What is Visa?
A citizen of a foreign country, who wish to enter the U.S., must first obtain a VISA, either a nonimmigrant visa for temporary stay, or an immigrant visa for permanent residence. The type of visa you must have is defined by immigration law, and relates to the purpose of your travel.

Two basic types of US visas:

1. Immigrant visas:
Immigrant visa is required, for those intending to reside permanently in the United States. (Whether or not they intend to work.)

2. Nonimmigrant visas:
Visa for visiting United States temporarily for a wide variety of reasons. Including tourism, business, medical treatment and certain types of temporary work, businsess purpose, Students visa, Exchange programs participants, Performing artists, Professional journalists, and Government representatives, etc.

What are the different categories of visas:
The type of visa needed is defined by immigration law, and relates to the purpose of your travel.

Temporary Worker Visas:
All applicants for the temporary work visa must have a petition approved by the U.S. Immigration and Naturalization Service (INS) before applying for the visa.

B Visa: Business/Tourist Visa

	B1: Business visa for temporary visitors going for business

	B2: Visitor visa for temporary visitors for pleasure/tourism
H Visa: for temporary workers

	H1B: Specialty Occupations, DOD workers, fashion models

	H1C: Nurses going to work for up to three years

	H2A: Temporary Agricultural Worker

	H2B: Temporary worker: skilled and unskilled

	H3:  Trainee

	H4:  Spouse or child of H-1, H-2, H-3

L Visa: Intracompany Transferee

	L1A: Executive, managerial

	L1B: Specialized knowledge

	L2:  Spouse or child of L-1

O Visa: Workers with Extraordinary Abilities

	O1:  Extraordinary ability in Sciences, Arts, Education, Business, or Athletics

	O2:  Alien's (support) accompanying O-1

	O3:  Spouse or child of O-1 or O-2

P Visa for athletes and Artists or Entertainers in a Culturally Unique Program  

Q Visa for international cultural exchange visitors 

R Visas (Alien in Religious Operation)

F and M Student Visas

Visa fees for Indian Nationals effective November 16, 2005  


	
Non-immigrant visa application fee (non-refundable)
RS. 4,600.00
	
Non-immigrant visa issuance fee (paid only upon issuance) 
 (for B, H, I, L, O, P, Q, and R Visa Categories)** 
RS. 2,300.00


      More details on types of visas...