Nonimmigrant Status
There are nonimmigrant visas and correlating statuses for almost every letter of the English alphabet. Different statuses come with different benefits, eligibilities, rights, and prohibitions. Nonimmigrant statuses have correlating “dependent” or “derivative” visas/statuses for immediate family and in a few cases staff (e.g., F-2, H-4, and J-2).
Nonimmigrant/Immigrant Visa
A travel document. It is correlated to an individual’s nonimmigration/immigration status, but an expired visa does not correlate to expired status. An individual may not reenter the U.S. with an expired visa even if their status has not expired.
B-2 Temporary Visitor Status
Designed for tourists, this status prohibits employment or full-time education.
F-1 International Student Status
Status of most undergraduate and graduate students. Other students may have J-1 status as part of a scholarship exchange or M-1 for vocational studies. There are an unlimited number of available F-1 visas. To qualify for the travel visa, individuals must demonstrate nonimmigrant intent by maintaining a domicile in their country of nationality.
Optional Practical Training (OPT)
A 12-month work authorization for international students. OPT is a sub-status of F-1 status. Students may be authorized for OPT after one year of completed studies, but many opt to save the 12 months until graduation for greater opportunities at securing sponsored employment. Individuals in qualifying Science, Technology, Engineering and Math (STEM) fields are eligible for a 24-month extension for a total of three years of work authorization. Similar to OPT, Curricular Practical Training (CPT) grants unpaid work authorization for academic credit (i.e., internship). 12-month usage of CPT will eliminate the OPT benefit, but 11.9 months of CPT will have no effect on OPT.
H-1B Specialty Occupation Status
Work authorization for noncitizens in the U.S. and abroad with a bachelor’s degree or higher, or equivalent. There is an annual cap of 65,000 H-1B visas for individuals with a bachelor’s degree or equivalent, with an additional 20,000 available for individuals with a master’s or equivalent or higher. Positions in predominantly research-based organizations, such as higher education or healthcare, are not subject to the cap. On average, there are over 300,000 H-1Bs (including extensions/renewals) approved each year. An individual may only live in the U.S. with H-1B status (and its derivative status H-4) for six consecutive years.
J-1 Exchange Visitor Status
Status for participants of an approved exchange program, including scholar exchange, au pairs, and camp counselors. Many individuals with J-1 status (and its derivatives) are subject to a two-year home-country physical present requirement.
Humanitarian Parole
Often used for medical reasons, it grants a travel visa, entry, and lawful presence to individuals deemed inadmissible, that is, does not meet the criteria in the Immigration and Nationality Act. Parole is not a nonimmigrant status.
Immigration Status
The legal classification of an individual’s presence in the United States as determined by federal law and represented by certain documentation. Immigration statuses include citizenship, legal permanent residence, nonimmigrant, and illegalized (also referred to as unauthorized and undocumented).
Immigrant
Individuals with legal permanent residence or citizenship through naturalization.
Legal Permanent Residence
Commonly referred to as Green Card status (LPR) authorizes an immigrant to live and work permanently in the United States. Individuals are typically sponsored by family members or employers for LPR. Refugees, asylees, and diversity visa recipients are also eligible. In very few cases, individuals can sponsor themselves or benefit from a private Congressional bill.
Adjustment of Status
The conversion of a nonimmigrant status to Legal Permanent Residence
Migration Industry
The aggregation of everyday people, policies, practices, and technologies that facilitate and regulate the international movement of people according to a diverse range of legal, cultural, political, and moral commitments.
Ableism
The network of ideas and practices that presumes and prefers those identified as abled and correlates ability with humanness and virtue.
There are nonimmigrant visas and correlating statuses for almost every letter of the English alphabet. Different statuses come with different benefits, eligibilities, rights, and prohibitions. Nonimmigrant statuses have correlating “dependent” or “derivative” visas/statuses for immediate family and in a few cases staff (e.g., F-2, H-4, and J-2).
Nonimmigrant/Immigrant Visa
A travel document. It is correlated to an individual’s nonimmigration/immigration status, but an expired visa does not correlate to expired status. An individual may not reenter the U.S. with an expired visa even if their status has not expired.
B-2 Temporary Visitor Status
Designed for tourists, this status prohibits employment or full-time education.
F-1 International Student Status
Status of most undergraduate and graduate students. Other students may have J-1 status as part of a scholarship exchange or M-1 for vocational studies. There are an unlimited number of available F-1 visas. To qualify for the travel visa, individuals must demonstrate nonimmigrant intent by maintaining a domicile in their country of nationality.
Optional Practical Training (OPT)
A 12-month work authorization for international students. OPT is a sub-status of F-1 status. Students may be authorized for OPT after one year of completed studies, but many opt to save the 12 months until graduation for greater opportunities at securing sponsored employment. Individuals in qualifying Science, Technology, Engineering and Math (STEM) fields are eligible for a 24-month extension for a total of three years of work authorization. Similar to OPT, Curricular Practical Training (CPT) grants unpaid work authorization for academic credit (i.e., internship). 12-month usage of CPT will eliminate the OPT benefit, but 11.9 months of CPT will have no effect on OPT.
H-1B Specialty Occupation Status
Work authorization for noncitizens in the U.S. and abroad with a bachelor’s degree or higher, or equivalent. There is an annual cap of 65,000 H-1B visas for individuals with a bachelor’s degree or equivalent, with an additional 20,000 available for individuals with a master’s or equivalent or higher. Positions in predominantly research-based organizations, such as higher education or healthcare, are not subject to the cap. On average, there are over 300,000 H-1Bs (including extensions/renewals) approved each year. An individual may only live in the U.S. with H-1B status (and its derivative status H-4) for six consecutive years.
J-1 Exchange Visitor Status
Status for participants of an approved exchange program, including scholar exchange, au pairs, and camp counselors. Many individuals with J-1 status (and its derivatives) are subject to a two-year home-country physical present requirement.
Humanitarian Parole
Often used for medical reasons, it grants a travel visa, entry, and lawful presence to individuals deemed inadmissible, that is, does not meet the criteria in the Immigration and Nationality Act. Parole is not a nonimmigrant status.
Immigration Status
The legal classification of an individual’s presence in the United States as determined by federal law and represented by certain documentation. Immigration statuses include citizenship, legal permanent residence, nonimmigrant, and illegalized (also referred to as unauthorized and undocumented).
Immigrant
Individuals with legal permanent residence or citizenship through naturalization.
Legal Permanent Residence
Commonly referred to as Green Card status (LPR) authorizes an immigrant to live and work permanently in the United States. Individuals are typically sponsored by family members or employers for LPR. Refugees, asylees, and diversity visa recipients are also eligible. In very few cases, individuals can sponsor themselves or benefit from a private Congressional bill.
Adjustment of Status
The conversion of a nonimmigrant status to Legal Permanent Residence
Migration Industry
The aggregation of everyday people, policies, practices, and technologies that facilitate and regulate the international movement of people according to a diverse range of legal, cultural, political, and moral commitments.
Ableism
The network of ideas and practices that presumes and prefers those identified as abled and correlates ability with humanness and virtue.
