Embassy of the United States

Immigrant Visa Categories

An Immigrant Visa Category describes the relationship between the petitioner and the applicant seeking to immigrate to the United States.

In order to qualify for immigration to the U.S. an applicant must be petitioned by a U.S. Citizen or Legal Permanent Resident.  Depending on whether the petitioner is a U.S. Citizen or Legal Permanent Resident, that person must have a qualifying familial or employment relationship with the applicant.  Former Legal Permanent Residents who lost their residency for reasons beyond their control may also qualify for immigration.

Some Immigrant Visa Categories do not qualify for an Immigrant Visa until their "Priority Date" has become current. To find out more about Priority Dates as well as what the current priority dates are, click here.

Below are listed the most common Immigrant Visa Categories. To find out additional Immigrant Visa Categories visit the U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS) website at www.uscis.gov

1. If Petitioner is a U.S. Citizen:

   VISA CATEGORY	DESCRIPTION
   IR1	Applicant is spouse of a U.S. citizen.
   IR2	Applicant is minor child of a U.S. citizen.
   CR1	Applicant is spouse of a U.S. citizen for less than two years.
   CR2	Applicant is minor child of a U.S. citizen for less than two years.
   IR3	Applicant is orphan adopted abroad by a U.S. citizen.
   IR4	Applicant is orphan to be adopted in the United States by a U.S. citizen.
   IR5	Applicant is parent of a U.S. citizen.
   IW	Applicant is widow of a U.S. citizen who died less than two years ago and to whom the applicant was married at least two years.
   K1	Applicant is fiancee of a U.S. citizen who will travel to get married in the U.S.
   K3	Applicant is spouse of a U.S. citizen who has an immigrant visa petition filed but not yet approved.
   F1*	Applicant is unmarried son or daughter of a U.S. citizen (21 years or older, single, widowed or divorced).*
   F3*	Applicant is married son or daughter of a U.S. citizen.*
   F4*	Applicant is brother or sister of a U.S. citizen.*

   
   * Subject to "Priority Date". To find out more about Priority Dates click here.
   
   

2. If Petitioner is a Legal Permanent Resident:

   VISA CATEGORY	DESCRIPTION
   F2A*	Applicant is spouse and/or minor child of a Legal Permanent Resident.*
   F2B*	Applicant is unmarried son or daughter of a Legal Permanent Resident (21 years or older, single, widowed or divorced).*

   
   * Subject to "Priority Date". To find out more about Priority Dates click here. 
   
   

3. If Petitioner is an Employer:

   VISA CATEGORY	DESCRIPTION
   E1	Priority Workers.
   E2	Professionals with Advanced Degrees.
   E3*	Skilled Workers and Professionals.
   E3W*	Other Workers.
   E4	Special Immigrants.

   * Subject to "Priority Date". To find out more about Priority Dates click here.
   
   

4. Special Categories:

   VISA CATEGORY	DESCRIPTION
   SB1	Applicant is former Legal Permanent Resident who lost his/her residency for reasons beyond their control.