🇸🇹→🇺🇸São Tomé and Príncipe→United States

Tourism, business visits, transit, medical treatment

• Apply with the online DS-160 form (bring the printed confirmation page), upload a photo meeting State Department requirements, pay the non-refundable US$185 MRV fee, and attend a consular interview (ink-free fingerprint scans are taken; an additional reciprocity issuance fee applies for some nationalities, and some renewals qualify for the Interview Waiver).
• Passport must generally be valid 6 months beyond the stay.
• Officers may request evidence of trip purpose, intent to depart, and funds; a letter of invitation or Affidavit of Support is not a factor in the decision.
• The visa does not guarantee entry: CBP decides admission and issues the I-94 record.
• Overstaying voids the visa under INA 222(g).
• A valid visa in an expired passport remains usable alongside a new passport.
• Employment, study, paid performances, foreign-press work, and birth tourism are not permitted on B-1/B-2.
• Verified against travel.state.gov, July 2026.

Immediate and continuous transit through the United States en route to another country

• For travellers passing through the US to another destination.
• Not valid for layover tourism.
• Crew joining a vessel or aircraft typically use a combined C-1/D transit/crew visa.
• A separate $250 Visa Integrity Fee (Public Law 119-21, Sec. 100007) applies to nonimmigrant visas issued from FY2026 (Oct 1, 2025) onward, in addition to the fee shown above (C-3 diplomatic-transit applicants are exempt); DHS/State had not published uniform collection guidance to all posts as of early-to-mid 2026, so rollout timing varies by consulate.
• Not included in the fee shown above.

Crew serving aboard sea vessels or aircraft operating in the United States

• For pilots, flight attendants, ship crew and similar personnel.
• Frequently issued as a combined C-1/D transit/crew visa.
• Departure generally required within 29 days.
• A separate $250 Visa Integrity Fee (Public Law 119-21, Sec. 100007) applies to nonimmigrant visas issued from FY2026 (Oct 1, 2025) onward, in addition to the fee shown above; DHS/State had not published uniform collection guidance to all posts as of early-to-mid 2026, so rollout timing varies by consulate.
• Not included in the fee shown above.

Nationals of treaty countries carrying on substantial trade principally between the US and their home country

• Only for nationals of countries with a qualifying commerce and navigation treaty with the US.
• Admitted for up to 2 years per stay, renewable indefinitely while trade continues.
• Does not lead directly to permanent residence.
• A separate $250 Visa Integrity Fee (Public Law 119-21, Sec. 100007) applies to nonimmigrant visas issued from FY2026 (Oct 1, 2025) onward, in addition to the fee shown above (Taiwan/TECRO E-1 holders are exempt); DHS/State had not published uniform collection guidance to all posts as of early-to-mid 2026, so rollout timing varies by consulate.
• Not included in the fee shown above.

Representatives of foreign media (press, radio, film, print) on assignment in the US

• For employees of foreign-based media organisations engaged in informational/news activities.
• Admitted for Duration of Status.
• Media work is not permitted on a B visa or under the Visa Waiver Program.
• A separate $250 Visa Integrity Fee (Public Law 119-21, Sec. 100007) applies to nonimmigrant visas issued from FY2026 (Oct 1, 2025) onward, in addition to the fee shown above; DHS/State had not published uniform collection guidance to all posts as of early-to-mid 2026, so rollout timing varies by consulate.
• Not included in the fee shown above.

Full-time academic study at SEVP-approved institutions

• Duration of Status (D/S) - valid for the duration of your academic program.
• Requires I-20 from school and SEVIS fee.
• A separate $250 Visa Integrity Fee (Public Law 119-21, Sec. 100007) applies to nonimmigrant visas issued from FY2026 (Oct 1, 2025) onward, in addition to the fee shown above; potentially refundable if visa terms are met, but DHS/State had not published uniform collection guidance to all posts as of early-to-mid 2026, so rollout timing varies by consulate.
• Not included in the fee shown above.

Working in specialty occupations requiring at least a bachelor's degree

• Requires employer sponsorship.
• Annual cap of 65,000 (plus 20,000 for US master's).
• Initial period 3 years, extendable to 6.
• A separate $250 Visa Integrity Fee (Public Law 119-21, Sec. 100007) applies to nonimmigrant visas issued from FY2026 (Oct 1, 2025) onward, in addition to the fee shown above; potentially refundable if visa terms are met, but DHS/State had not published uniform collection guidance to all posts as of early-to-mid 2026, so rollout timing varies by consulate.
• Not included in the fee shown above.

Transferring to a US office in a managerial, executive, or specialised knowledge role

• Must have worked for the sponsoring company for at least 1 year in the past 3 years.
• A separate $250 Visa Integrity Fee (Public Law 119-21, Sec. 100007) applies to nonimmigrant visas issued from FY2026 (Oct 1, 2025) onward, in addition to the fee shown above; potentially refundable if visa terms are met, but DHS/State had not published uniform collection guidance to all posts as of early-to-mid 2026, so rollout timing varies by consulate.
• Not included in the fee shown above.

Au pairs, camp counsellors, interns, teachers, research scholars, professors

• Duration of Status.
• Requires DS-2019 from a designated exchange program sponsor.
• A separate $250 Visa Integrity Fee (Public Law 119-21, Sec. 100007) applies to nonimmigrant visas issued from FY2026 (Oct 1, 2025) onward, in addition to the fee shown above; potentially refundable if visa terms are met, but DHS/State had not published uniform collection guidance to all posts as of early-to-mid 2026, so rollout timing varies by consulate.
• Not included in the fee shown above.

Immigrant visa through investment of at least USD 1.05M (or USD 800K in rural/high-unemployment areas) creating 10 US jobs

• Leads to lawful permanent residence (Green Card).
• Can apply through a USCIS-designated Regional Center.
• In addition to the $3,675 I-526/I-526E petition filing fee shown, a separate $1,000 EB-5 Integrity Fund fee is required at initial filing (and annually thereafter for regional-center-associated petitions) under the EB-5 Reform and Integrity Act of 2022; not included in the the fee shown figure above.
• As an immigrant visa category, EB-5 is exempt from the new FY2026 Visa Integrity Fee that now applies to most nonimmigrant visas.

Full-time study at vocational or other recognised nonacademic institutions (other than language training)

• Requires Form I-20 from an SEVP-approved school plus the SEVIS fee.
• Admitted for Duration of Status covering the vocational program, generally up to 1 year.
• Distinct from the academic F-1 visa.
• A separate $250 Visa Integrity Fee (Public Law 119-21, Sec. 100007) applies to nonimmigrant visas issued from FY2026 (Oct 1, 2025) onward, in addition to the fee shown above; potentially refundable if visa terms are met, but DHS/State had not published uniform collection guidance to all posts as of early-to-mid 2026, so rollout timing varies by consulate.
• Not included in the fee shown above.

Foreign-citizen fiancé(e) of a US citizen, to enter and marry the sponsor within 90 days

• US citizen sponsor first files Form I-129F with USCIS.
• Visa is single-entry, valid up to 6 months; marriage must occur within 90 days of entry, after which the spouse may apply to adjust status to permanent resident.
• A separate $250 Visa Integrity Fee (Public Law 119-21, Sec. 100007) applies to nonimmigrant visas issued from FY2026 (Oct 1, 2025) onward, in addition to the fee shown above; DHS/State had not published uniform collection guidance to all posts as of early-to-mid 2026, so rollout timing varies by consulate.
• Not included in the fee shown above.

Individuals with extraordinary ability in the sciences, arts, education, business or athletics, or extraordinary achievement in film/TV

• Petition-based (US employer or agent files Form I-129).
• Initial stay up to 3 years, extendable in 1-year increments.
• No annual cap.
• Can be a stepping stone to EB-1A permanent residence.
• A separate $250 Visa Integrity Fee (Public Law 119-21, Sec. 100007) applies to nonimmigrant visas issued from FY2026 (Oct 1, 2025) onward, in addition to the fee shown above; DHS/State had not published uniform collection guidance to all posts as of early-to-mid 2026, so rollout timing varies by consulate.
• Not included in the fee shown above.

Internationally recognised athletes and members of internationally recognised entertainment groups

• Petition-based (Form I-129).
• P-1 individual athletes may be admitted up to 5 years (extendable to a total of 10); entertainment groups and P-2/P-3 performers are generally admitted up to 1 year.
• A separate $250 Visa Integrity Fee (Public Law 119-21, Sec. 100007) applies to nonimmigrant visas issued from FY2026 (Oct 1, 2025) onward, in addition to the fee shown above; DHS/State had not published uniform collection guidance to all posts as of early-to-mid 2026, so rollout timing varies by consulate.
• Not included in the fee shown above.

Nationals of treaty countries investing a substantial amount of capital in a US business they direct

• Only for nationals of qualifying treaty-investment countries.
• No fixed minimum investment (must be 'substantial' and proportional to the enterprise).
• Renewable indefinitely but does not directly lead to a green card.
• Also tracked under residency-by-investment programs.
• A separate $250 Visa Integrity Fee (Public Law 119-21, Sec. 100007) applies to nonimmigrant visas issued from FY2026 (Oct 1, 2025) onward, in addition to the fee shown above; DHS/State had not published uniform collection guidance to all posts as of early-to-mid 2026, so rollout timing varies by consulate.
• Not included in the fee shown above.

Australian nationals coming to perform services in a specialty occupation

• Only for Australian citizens.
• Requires a US job offer in a specialty occupation and a certified Labor Condition Application.
• Granted in up to 2-year increments, renewable indefinitely.
• Annual cap of 10,500.
• A separate $250 Visa Integrity Fee (Public Law 119-21, Sec. 100007) applies to nonimmigrant visas issued from FY2026 (Oct 1, 2025) onward, in addition to the fee shown above; DHS/State had not published uniform collection guidance to all posts as of early-to-mid 2026, so rollout timing varies by consulate.
• Not included in the fee shown above.

Canadian and Mexican professionals in qualifying occupations under the USMCA (formerly NAFTA)

• Available only to Canadian and Mexican citizens in USMCA-listed professions with a US job offer.
• Canadians may apply directly at a port of entry (no visa foil required); Mexicans obtain a TN visa at a consulate.
• Admitted up to 3 years, indefinitely renewable.
• A separate $250 Visa Integrity Fee (Public Law 119-21, Sec. 100007) applies to nonimmigrant visas issued from FY2026 (Oct 1, 2025) onward; since it attaches to actual visa issuance, it is expected to apply mainly to Mexican TN applicants who obtain a consular visa foil, not to Canadians who are admitted visa-free at the port of entry.
• DHS/State had not published uniform collection guidance to all posts as of early-to-mid 2026.

Temporary or seasonal agricultural work for employers facing a shortage of domestic workers

• Employer must obtain a temporary labor certification and file Form I-129.
• Generally limited to nationals of designated eligible countries.
• Initial stay tied to the certified period (typically up to 1 year); maximum 3 years before a required departure.
• A separate $250 Visa Integrity Fee (Public Law 119-21, Sec. 100007) applies to nonimmigrant visas issued from FY2026 (Oct 1, 2025) onward, in addition to the fee shown above; DHS/State had not published uniform collection guidance to all posts as of early-to-mid 2026, so rollout timing varies by consulate.
• Not included in the fee shown above.

Temporary or seasonal non-agricultural work (e.g. hospitality, landscaping, seafood processing)

• Employer must obtain a temporary labor certification and file Form I-129.
• Subject to a statutory annual cap (66,000).
• Generally limited to nationals of designated eligible countries.
• Maximum 3 years.
• A separate $250 Visa Integrity Fee (Public Law 119-21, Sec. 100007) applies to nonimmigrant visas issued from FY2026 (Oct 1, 2025) onward, in addition to the fee shown above; DHS/State had not published uniform collection guidance to all posts as of early-to-mid 2026, so rollout timing varies by consulate.
• Not included in the fee shown above.

Ministers and other religious workers employed by a bona fide non-profit religious organisation in the US

• Requires a US petitioner (Form I-129) that is a bona fide non-profit religious organisation.
• Initial stay up to 30 months, extendable to a total of 5 years.
• A separate $250 Visa Integrity Fee (Public Law 119-21, Sec. 100007) applies to nonimmigrant visas issued from FY2026 (Oct 1, 2025) onward, in addition to the fee shown above; DHS/State had not published uniform collection guidance to all posts as of early-to-mid 2026, so rollout timing varies by consulate.
• Not included in the fee shown above.

Spouses, children, parents and other qualifying relatives of US citizens and lawful permanent residents to immigrate permanently

• Immigrant (green card) category.
• A US citizen or LPR sponsor files Form I-130.
• Immediate relatives (IR1/CR1 spouse, IR2 child, IR5 parent) have no annual cap; family-preference categories (F1-F4) are numerically limited with multi-year waits.
• Grants lawful permanent residence on entry.

Representatives of foreign governments to, and officers/staff of, designated international organizations (e.g. the United Nations), plus their immediate family members

• Covers G-1 (principal resident representatives of recognized governments to a designated international organization), G-2 (other accredited representatives), G-3 (representatives of governments not formally recognized by the US), G-4 (officers/employees of international organizations, e.g. UN staff), and G-5 (attendants/servants/personal employees of G-1 to G-4 holders).
• Filed via Form DS-1648.
• No MRV application fee is charged, and G-1 through G-4 (plus G-5 domestics) are exempt from the FY2026 Visa Integrity Fee that now applies to most other nonimmigrant visas.

Representatives, staff, and civilian/military personnel of NATO or its Allied Commands assigned to the United States, plus their immediate family members

• Covers NATO-1 through NATO-6 classifications for national representatives and staff of NATO/Allied Commands, plus NATO-7 for their attendants/servants/personal employees.
• Filed via Form DS-1648.
• No MRV application fee is charged, and NATO-1 through NATO-6 are exempt from the FY2026 Visa Integrity Fee.

Participation in an approved international cultural exchange program that provides practical training, employment, and sharing of the participant's home-country history, culture, and traditions

• Program sponsor/employer files Form I-129.
• Total stay is capped at 15 months with no extension beyond that; the participant must then remain outside the US for at least 1 year before returning on a new Q-1 program.
• A separate $250 Visa Integrity Fee (Public Law 119-21, the One Big Beautiful Bill Act, Sec. 100007) applies to nonimmigrant visas issued from FY2026 (Oct 1, 2025) onward, in addition to the fee shown; DHS/State had not published uniform collection guidance to all posts as of early-to-mid 2026, so rollout timing varies by consulate.

Practical training (e.g. in agriculture, commerce, finance, government) or a hospital-affiliated special education training program, that is unavailable in the trainee's home country and is not primarily productive employment

• US employer/institution files Form I-129.
• Standard H-3 trainees may stay up to 2 years; the special-education exchange visitor sub-category is capped at 18 months and limited to 50 visas per fiscal year.
• A separate $250 Visa Integrity Fee (Public Law 119-21, Sec. 100007) applies to visas issued from FY2026 onward, in addition to the fee shown; implementation/collection timing has varied by post through mid-2026.

Foreign-citizen spouse (K-3) and that spouse's unmarried minor children (K-4) of a US citizen, allowing entry while the immigrant visa petition (Form I-130) is still pending

• US citizen spouse first files Form I-130, then files Form I-129F for the K-3/K-4 applicant.
• Visa is multiple-entry, generally valid 2 years, extendable in 2-year increments (Form I-539) while the I-130/immigrant-visa process remains pending.
• In practice USCIS/NVC often administratively closes the K-3/K-4 case once the underlying immigrant visa becomes available around the same time, so this category is now rarely completed in full.
• A separate $250 Visa Integrity Fee (Public Law 119-21, Sec. 100007) applies to visas issued from FY2026 onward, in addition to the fee shown; implementation/collection timing has varied by post through mid-2026.

Victims of a severe form of human trafficking, and qualifying family members, who comply with reasonable requests to assist law enforcement in the investigation or prosecution of trafficking, allowing temporary stay with a path to permanent residence

• Principal applicants generally file Form I-914 with USCIS while already present in the US (no USCIS filing fee); qualifying family members abroad may obtain a derivative T visa through consular processing.
• Congress caps principal T grants at 5,000 per fiscal year (family members are not counted against the cap).
• Initial stay is up to 4 years; may lead to lawful permanent residence after 3 years (or sooner if the related investigation/prosecution concludes).
• Created by the Victims of Trafficking and Violence Protection Act of 2000.

Victims of qualifying crimes committed in the US who have suffered substantial physical or mental abuse and are helpful to law enforcement in investigating or prosecuting the crime, allowing temporary stay with a path to permanent residence

• Principal applicants generally file Form I-918 with USCIS (no USCIS filing fee); qualifying family members abroad may obtain a derivative U visa through consular processing.
• Congress caps principal U grants at 10,000 per fiscal year (family members are not counted against the cap).
• Initial stay is up to 4 years; may lead to lawful permanent residence after 3 years of continuous presence in U status.

Individuals with critical, reliable information on a criminal organization or enterprise (S-5) or on terrorism (S-6) who assist a federal or state law enforcement agency, prosecutor, or court, plus qualifying family members (S-7)

• S classification must be requested on the alien's behalf by a federal or state law enforcement agency, prosecutor's office, court, or DOJ/DHS via Form I-854; individuals cannot apply for S status directly.
• Congress caps new classifications at 200 S-5 (criminal) and 50 S-6 (terrorism) per fiscal year, plus S-7 for qualifying family members.
• Maximum period of admission is 3 years under INA 214(k).
• Extremely rarely encountered relative to other nonimmigrant categories.