us tourist visa classification

UNCLASSIFIED (U)

9 FAM 402  Nonimmigrant Visa Classifications

9 FAM 402.1 

Overview of NIV Classifications

(CT:VISA-1902;   02-01-2024) (Office of Origin:  CA/VO)

9 FAM 402.1-1  Statutory and REgulatory Authorities

9 FAM 402.1-1(A)  Immigration and Nationality Act

(CT:VISA-1;   11-18-2015)

INA 101(a)(15) (8 U.S.C. 1101(a)(15)); INA 101(a)(26) (8 U.S.C. 1101(a)(26)); INA 291 (8 U.S.C. 1363).

9 FAM 402.1-1(B)  Code of Federal Regulations

22 CFR 41.11; 22 CFR 41.22(b).

9 FAM 402.1-2  Introduction to NIV Classification

(CT:VISA-1902;   02-01-2024)

a. A visa issued to a nonimmigrant applicant within one of the classes described in this section must bear an appropriate visa symbol to show the classification of the applicant.  The symbol must be inserted in the space provided on the visa.  The following visa symbols must be used:

[Source: 22 CFR 41.12 (78 FR 68992, Nov. 18, 2013, as amended at 85 FR 38321, June 26, 2020), as amended further at 86 FR 61064, November 5, 2021, as amended further at 88 FR 45068, July 14, 2023]

b. NIV Classification Summary Chart, provides a reference summary of NIV classifications, legal and statutory authorities, and FAM section for each classification.  

9 FAM 402.1-3  Choice of Classification

(CT:VISA-1318;   07-20-2021)

a. Principal Purpose of Admission:   An applicant desiring to come to the United States for one principal purpose, and one or more incidental purposes, must be classified in accordance with the principal purpose.  For example, you must classify an applicant seeking to enter the United States as a student who desires, prior to entering an approved school, to make a tourist trip of not more than 30 days within the United States, as F-1 or M-1.  Also, when a family member’s primary purpose to come to the United States is to accompany the principal, the classification of the accompanying family member is either of a derivative of the principal if the classification provides or as a B-2, if not.  This is the case even if the accompanying family member decides to attend school.  See 9 FAM 402.1-5(C) below.

b. Choice When More Than One Classification Possible:   When it appears that an applicant can properly be classified under two or more nonimmigrant classifications, you must explain to the applicant the terms and requirements of each, including documentary requirements, maximum lengths of stay which may be authorized upon admission, and any other pertinent factors.  You must then base the classification of the visa on the applicant’s stated preference.  See the Visa "Reciprocity Schedule.”

c. No Alternative to A and G Classification:   The provisions of 22 CFR 41.22(b) relating to the A and G classifications are always controlling.  You must not suggest alternative classifications.

9 FAM 402.1-4  Classification of Spouse

9 FAM 402.1-4(A)  Derivative Classification of Spouse Accompanying the Principal

In all nonimmigrant classifications except B, C, D, K, and V, the principal's spouse is entitled to derivative nonimmigrant classification.  You must be satisfied that a valid marital relationship exists.  If the spouse is applying in company with the principal, the determination that the principal is eligible for one of the nonimmigrant classifications is sufficient to establish that the spouse is eligible for the corresponding derivative classification.

9 FAM 402.1-4(B)  Principal Must be Maintaining Status for Spouse to Receive Derivative Classification

If the spouse is seeking to follow to join a principal already in the United States, you must be satisfied that the principal is, in fact, maintaining the nonimmigrant status from which the spouse seeks derivative classification.  In questionable cases, you may request verification from the Department of Homeland Security (DHS) or from the Department for holders of A, G, and NATO visas.  If, while processing an application, you learn that the principal is not in fact maintaining the status claimed (for example, is not pursuing a full course of study, participating in an exchange program, or performing the specified services or undertaking the specified training), such information must be reported to the appropriate DHS district office.  See 9 FAM 402.1-4(C) below concerning nonimmigrant intent.

9 FAM 402.1-4(C)  Establishment of Nonimmigrant Status Also Required for Derivative Classification

A spouse applying for a visa based on a derivative classification must establish the requisite nonimmigrant intent to the same extent as the principal applicant.  Thus, an applicant for a(n) F-2, J-2, H-4 (except the derivatives of an H-1), M-2, O-3, and P-4 visa must establish having a residence in a foreign country which the applicant has no intention of abandoning.  If the spouse is applying for a visa in the same company with the principal, both must be evaluated collectively.  Differing conclusions concerning their entitlement to nonimmigrant classification would be rare and must be based on clearly defined, objective differences in their situations.  If the derivative applicant is seeking to join a principal already in the United States, a different situation may exist from that which existed at the time of the issuance of the principal's visa and could justify a determination by you that the derivative applicant does not have the requisite nonimmigrant intent.

9 FAM 402.1-4(D)  Choice of Alternate Classification When Derivative Status is Too Limiting for Spouse

A spouse eligible for derivative classification may also qualify for and be issued another type of visa.  For instance, the spouse of an F-1 student may wish to work.  Since F-2 visa holders may not work, the spouse may wish to apply for an immigrant visa (IV), temporary worker visa, or another type of visa, which allows work for pay. 

9 FAM 402.1-4(E)  Derivative Nonimmigrant Classification for Spouse of Permanent Resident Signing INA 247(b) Waiver

A permanent resident may accept a position or establish a business, which, if the individual were a nonimmigrant, would lead to A, E, or G classification.  To retain permanent residence, the individual must sign a waiver of rights, privileges, exemptions, and immunities under INA 247(b).  However, the spouse of such a person may be granted derivative A, E, or G status if the spouse is a nonimmigrant or does not wish to maintain permanent residence. As an example, a permanent resident who is a citizen of a small country might be named to the country’s permanent U.N. delegation in a non-diplomatic agent position.  They could retain permanent residence by signing the waiver.  The spouse may, however, be granted derivative G-1 status if the spouse does not wish to maintain permanent residence or has never had it.  For instance, if the principal has married after becoming a permanent resident and the spouse does not wish to remain permanently in the United States because of illness in the family abroad, a derivative G classification would be the only way for the spouse to join the principal for visits from time to time. 

9 FAM 402.1-4(F)  Classification of Spouse Accompanying Crew Member

The spouse of a crewmember entering the United States as a nonimmigrant under INA 101(a)(15)(D), who is coming to the United States solely to accompany the principal, is classifiable B-2.  See 9 FAM 402.2-4(A) .

9 FAM 402.1-4(G)  Classification of Party to Proxy Marriage

a. INA 101(a)(35) provides that the term “spouse”, “wife”, or “husband” does not include a party to a proxy marriage which has not been consummated.

b. Therefore, a spouse by a proxy marriage, which has not been consummated, cannot derive a nonimmigrant classification from a spouse in the United States.  In such cases, a B-2 visa may be issued to an otherwise qualified proxy spouse, provided you conclude that the individual in the United States is maintaining the appropriate nonimmigrant status and that the spouse seeks to travel to the United States to join the individual.  After admission to the United States in B-2 status and consummation of the marriage, the spouse by proxy marriage can then apply to DHS for a change to the appropriate derivative nonimmigrant status.

9 FAM 402.1-5  Classification of Child

9 FAM 402.1-5(A)  Derivative Classification of Child Accompanying or Following to Join the Principal

The provisions of 9 FAM 402.1-4(A) and (B) above are applicable to a child of a principal, provided the child is a “child” as defined in INA 101(b)(1)(A) through (E).

9 FAM 402.1-5(B)  Adopted Children

a. Children adopted by American citizens who do not intend to live in the United States may visit the United States on NIVs (see 9 FAM 402.2-4(B)(4)) and, in some cases, qualify for a B-2 visa to participate in expeditious naturalization procedures ( 9 FAM 402.2-4(B)(7)).

b. Adopted children:

(1)  Adopted children who meet INA 101(b)(1)(E) criteria may also qualify for nonimmigrant status as the derivative child of a principal NIV applicant.  For example, the principal applicant for a nonimmigrant F visa may bring their adopted child to the United States under the nonimmigrant F-2 classification if the otherwise-qualified child was adopted before age 16 and has already spent two years in the applicant’s residence and custody.

(2)  Unless INA 101(b)(1)(E) requirements are met, the adopted child does not qualify as a derivative child; INA 101(b)(1)(F) criteria cannot be applied to nonimmigrant derivative cases.  However, as stated in 9 FAM 402.3-4(J)(3) , to qualify for derivative A or G NIV status as a member of the principal applicant’s immediate family, a legal son or daughter need not have qualified as a “child” as defined in INA 101(b)(1).

c.  You must carefully review NIV applications for children who have been adopted or will be adopted by U.S. citizens and who intend to live in the United States with their adoptive parents.  Such children may wish to visit the United States for a short time and return to their country of residence for IV processing, thereby satisfying INA 214(b) provisions and qualifying for a B-2 visa.  However, for cases where you are not satisfied that the child will return to their residence abroad, a NIV should not be issued to the child.  Such an issuance would violate the law, circumvent scrutiny intended to protect the child and adoptive parents, and place the child in an untenable immigration predicament since DHS regulations generally prohibit the approval of an immigrant petition for a child who is in the United States either without documentation or in nonimmigrant status.

d. In rare cases where there are significant humanitarian concerns (i.e., natural disaster, civil disorder/war, etc.), adoptive parents may seek humanitarian parole for an adoptive child who will be legally able to adjust status in the United States based on an immigrant classification (see 9 FAM 202.3-3 ).

e. You should also recognize that you may also very occasionally encounter cases of adopted children who are not eligible for any immigrant or NIV classification, usually due to their advanced age or the circumstances of the adoption.

9 FAM 402.1-5(C)  Classification of Children Who Will also be Attending School

A child entitled to derivative nonimmigrant classification from the principal is not required to qualify under INA 101(a)(15)(F) as a nonimmigrant student, even though the child will attend school in the United States while accompanying the principal.

9 FAM 402.1-6  Issuance of Nonimmigrant Visas (NIV) to Spouses and/or Children When Principal is in Status but Has No Visa

(CT:VISA-1665;   12-08-2022)

Derivative beneficiaries are entitled to apply for visas to follow and/or join principals who are maintaining status in the United States, even when the principal was never issued a visa in the classification being sought by the dependent.  Take, for instance, a world-class soccer player, who changes their status from F-1 to O-1.  The spouse and/or children are entitled to apply for nonimmigrant O-3 visas.  Typical documentation for establishing entitlement to visas in such an instance might include marriage and birth certificates for the spouse and dependent(s), a copy of the principal beneficiary's approval notice, and any Form I-797, Notice of Action notices relating to the dependents' own change of status filings.  Another example would be a foreign national who entered the United States on a B-1 visa and subsequently changed status to F-1.  The spouse and/or child of the F-1 would be entitled to seek F-2 visas.  In such cases, the dependent would need to present a properly endorsed Form I-20, Certificate of Eligibility for Nonimmigrant (F-1) Student Status - for Academic and Language Students, as evidence that the principal is enrolled, or will be enrolled within 60 days, in a full course of study or is in approved practical training.

A Guide to U.S. Nonimmigrant Visas

If you would like to visit the United States and you're not a U.S. citizen or a lawful permanent resident, you will have to get a nonimmigrant visa to make the trip. Nonimmigrant visas are available for different travel reasons, and U.S. embassies and consulates worldwide grant them for a temporary period. This guide explains what U.S. nonimmigrant visas are and who needs to get one. We also describe the different types of U.S. nonimmigrant visas and the application process step by step.

Written by Jonathan Petts .  Updated December 7, 2022

What Are U.S. Nonimmigrant Visas?

Unlike immigrant visas, such as green cards , which are for people who plan to permanently live in the United States, nonimmigrant visas are for those who want to make short visits. Nonimmigrant visas are available for tourism, college, or business purposes. They usually have a set end date.

Who Needs a Nonimmigrant Visa?

If you are not a U.S. citizen or lawful permanent resident and plan to temporarily come to the United States, you need a nonimmigrant visa. 

However, for foreign nationals from certain home countries, you won't need one as long as you visit the United States for less than 90 days for tourism, business, or while in transit. This program is called the Visa Waiver Program (VWP), and it applies to people from 40 countries and territories, including most within the European Union. In addition, most Canadians will not need a visa to enter the United States unless they plan to work, study, invest, or immigrate.

The Visa Waiver Program has multiple rules for eligibility. You have to enroll in the Electronic System for Travel Authorization (ESTA) program before air travel. You can only stay in the United States for a maximum period of 90 days with no extension. You cannot have a history of having a U.S. visa refused or denied. You will also have to prove you have strong ties to your home country and won’t overstay your visa.  

What Are the Nonimmigrant Visa Types?

There are three primary nonimmigrant visa categories. You can visit the United States for temporary tourism or business, study, and work. 

Visitor Visas (B Visas)

If you plan to visit the United States for tourism or temporary business, you need a B-1 or B-2 visa unless the Visa Waiver Program covers your home country. For your U.S. visa application, you will have to provide documents to the Department of Homeland Security (DHS) that explain the reasons for your trip and your trip itinerary. 

Your visa validity could last between three months and 10 years and depends on your home country. You can enter the United States anytime, either once or multiple times within the period of time that the visa is valid. 

How Long Can I Stay With a Visitor Visa?

The government official from Customs and Border Patrol (CBP) at your port of entry determines how long you can stay in the United States. The maximum is six months. You may extend this time, but you will have to apply 45 days before the visa expires, and immigration authorities may reject your extension. Your I-94 Form will indicate the length of stay. This is different from your visa expiry date. You can only stay as long as the I-94 Form indicates. Still, you can leave and re-enter the United States again during the visa validity period. 

Study or Work-Exchange Visas (F, M, and J Visas)

If you plan to be a student in the United States, you will also need a visa. The first type of visa available to students is the F-1 visa for full-time students at an accredited educational institution. Institutions include colleges, high schools, seminaries, and conservatories. If you want to get a job, you can only have on-campus employment. The second type of visa is an F-2 visa, which is for spouses or children of F-1 visa holders. The final option is an F-3 visa for people who live in Canada or Mexico and commute to the United States for their studies. 

Another type of student visa is the M visa , for students at vocational or other accredited nonacademic institutions. However, language training programs fall under the F visa category. 

For work- or study-based exchange visitors, there is the J-1 visa. These visa holders could include teachers, interns, au-pairs, and other participants in exchange visitor programs. They must be part of a program that promotes cultural exchange. There are also specific categories of eligibility, such as proficiency in English. J-2 visas are for dependents of J-1 visa holders. 

Employment Visas (H, L, Q P, C, D, G Visas)

Work visas allow people to enter the United States for a temporary period. The visa does not apply to indefinite or permanent work — only U.S. citizens and permanent residents can work in the country permanently. Your employer needs to start the visa application process by filing a petition with U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS). If accepted, you can get a nonimmigrant work visa. 

There are multiple visa classifications for temporary workers. H-1B and H-1B1 visas are for professional jobs. These jobs must require at least a bachelor’s degree. You must have an employer sponsor. 

H-2A and H-2B visas are for seasonal work that don’t have available U.S. citizens as employees. This could include agricultural work. 

L-1A or L-1B visas are for people transferring from within a multinational company to a U.S. office. O-1 visas are for people with unique talents. P-1A, P1-B, P2, and P-3 visas are for artists and entertainers. Q visas are for people participating in international cultural exchange. C-1, D, and C-1/D visas are for crew members of ships or airline employees. 

G visas are diplomatic non-immigrant visas issued to individuals representing foreign governments who are working in international organizations in the United States.

How To Apply for a U.S. Nonimmigrant Visa

For a nonimmigrant visa application, you need to fill out Form DS-160 , pay a fee, and schedule an interview. Then, you need to get your documents and attend the visa interview. 

Step1: Complete Form DS-160

First, you need to fill out Form DS-160 . You will need to provide lots of personal information. This information includes travel history , employment history, information about your family members, and more. 

Step 2: Pay the Visa Fee

Next, you will have to pay an application fee. You will pay this to a consular section at a U.S. embassy or consulate responsible for visa services. The fee is $160. However, if you are a temporary worker, you will have to pay $190. You can pay this processing fee when you submit your application form.  

Step 3: Schedule Your Visa Interview

The next step for visa applicants is to schedule an interview at a U.S. consulate or embassy. You should check ahead of time through the U.S. Department of State about appointment wait times. Check that there are no current travel restrictions, such as coronavirus pandemic-related ones. Your visa appointment wait time will depend on the U.S. Consulate General location you choose. 

Step 4: Gather Supporting Documents

You will have to bring documents to your interview. These include a valid passport, a passport photograph, the Form DS-160 confirmation page, proof of payment, and a printout of your interview appointment letter. 

You may also have to show proof of your nonimmigrant intent. This intent means evidence you will return to your home country after visiting the United States. For example, you may have to show your travel itinerary, employment documents from your home country, or invitation letters from family or friends. 

Step 5: Attend Your Visa Interview

At your interview, you will have to swear under oath and have your fingerprints taken. The consular officer will review your application and documents. They may ask questions about why you want to visit, your itinerary, and how you will pay for it. The interview may be short or long. It is essential to give accurate answers. 

Step 6: Receive a Decision From U.S. Embassy

After your visa issuance, you can travel to the United States anytime until the expiry date on the visa. You will show your visa and passport to the U.S. Customs and Border Protection (CBP) officer at the port of entry. 

Form I-94 is a record of your entries or exits from the United States. It is usually electronic now. You can either find it online or ask the officer at the port of entry for one. 

It is very important to know the entry date on your Form I-94. You want to ensure you will not overstay your visa. Your I-94 exit date could be earlier than your visa expiry date. The I-94 date takes precedence over your visa stamp, so make sure to check the form carefully. U.S. immigration law enforces strong consequences for overstaying your visa, including travel bans from the United States. 

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Nonimmigrant and tourist visas

Find out how to work in the U.S. or visit as a student or tourist. Learn how to renew your visa and what to do if your visa is lost.

How to apply for or renew a U.S. tourist visa

If you visit the U.S. for tourism or business, you may need a visitor visa, also known as a tourist visa. Learn how to get and renew this type of nonimmigrant visa.

How to check the status of your visa application

Find out how to check the status of your visa application online. And to avoid delays, learn how to update your address if you move while waiting for your visa to be approved.

What happens if your visa application is rejected

Find out what to do if your visa is denied, and learn if you are eligible for a waiver of grounds of inadmissibility.

Foreign visitors: what to do if your visa or passport is lost or stolen

If you are in the U.S. and your visa or passport was lost or stolen, learn how to report it and apply for a new one.

Get a student visa to study in the U.S.

To study in the U.S. as an international student, you must get a student visa. Learn about the types of student visas, how to apply, and if you can work while you study.

Nonimmigrant work visas

Learn about the different nonimmigrant temporary work visa categories and how to apply.

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This page was published more than five years ago. Information on the page may be out of date.

What is a B1, B2, or B1/B2 visa? How can I find out what visa type I have?

B category visas are visas for general business and tourist travel to the United States.  Your Visa Class, or category, appears in the upper right-hand portion of your visa.

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• Immigration
• Nonimmigrant Admissions

Nonimmigrant Classes of Admission

Nonimmigrants are foreign nationals admitted temporarily to the United States within classes of admission that are defined in section 101(a)(15) of the Immigration and Nationality Act (INA).

Examples of nonimmigrant classes of admission include foreign government officials, temporary visitors for business and pleasure, aliens in transit, treaty traders and investors, academic and vocational students, temporary workers, exchange visitors, athletes and entertainers, victims of certain crimes, and certain family members of U.S. citizens and lawful permanent residents (LPRs).

Unlike people granted LPR, or "green card" status, who may live in the United States essentially without restrictions, nonimmigrants are authorized to enter the country for specific purposes. Nonimmigrants’ duration of stay and lawful activities, such as employment, travel, and accompaniment by dependents, are prescribed by their class of admission.

Return to main nonimmigrants page for more resources.

Return to immigration topic page.

Temporary workers and their families

Temporary worker visas are for persons who want to enter the United States for employment lasting a fixed period of time, and are not considered permanent or indefinite. To work in the United States temporarily as a lawful nonimmigrant, temporary workers must qualify for the available visa category based on the planned employment purpose. The steps in the process before applying for a visa vary.

Students and Exchange visitors and their dependents

The United States supports international education and welcomes foreign students and exchange visitors. Students and exchange visitors must be accepted by their schools or program sponsors before applying for visas.

Diplomats and other representatives

Diplomats and other foreign government officials traveling to the United States to engage solely in official duties or activities on behalf of their national government must obtain specific visas prior to entering the United States.

Temporary visitors for pleasure

Foreign travelers to the United States for short visits, for example tourism, vacation, visiting family and friends, or medical treatment, need visitor visas unless they qualify for entry under the Visa Waiver Program .

Temporary visitors for business

Foreign travelers coming to the United States to conduct temporary business, for example business meetings and consultations, attending conventions and conferences, or negotiating contracts, need visitor visas unless they qualify for entry under the Visa Waiver Program .

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Working in the United States

Many noncitizens want to come to the United States to work. This page provides a summary of employment-based nonimmigrant and immigrant visa classifications and other categories of noncitizens who are eligible for employment authorization. Each classification provides a link to more detailed information on its requirements.

A common way to work temporarily in the United States as a nonimmigrant is for a prospective employer to file a petition with USCIS on your behalf. The Temporary (Nonimmigrant) Workers webpage describes the main nonimmigrant temporary worker classifications.

If you have the right combination of skills, education, and/or work experience, you may be able to live and work permanently in the United States by seeking an employment-based immigrant visa. The Permanent Workers webpage describes the five employment-based immigrant visa preferences (also called categories).

If you live outside the United States and want to work here, you generally must apply for a visa from the U.S. Department of State (DOS), unless a visa is not required for people from your country of nationality. You may visit DOS’ Travel Without a Visa page for more information.

In many cases, USCIS must approve your petition before you are eligible to apply to DOS for a visa or seek admission at a port of entry. Before entering the United States, you must present yourself to a U.S. Customs and Border Protection (CBP) officer and receive permission to enter the United States and engage in your proposed activity.

If you are in the United States in a lawful nonimmigrant status that does not provide employment authorization, you generally may apply for:

• A change of status to a nonimmigrant classification that provides employment authorization; or
• An adjustment of status to become a lawful permanent resident. This may be a concurrent filing with an immigrant visa petition or, depending on the circumstances, may require an applicant to obtain an approved immigrant visa before applying for an adjustment of status to become a lawful permanent resident.

Depending on the classification you seek, your change or adjustment of status application might require a U.S. employer or other qualified requestor to file an application or petition on your behalf to establish your eligibility before we approve your application. However, if you apply based on certain classifications (for example, an alien with extraordinary ability or as a nonimmigrant E-1 or E-2 principal treaty trader or investor), you may be eligible to self-petition, which means filing an application on your own behalf.

Additionally, if you are in the United States, including if you are an applicant for permanent residence or a certain family member of an alien who has lawful nonimmigrant status, you may file Form I-765, Application for Employment Authorization , to request employment authorization and an Employment Authorization Document (EAD). You may also apply for an EAD that shows such authorization if your immigration status authorizes you to work in the United States without restrictions.

The conditions you must meet and how long you can work in the United States depend on the type of immigration status the Department of Homeland Security (DHS) grants. You must comply with all conditions of your employment authorization and the terms of your admission to this country. If you violate any of the conditions, you could be removed from or denied re-entry into the United States.

Temporary (Nonimmigrant) Worker

Permanent (Immigrant) Worker

Students and Exchange Visitors

Temporary Visitors for Business

International Entrepreneur Parole

New Schengen Visa Rules for Indian Visitors: Key Questions Answered 

Peden Doma Bhutia , Skift

April 23rd, 2024 at 5:39 AM EDT

Destinations value Indian travelers, but lengthy visa processing times lasting months act as significant deterrents. The adoption of these new regulations by European authorities reflects a proactive effort to tackle these concerns, aiming to boost tourism flow.

Peden Doma Bhutia

The European Commission has introduced a new visa “cascade” regime for Indian nationals applying for Schengen visas in India. This regime looks to offer longer-term, multi-entry Schengen visas, based on the applicant’s travel history.

Indian travel agents had been complaining of Schengen visa delays as a major challenge to the summer travel rush from India.

• How does one qualify for the longer duration visas?

The European Commission can issue a two-year multiple-entry visa after a traveler “has obtained and lawfully used two visas within the previous three years.” This demonstrates a positive travel history and compliance with previous visa regulations.

Subsequently, after granting the two-year visa, authorities may issue a five-year visa if the passport has has adequate validity remaining.

• What benefits do holders of these extended visas enjoy?

During the validity period of these visas, holders can enjoy travel rights equivalent to visa-free nationals within the Schengen area, allowing for short stays of up to 90 days within a 180-day period.

• Which countries are part of the Schengen area?

The Schengen area comprises 29 European countries, including 25 European Union member states: Belgium, Bulgaria, Croatia, Czech Republic, Denmark, Germany, Estonia, Greece, Spain, France, Italy, Latvia, Lithuania, Luxembourg, Hungary, Malta, Netherlands, Austria, Poland, Portugal, Romania, Slovenia, Slovakia, Finland, and Sweden. Additionally, Iceland, Liechtenstein, Norway, and Switzerland are also part of the Schengen area.

• Are there any restrictions or conditions to these visas?

Schengen visas do not grant the right to work within the Schengen area and are for short stays only. Additionally, the visas are not purpose-bound, providing flexibility for travel within the specified period.

Industry Take

Skift also spoke to players in the Indian outbound travel industry to understand what has changed in the new Schengen visa rules.

• How is this different from the earlier visas that Schengen countries offered? Don’t they already offer multi-entry visas with longer duration to Indians?

Mahendra Vakharia, managing director of Pathfinders Holidays, said there was no standard policy of Schengen states for issuing these long-term visas earlier. Switzerland, France, Netherlands, Italy and Spain usually issued long-term visa, but it was all subjective. “With this new policy it should be a standard rule now,” Vakharia said.

• Travelers mainly complain of longer processing times, has that changed?

Here too, there is no standard processing time as it varies from country to country, according to Vakharia. “France and Spain have been processing visas within four days, and then there’s Croatia, which takes 60 days,” he said.

Processing time will not change as of now, it will take time for the visa rules to be enforced, said an industry source, while highlighting that the visa would be especially useful for corporate travelers.

What Promoted The Move?

Speaking on the possible motivations, Vakharia acknowledged various reasons, including administrative capacity constraints at embassies to cater to the huge inflow of applications.

“As there is an overwhelming demand from Indian travelers, the process of securing visa appointments has posed significant challenges , especially for travelers residing in cities lacking VFS Global centers,” he said.

The European Commission said in an statement that the decision reflects the EU-India Common Agenda on Migration and Mobility, aimed at fostering comprehensive cooperation on migration policy. Facilitating people-to-people contacts is a key aspect of this agenda, acknowledging India’s importance as an EU partner.

The decision also reflects a realization of the strong economic benefits derived through the spending power of Indian tourists. As Vakharia aptly puts it, “Why let go of the Golden Indian Goodie Bag?”

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Tags: asia monthly , europe , european commission , European summer travel , european union , india , india outbound , schengen , visa , visas

Photo credit: Park Guell in Spain. Unlike many Schengen countries, Spain has been processing visas within four days for Indian travelers. Mehmet Turgut Kirkgoz / Pexels

World Cup 2026: Concerns over fans’ U.S. visa wait times – ‘Your window might already be closed’

Concerns have been raised with the United States government, including an official meeting in the White House, over fears supporters may be deterred from the 2026 men’s World Cup owing to excessive wait times to process visa applications to visit the country.

The tournament begins in 777 days and it will be at least another 18 months before many countries will be assured of qualification, yet the wait times for U.S. visa interviews in two Mexican cities are already in excess of 800 days, while it is 685 days in the Colombian capital of Bogota.

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In a statement to The Athletic , the U.S. Department of State (which oversees international relations) insisted it is determined to reduce wait times but also encouraged supporters in affected countries to start applying for visas now, over two years out from the tournament and with the line-up still unknown.

The 2026 edition of world football’s governing body FIFA ’s flagship tournament will include 48 nations for the first time and will be held in 16 cities in the U.S, Canada and Mexico.

It will also be the first World Cup without an overarching local organising committee, which means FIFA is tasked with pulling everything together, in conjunction with the many layers of stakeholders and bureaucracy across three nations and 16 host cities, each of which have differing levels of private and taxpayer support.

The three host countries also have differing entry criteria for visitors, which has the potential to create visa confusion for fans seeking to follow their team deep into the tournament across multiple borders.

Several host cities, including the location for the final — New York/New Jersey — are also concerned about the wait times for visas, and the potential impact on income from tourism during the tournament, but the cities are currently allowing FIFA and the travel industry to lead the conversations with the government. Some of those who have spoken to The Athletic wished to remain anonymous, owing either to sensitivity around discussions or to protect working relationships.

Travis Murphy is the founder of Jetr Global Sports + Entertainment and a former American diplomat who also once ran international government affairs for the NBA .

“My concern is this could be a disaster (in 2026),” he said. “The concerns are absolutely there on the city level. The cities are thinking, ‘They are FIFA, so they must have it under control.’ But when you realise how FIFA worked in the past with previous hosts in Qatar and Russia, it doesn’t necessarily work in the United States.

“We’re just a completely different animal in terms of how our government operates and how we communicate. And frankly, the emphasis that we place on soccer as a sport in our country.

“If this was the Super Bowl, the World Series or the NBA finals, we’d be having a different conversation. Soccer is not the biggest sport in our country. And I think that’s a fundamental lack of understanding by FIFA, perhaps just taking it for granted that it is the case everywhere in the world. But it’s not yet in the United States.”

In recent months, U.S. travel industry representatives and FIFA have raised concerns with the U.S. Department of State and the White House as the respective groups seek to organise how millions of tourists will enter the U.S. during the five-week tournament in June and July 2026. In January 2024, FIFA strengthened its staff in D.C. when it hired Alex Sopko, the former chief of staff for the Office of Intergovernmental Affairs at the White House, to be its new Director of Government Relations.

In a statement to The Athletic , a FIFA spokesperson said the organisation is working closely with U.S. Government in the planning and preparation for the World Cup, including regular discussions on critical topics such as immigration and visas, and adding it recognises “the urgency of these matters.”

The visa delays ahead of the World Cup were raised in a meeting at the White House on Wednesday, April 17, with senior administration officials in conversation with the United States Travel Association (U.S. Travel).  

Geoff Freeman, president and CEO of U.S. Travel, was present in the meeting. He describes visa wait times as a “massive issue” but added: “We came away confident that the White House recognises the significance of the 2026 World Cup and will take concrete steps to streamline aspects of the travel experience for the more than eight million anticipated visitors.”

Freely available data on the website of the Department of Consular affairs details the lengthy wait times currently impacting visitor visas from markets that may be highly relevant during the World Cup, which begins in 778 days.

Forty-one countries, including much of Europe, Japan, South Korea and Australia, are part of a visa waiver programme — ESTA — to enter the United States, which means citizens of these countries can travel without obtaining a visa, so as long as their trip for tourism or business does not exceed 90 days.

However, many people, estimated by U.S. Travel to represent 45 per cent of those who visit the States, do require visas for entry. These documents, called a B1/B2 visa, also require in-person appointments at a U.S. Embassy or Consulate to take digital photographs and fingerprints, as well as an interview, in which the candidate must state their intention to return to their home countries and explain their reasons for visiting the United States.

Wait times for a visa interview at a U.S. consulate in the Mexican cities of Mexico City and Guadalajara are currently 878 days and 820 days respectively, so an application made today may not be approved before the World Cup begins. In the Colombian capital of Bogota, the current wait time is 685 days, while Panama City is 477 days and Quito in Ecuador is 420.

The 2026 World Cup is guaranteed to include the U.S, Mexico and Canada as hosts but five more nations may yet qualify from North and Central America, while up to seven may enter from the South American Football Confederation. Wait times are also dramatic in the Turkish city of Istanbul, where it takes 553 days for an appointment, as well as in Morocco, semi-finalists at the World Cup in 2022, where the wait time is 225 days.

In a statement to The Athletic, the state department said: “We encourage prospective FIFA World Cup visitors who will need U.S. visas to apply now – there is no requirement to have purchased event tickets, made hotel reservations, or reserved airline tickets to qualify for a visitor visa.”

Freeman attributes the current visa delays to the shutdown of consular offices during the coronavirus pandemic but also outlines long-standing issues.

“The U.S. is the world’s most desired nation to visit, but our market share is slipping and it’s in a large part due to long visa wait times,” he said. “If you are Colombian and want to come and bring your kids in 2026, your window might already be closed.”

A World Cup is further complicated because many supporters may wait until their nations have secured qualification to organise their trip. For the Americas, this will largely be in winter 2025 — the play-offs may be as late as March 2026 — while nations will only know the cities in which their teams will be competing following the draw, which is usually held eight months out from the tournament.

During the 2022 World Cup in Qatar, visitors were able to expedite their entry into the country by applying for a Hayya card, effectively a fan pass for World Cup ticket holders that acted as a visa for the tournament. A repeat pass is not expected to be approved by the U.S, particularly at a time of global tensions both in the Middle East and following Russia ’s invasion of and continued war against Ukraine .

Freeman warned: “The U.S. is not going to change its visa policies in the short term to frankly cater to FIFA. I think where you may see the U.S. adjust some of its approach is in cooperation with Mexico and Canada . So once teams have qualified within the tournament, how do we streamline their ability to cross borders and attend games in other markets later in the tournament? I believe that’s where there will be greater cooperation and some of those discussions are already taking place.”

The answer may simply be additional staff and investment, such as deploying more consular officers at embassies, a method which has helped significantly reduce wait times from Brazil and India over the past year. Congress set aside $50million for the U.S. State Department to “reduce passport backlogs and reduce visa wait times” in a bill signed into law by U.S. President Joe Biden in March but it was not specified how and where the money will be invested.

There is a precedent for visa issues causing delays at major international sporting events in the United States. Kenya’s Ferdinand Omanyala, who set the African 100metres record of 9.77 seconds in 2021, only received his visa documentation the day before the men’s 100 metres heats began at the World Athletics Championships in Eugene, Oregon in 2022.

After securing his visa in Kenya, he took a five-hour flight to Qatar, endured a six-hour layover, then a 14-hour flight to Seattle, another three-hour layover and last of all, a one-hour flight to Oregon. He landed at 4.15 pm and immediately went to the track, where the heats commenced at 6.50pm.

The sprinter said: “If you are hosting a championship, you need to waive (visa requirements) for athletes. It’s a lesson for the host country in the future, and the U.S. is hosting the Olympics in 2028 (in Los Angeles), so they need to learn from this and do better next time.”

Murphy added: “There were hundreds of athletes who were unable to travel. The World Athletics Championships was was a relatively small event compared to the magnitude of what we’re talking about with the 48-team World Cup and the millions and millions of people involved, in terms of what needs to happen.”

Playing rosters are usually only approved in the final months before a tournament, but the U.S. is expected to expedite processing to ensure players and support staff from federations are able to arrive in time for the World Cup.

The U.S. Department of State attributes the issues at World Athletics to the pressures felt by consular officers coming out of the pandemic and told The Athletic that wait times for “P-visas”, generally used by members of professional sports teams coming to participate in athletic competitions, are “low worldwide”.

Murphy said the National Security Council has established a working committee on the matter for the White House but caveated his optimism with a reminder that more instant priorities are Israel, Gaza and Ukraine. He said: “This is not a priority beyond the host cities, FIFA itself and the members of Congress who represent those host cities. But in terms of there being a broad approach that is all-encompassing and has a wide swath of support in Congress, there’s just nothing there. There’s no bills or initiatives in Congress that are focused on this.”

He added: “The conversations that needed to have started a year plus ago are not at a point where they need to be. And when you’re talking about the U.S. Government, it is essentially at a state of standstill in terms of any major movement that needs to happen from now until November of this year (when there is a Presidential election).”

The Department of State insisted it is “committed to facilitating legitimate travel to the United States while maintaining high national security standards.”

Its statement continued: “We are pleased to be an active participant in a working group with FIFA and other stakeholders on plans for the 2026 FIFA World Cup. The Bureau of Consular Affairs recognizes the importance of international inbound tourism, including for mega sporting events such as the FIFA World Cup, and is working tirelessly to facilitate secure travel to the United States. We have significantly reduced visa wait times over the past two years.”

One of the peculiarities of the U.S. political system is that there is no sports ministry to facilitate such discussions. In its absence, Murphy calls for a special envoy to be appointed, with the World Cup likely to be followed by the women’s edition in 2027 before the Olympics in LA in 2028.

He said: “There has to be somebody centralised to organise those conversations. That’s relatively easy to do. If it’s somebody that has the respect and attention of the cabinet agencies, they can have a conversation with Capitol Hill and that’s going to go a long way to getting things done.”

(Top photo: Patrick Smith/FIFA via Getty Images)

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Adam Crafton covers football for The Athletic. He previously wrote for the Daily Mail. In 2018, he was named the Young Sports Writer of the Year by the Sports' Journalist Association. His debut book,"From Guernica to Guardiola", charting the influence of Spaniards in English football, was published by Simon & Schuster in 2018. He is based in London.

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