Generally, a citizen of a foreign country who wishes to enter the United States must first obtain a non-immigrant or immigrant visa. An immigrant visa is a permanent visa or ‘green card’, while there are numerous types of non-immigrant, or temporary visas, which are lettered from A to Z. The procedure, application process and waiting times vary depending on your reason for entry and how long you intend to stay.

Below are explanations on how to get your green card, as well as business, pleasure and student visas. Other visitor visa categories include:

A: Foreign officials and immediate family.
C: Aliens in transit.
H: Temporary workers and immediate family.
J: Exchange students, cultural groups and immediate family.
K: Spouse or fiance(e) of US citizen and young children.
L: Inter-company transferees and selected family members.
M: Vocational and language students and immediate family.