Immigrant Visa Types: Complete Guide to U.S. Permanent Visas (2026)

Foreign country citizens intending to travel to the U.S. must first get a visa to enter the country. A valid visa indicates that a consular officer at the American Consulate or Embassy has checked the immigration application. However, several immigrant visa types exist, each depending on various factors.

The purpose of traveling is a significant factor in determining the appropriate visa type for you. Thus, properly understanding these types is essential to ease your immigration journey. This blog post explains the various immigrant visa categories and their eligibility criteria. Read on to learn all the details about visa types for immigrants.

Important 2026 Update: U.S. immigration policy has seen significant changes in early 2026. In January 2026, the Department of State announced the suspension of immigrant visa processing for nationals of certain countries. If you are from a country affected by recent U.S. immigration policy changes, check the latest guidance directly on the U.S. Department of State website before applying. Requirements and processing timelines may differ from standard procedures described in this guide.

What Are Visas for Immigrants?

Feature	Immigrant Visa	Nonimmigrant Visa
Purpose	Permanent residence	Temporary stay
Leads to Green Card	Yes	Usually no
Work authorization	Unrestricted	Limited/conditional
Path to citizenship	Yes	No direct path
Examples	IR1, K-1, EB-1	B-1/B-2, F-1, H-1B

An immigrant visa is a category issued to persons intending to live and work permanently in the U.S. A foreign national can get an immigrant or nonimmigrant visa to enter the U.S. However, visas for immigrants are what make a foreign national a permanent resident in the U.S.

As a permanent resident or green card recipient, the person can work and live anywhere in the U.S. They may also apply to become American citizens if they meet specific eligibility requirements. People often mistake the visa categories for each other, but there is a difference between them.

A nonimmigrant visa is for people from foreign countries seeking to enter the U.S. temporarily. The purpose of their visit may include tourism, business, study, medical treatment, temporary work, or other temporary reasons. The purpose of travel and other factors determine the visa category needed under the U.S. immigration law.

During visa applications, a consular officer will determine the applicant’s eligibility for a visa based on the laws. The only criterion is meeting all the requirements to receive the appropriate visa category.

Application Process for the U.S. Immigrant Visa

As explained previously, a visa for immigrants is a foreigner’s ticket to permanent residence in the U.S. An intending immigrant must present this visa at the U.S. port of entry before it expires. Then, the U.S. Customs and Border Protection (CBP) reviews the visa and supporting documents.

If the immigrant is eligible, a CBP office approves the documents to make the immigrant a lawful permanent resident. Typically, this visa category requires someone to apply on behalf of the immigrant. Usually, an employer or relative is responsible for sponsoring the immigrant.

This involves the sponsor applying to the U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS). Alternatively, certain applicants, such as workers with extraordinary abilities, special immigrants, and investors, can petition on their behalf. After this, the appropriate U.S. Consulate or Embassy located overseas receives the application for further processing.

The consular officers then issue the visa to an eligible intending immigrant. The immigrant must present the visa at the port of entry into the U.S. A CBP officer will inspect to determine the person’s eligibility under U.S. immigration law.

The Various U.S. Immigrant Visa Types

You can get a visa for immigrants to stay in the country permanently. However, you must have a purpose for coming into the U.S. with this visa category. Your purpose and other factors will determine the type of permanent visa you get. This is why we’ve explained the various visa types under this category to help you understand better.

IR1 and CR1

An IR1 or CR1 visa is for a legally wedded spouse of a U.S. citizen. Couples merely living together may not qualify as spouses for immigration. However, some country’s common law marriages may qualify. This eligibility depends on the laws of the country where the marriage occurred.

In addition, only the first spouse of a polygamous marriage may qualify as a spouse for immigration. In this visa-type application process, the resident spouse must file a petition with the USCIS.

IR2, CR2, IR5, F1, F3, and F4

IR2, CR2, IR5, F1, F3, and F4 are family-based immigration visas to relocate to the U.S. There are two family-based visas permanently. They include:

• Immediate relative: These visa types are for close family members of a U.S. citizen, such as a spouse, parent, or child.
• Family preference: These types are for more distant family relations with U.S. citizens. They are also useful for some specific relationships with lawful permanent residents.

U.S. citizens can apply for their spouse, siblings, children, or parents. However, a permanent resident or green card holder can only file immigration petitions for their spouse and unmarried children.

IR3, IH3, IR4, and IH4

These visa types are for certain family members of U.S. citizens. These include children adopted in the U.S. and children adopted from foreign countries. Naturally, these children should permanently live with their adoptive family, and hence, they need a visa for this.

F2A and F2B

These are also family-based visas for spouses, children, and adult children of lawful permanent residents or U.S. citizens.

K-3

The K-3 is a nonimmigrant visa for foreign nationals who are spouses of U.S. citizens. Although it is a temporary visa, it helps reduce the separation between the spouses. The foreign spouse uses this visa to enter the U.S. while waiting for approval for a permanent visa petition.

Upon the petition approval, K-3 visa recipients apply for permanent residency with the USCIS. This means the U.S. citizen spouse must have filed the petition on behalf of their foreign partner.

K-1

A K-1 nonimmigrant visa is for a foreigner who is a fiancé(e) to a U.S. citizen. This visa permits them to travel and marry their partner in the U.S. within 90 days of arrival. After this, the foreign spouse will apply to adjust their status to a permanent resident at the USCIS.

Employment Visas

Employment-based permanent visas cover a large group of people. These include:

• EB-1: First preference for priority workers.
• EB-2: Second preference for professionals holding advanced degrees and persons of exceptional ability.
• EB-3: Third preference for professionals, skilled, and unskilled workers.
• EB-4: Fourth preference for certain special immigrants.
• EB-5: Fifth preference for employment creation and investors.

Other immigrant visa types include:

• SD and SR: Religious workers
• SI: Iraqi and Afghan translators and interpreters
• SQ: Iraqis and Afghans who worked for/on behalf of the U.S. government
• DV: Diversity immigrant visa
• SB: Returning resident

Translation Requirements for Immigration Applications

Getting the appropriate visa is only one part of the immigration process. USCIS requires that all foreign-language documents submitted with your application include a complete English translation under federal regulation 8 CFR § 103.2(b)(3). This applies regardless of which visa category you are applying for.

Documents commonly requiring certified translation include:

• Birth certificates
• Marriage and divorce certificates
• Passports and national ID cards
• Academic transcripts and diplomas
• Police and criminal records
• Bank statements and financial records
• Court orders and affidavits

Each translated document must include a signed certification statement from the translator confirming accuracy and competence in both languages. USCIS does not require notarization for most standard filings — a certified translation is sufficient.

For 2026 electronic filings, high-resolution scanned PDFs of certified translations are accepted for initial submissions. Always retain the original signed copy as immigration officers may request it during interviews.

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Frequently Asked Questions