37.70%	13.80%	14.46%	28.61%	25.97%	28.53%	25.39%	24.13%
Philippines	31.00%	24.60%	27.96%	27.29%	25.54%	27.07%	24.40%	32.49%
Qatar	4.90%	2.10%	2.97%	3.50%	7.48%	8.34%	10.33%	8.28%
Romania	25.00%	9.80%	11.16%	11.43%	11.76%	10.44%	9.11%	10.14%
Russia	7.50%	7.80%	10.24%	9.29%	11.61%	14.89%	15.19%	17.79%
Rwanda	50.30%	51.10%	49.17%	43.79%	52.17%	44.51%	53.76%	63.93%
Saint Kitts and Nevis	25.00%	27.50%	26.60%	28.31%	26.66%	24.98%	21.87%	23.28%
Saint Lucia	26.60%	27.60%	26.90%	27.16%	22.34%	21.90%	16.75%	23.31%
Saint Vincent and the Grenadines	26.40%	24.10%	27.15%	27.46%	20.38%	19.17%	14.55%	21.10%
Samoa	32.40%	27.20%	29.99%	28.44%	40.32%	26.26%	27.02%	36.87%
São Tomé and Príncipe	28.60%	10.70%	5.71%	24.14%	14.81%	26.09%	34.78%	36.36%
Saudi Arabia	6.60%	3.30%	3.24%	4.04%	5.26%	7.47%	6.82%	10.01%
Senegal	55.20%	57.50%	54.37%	52.46%	56.85%	59.18%	55.88%	65.28%
Serbia	11.70%	16.00%	16.54%	18.77%	22.33%	25.93%	30.33%	25.01%
Seychelles	18.00%	6.80%	7.26%	9.66%	13.14%	11.64%	10.60%	6.38%
Sierra Leone	50.10%	51.90%	53.02%	61.25%	47.30%	60.56%	57.99%	59.35%
Solomon Islands	6.50%	5.40%	7.26%	4.28%	16.79%	3.57%	2.20%	9.09%
Somalia	54.00%	52.00%	64.60%	63.89%	75.50%	90.16%	80.77%	71.76%
South Africa	4.60%	2.60%	5.08%	6.83%	6.44%	7.31%	6.92%	7.80%
South Sudan	n/a	43.80%	41.77%	43.89%	47.52%	41.29%	52.32%	53.36%
Sri Lanka	31.40%	19.50%	22.07%	21.69%	26.19%	33.61%	35.12%	36.00%
Sudan	38.60%	42.40%	40.45%	36.59%	51.37%	59.83%	57.44%	50.25%
Suriname	9.60%	13.60%	7.78%	10.86%	11.44%	8.57%	7.44%	10.83%
Syria	33.10%	60.00%	63.43%	59.77%	59.11%	77.31%	74.83%	66.68%
Tajikistan	32.40%	49.00%	44.44%	55.24%	51.84%	53.39%	60.97%	59.55%
Tanzania	26.20%	21.30%	12.02%	23.05%	18.36%	19.87%	23.90%	31.04%
Thailand	19.80%	10.20%	12.35%	17.82%	20.15%	22.17%	23.41%	24.44%
Togo	51.70%	35.60%	43.42%	54.39%	59.88%	59.61%	59.78%	62.32%
Tonga	48.70%	25.40%	28.09%	31.58%	32.85%	51.33%	45.85%	48.15%
Trinidad and Tobago	23.80%	21.20%	25.16%	22.70%	22.46%	19.28%	13.05%	14.10%
Tunisia	23.90%	17.50%	19.69%	15.92%	19.53%	27.67%	24.17%	19.11%
Turkey	11.20%	7.10%	13.88%	13.62%	17.86%	17.49%	19.19%	17.46%
Turkmenistan	45.40%	18.60%	25.41%	32.95%	40.60%	52.93%	56.26%	58.55%
Tuvalu	17.60%	27.30%	21.05%	20.00%	15.38%	34.78%	25.81%	33.33%
Uganda	34.40%	37.20%	30.63%	41.53%	42.38%	42.29%	51.65%	49.82%
Ukraine	30.90%	27.70%	34.03%	40.83%	34.54%	40.97%	45.06%	43.14%
United Arab Emirates	10.40%	4.80%	7.10%	4.02%	5.80%	3.75%	5.56%	8.44%
Uruguay	9.50%	1.80%	2.70%	3.14%	3.19%	4.11%	5.91%	9.77%
Uzbekistan	61.10%	52.10%	49.59%	57.09%	50.29%	61.76%	68.06%	74.14%
Vanuatu	16.70%	20.00%	10.53%	16.67%	13.51%	38.30%	41.05%	46.34%
Vatican City	16.70%	7.70%	25.00%	0.00%	36.36%	0.00%	8.33%	0.00%
Venezuela	25.40%	15.20%	15.57%	40.25%	42.87%	74.28%	59.53%	52.30%
Vietnam	38.80%	14.30%	23.43%	29.49%	24.06%	26.20%	23.70%	18.78%
Western Sahara	n/a	n/a	n/a	n/a	100.00%	0.00%	0.00%	0.00%
Yemen	54.70%	44.20%	54.01%	48.85%	60.76%	82.50%	78.45%	76.66%
Zambia	53.30%	22.20%	20.98%	22.26%	21.72%	22.45%	40.64%	44.78%
Zimbabwe	30.30%	13.20%	21.03%	22.88%	26.32%	26.60%	26.92%	29.41%

A number of visitors overstay the maximum period of allowed stay on their B-1/B-2 status after entered the U.S. on their B-1/B-2 visas. The Department of Homeland Security publishes annual reports that list the number of violations by passengers who arrive via air and sea. The table below excludes statistics on persons who left the United States later than their allowed stay or legalized their status and shows only suspected overstays who remained in the country.

The top 20 nationalities by the number of suspected in-country B-1/B-2 overstays in 2016 and 2017 were:[136][137]

The top 10 nationalities by in-country B-1/B-2 visa overstay rate are:[136][137]

US tourist visas that are valid for further travel are accepted as substitute visas for national visas in the following territories:

•  Albania – 90 days
•  Antigua and Barbuda – 30 days; USD 100 visa waiver fee applies
•  Argentina – 90 days; 71 countries
•  Belize — 30 days; USD 50 visa waiver fee applies.
•  Bosnia and Herzegovina — 30 days
•  Canada — up to 6 months; only citizens of  Brazil may apply the Electronic Travel Authorization (eTA) for visa-free visit or transit (arriving by air).
•  Chile — 90 days; for nationals of China only.
•  Colombia — 90 days; for nationals of China, India, Thailand, and Vietnam.
•  Costa Rica — 30 days or less if the visa is about to expire; must hold a multiple-entry visa.
•  Dominican Republic — 90 days;
•  El Salvador — 90 days; not applicable to all nationalities.
•  Georgia — 90 days within any 180-day period;
•  Guatemala — 90 days; not applicable to all nationalities.
•  Honduras — 90 days; not applicable to all nationalities.
•  Jamaica — 30 days; not applicable to all nationalities.
•  Kosovo — 15 days;
•  Mexico — 180 days;[138][139]
•  Montenegro — 30 days;
•  Nicaragua — 90 days; not applicable to all nationalities.
•  North Macedonia — 15 days;
•  Oman — Indian nationals can obtain a visa on arrival to Oman if holding a valid US visa.[140]
•  Panama — 30/180 days; visa must be multiple-entry; visa must have a validity of at least 6 months after date of arrival in Panama; visa must have been used at least once prior to arriving in Panama.
•  Peru — 180 days; for nationals of China and India only.[141]
•  Philippines — 7 days for nationals of China and 14 days for nationals India only.
•  Sao Tome and Principe — 15 days;
•  Serbia — 90 days;
•  Taiwan — certain nationalities can obtain an online travel authority if holding a valid US visa.
•  Turkey — certain nationalities can obtain an electronic Turkish visa if holding a valid US visa.
•  United Arab Emirates — Indian nationals can obtain a 14-day visit visa to UAE upon arrival if holding a US visa or green card that is valid for at least 6 months.[142]
•  Qatar — citizens of all nationalities who hold valid USA visa can obtain an Electronic Travel Authorization for up to 30 days. The visa may be extended online for 30 additional days

The C-1 visa is a transit visa issued to individuals who are traveling in "immediate and continuous transit through the United States en-route to another country". The only reason to enter the United States must be for transit purposes. A subtype C-2 visa is issued to diplomats transiting to and from the Headquarters of the United Nations and is limited to the vicinity of New York City. A subtype C-3 visa is issued to diplomats and their dependents transiting to and from their posted country.[143]

D visa is issued to crew members of sea-vessels and international airlines in the United States. This includes commercial airline pilots and flight attendants, captain, engineer, or deckhand of a sea vessel, service staff on a cruise ship and trainees on board a training vessel. Usually a combination of a C-1 visa and D visa is required.[144]

Treaty Trader (E-1 visa) and Treaty Investor (E-2 visa) visas are issued to citizens of countries that have signed treaties of commerce and navigation with the United States.[145] They are issued to individuals working in businesses engaged in substantial international trade or to investors (and their employees) who have made a 'substantial investment' in a business in the United States.[146] The variant visa issued only to citizens of Australia is the E-3 visa (E-3D visa is issued to spouse or child of E-3 visa holder and E-3R to a returning E-3 holder).[147]

These visas are issued for foreign students enrolled at accredited US institutions. F-1 visas are for full-time students, F2 visas are for spouses and children of F-1 visa holders and F-3 visas are for "border commuters" who reside in their country of origin while attending school in the United States.[148] They are managed through SEVIS.[149]

G visas are issued to diplomats, government officials, and employees who will work for international organizations in the United States. The international organization must be officially designated as such.[150] The G-1 visa is issued to permanent mission members; the G-2 visa is issued to representatives of a recognized government traveling temporarily to attend meetings of a designated international organization; the G-3 visa is issued to persons who represent a non-recognized government; the G-4 visa is for those who are taking up an appointment; and the G-5 visa is issued to personal employees or domestic workers of G1–G4 visa holders.[151] G1–G4 visas are also issued to immediate family members of the principal visa holder, if they meet certain criteria.[151]

Officials who work for the North Atlantic Treaty Organization require a NATO visa. The NATO-1 visa is issued to permanent representatives of NATO and their staff members, NATO-2 visa is issued to a representative of member state to NATO or its subsidiary bodies, advisor or technical expert of the NATO delegation visiting the United States, a member of the NATO military forces component or a staff member of the NATO representative, NATO-3 visa is issued to official clerical staff accompanying the representative of a NATO member state, NATO-4 visa is issued to foreign national recognized as a NATO official, NATO-5 visa is issued to a foreign national recognized as a NATO expert and NATO-6 visa is issued to a member of the civilian component of the NATO. All NATO visas are issued to immediate family members as well. NATO-7 visas are issued to personal employees or domestic workers of a NATO-1 – NATO-6 visa holders.[151]

H visas are issued to temporary workers in the United States.

Specialty occupations, DOD Cooperative Research and Development Project Workers, and fashion models

The discontinued H-1A and H-1C visas existed during periods when the US experienced a shortage of nurses from 1989. The H-1A classification was created by the Nursing Relief Act of 1989 and ended in 1995. The H-1C visa was created by the Nursing Relief for Disadvantaged Area Act of 1999 and expired in 2005. Currently nurses must apply for H-1B visas.[152]

The H-1B classification is for professional-level jobs that require a minimum of a bachelor's degree in a specific academic field. In addition, the employee must have the degree or the equivalence of such a degree through education and experience. There is a required wage, which is at least equal to the wage paid by the employer to similarly qualified workers or a prevailing wage for such positions in the geographic regions where the jobs are located. This visa also covers fashion models of distinguished merit and ability.[153][154] The H-1B1 visa is the variant issued to citizens of Singapore and Chile.

Temporary agricultural workers

The H-2A visa allows a foreign national entry into the US for temporary or seasonal agricultural work for eligible employers under certain conditions (seasonal job, no available US workers).[155]

Temporary nonagricultural workers