Skip to main content

Volume 2 - Nonimmigrants

Resources

Legal Authorities

59 FR 41818 - Temporary Alien Workers Seeking H-1B, O, and P Classifications Under the Immigration and Nationality Act--Correction

8 CFR 103.2(a)(1) - Submission and adjudication of benefit requests

8 CFR 103.2(b)(19) - Notification

8 CFR 103.2(b)(8) - Request for Evidence

8 CFR 103.3 - Denials, appeals, and precedent decisions

8 CFR 103.3(a)(2) - AAO appeals

8 CFR 103.5(a)(1)(ii) - Jurisdiction

8 CFR 214.1 - Requirements for admission, extension, and maintenance of status

8 CFR 214.1(c)(5) - Decision in Form I-129 or I-539 extension proceedings

8 CFR 214.1(l)(2) - Period of stay

8 CFR 214.2(h)(1) - Temporary employees

8 CFR 214.2(h)(1)(ii)(E) - H-3 definition

8 CFR 214.2(h)(10) - Denial of petitions

8 CFR 214.2(h)(11) - Revocation of an approved H petition

8 CFR 214.2(h)(12) - Appeal of a denial or a revocation of a petition

8 CFR 214.2(h)(13) - Admission of H beneficiaries

8 CFR 214.2(h)(13)(i)(B) - Admission and allowable periods of stay for H workers

8 CFR 214.2(h)(14) - Extension of H visa petition validity

8 CFR 214.2(h)(15)(ii)(D) - Extension of H-3 stay 

8 CFR 214.2(h)(16)(ii) - Effect of approval of a permanent labor certification or filing of a preference petition on H classification

8 CFR 214.2(h)(17) - Effect of a strike

8 CFR 214.2(h)(2) - Petition for temporary employees

8 CFR 214.2(h)(7) - H-3 regulations

8 CFR 214.2(h)(8)(i)(D) - H-3 numerical limitations on special education exchange visitors

8 CFR 214.2(h)(9) - Petitions for temporary workers

8 CFR 214.2(h)(9)(iii)(C) - Validity of approved H-3 petitions and H-4 dependent(s)

8 CFR 214.2(h)(9)(iv) - Validity of approved H-3 petitions and H-4 spouse and dependent(s)

8 CFR 214.2(i) - Representatives of information media

8 CFR 214.2(o) - Special requirements for admission, extension, and maintenance of status (aliens of extraordinary ability or achievement)

8 CFR 214.2(o)(1)(i) - Aliens of extraordinary ability or achievement

8 CFR 214.2(o)(1)(ii)(A)(1) - Description of classifications, extraordinary ability

8 CFR 214.2(o)(1)(ii)(A)(2) - Description of classifications, extraordinary achievement

8 CFR 214.2(o)(1)(ii)(B) - O2 classification

8 CFR 214.2(o)(10) - Admission

8 CFR 214.2(o)(12)(ii) - Extension period

8 CFR 214.2(o)(13) - Effect of approval of a permanent labor certification or filing of a preference petition on O classification

8 CFR 214.2(o)(16) - Return transportation requirement

8 CFR 214.2(o)(2) - Filing of petitions

8 CFR 214.2(o)(2)(ii)(C) - Evidence required to accompany a petition

8 CFR 214.2(o)(2)(iv) - Other filing situations

8 CFR 214.2(o)(2)(iv)(B) - Services for more than one employer

8 CFR 214.2(o)(3)(ii) - Definitions

8 CFR 214.2(o)(3)(iii) - Evidentiary criteria for an O-1 alien of extraordinary ability in the fields of science, education, business, or athletics

8 CFR 214.2(o)(3)(iv) - Evidentiary criteria for an O-1 alien of extraordinary ability in the arts

8 CFR 214.2(o)(3)(v) - Evidentiary criteria for an alien of extraordinary achievement in the motion picture or television industry

8 CFR 214.2(o)(4) - Petition for an O-2 accompanying alien

8 CFR 214.2(o)(5) - Consultation

8 CFR 214.2(o)(6)(iii) - Approval and validity of petition

8 CFR 214.2(o)(6)(iv) - Approval and validity of petition

8 CFR 214.2(o)(7) - Notification of Decision

8 CFR 214.2(o)(8)(ii) - Automatic Revocation

8 CFR 214.2(o)(9)(ii) - Appeal of Revocation

8 CFR 214.2(p) - Artists, athletes, and entertainers

8 CFR 214.2(q) - Cultural visitors

8 CFR 214.2(q)(1)(iii) - Definitions

8 CFR 214.2(q)(11)(ii) - Wages and working conditions

8 CFR 214.2(q)(2)(ii) - Limitation on admission

8 CFR 214.2(q)(3)(iii)(B) - Cultural component

8 CFR 214.2(q)(3)(iii)(C) - Work component

8 CFR 214.2(q)(3)(iv) - Requirements for international cultural exchange visitors

8 CFR 214.2(q)(4)(i)(A) - Supporting documentation

8 CFR 214.2(q)(4)(i)(B), (C), (D), and (E) - Supporting documentation

8 CFR 214.2(q)(4)(i)(C) - Supporting documentation

8 CFR 214.2(q)(4)(ii)(A) - Supporting documentation

8 CFR 214.2(q)(4)(ii)(B) - Supporting documentation

8 CFR 214.2(q)(5)(i) - Filing of petitions, General

8 CFR 214.2(q)(5)(ii) - Petitions for multiple participants

8 CFR 214.2(q)(5)(iii) - Service, labor, or training in more than one location

8 CFR 214.2(q)(5)(iv) - Service, labor, or training for more than one employer

8 CFR 214.2(q)(5)(v) - Change of employers

8 CFR 214.2(q)(6) - Substitution or replacements of participants in an international cultural exchange visitor program

8 CFR 214.2(q)(7)(iii) - Approval of petition for international cultural exchange visitor program

8 CFR 214.2(q)(7)(iv) - Approval of petition for international cultural exchange visitor program

8 CFR 214.2(q)(8)(i) - Notice of denial

8 CFR 214.2(q)(9)(ii) - Automatic revocation

8 CFR 214.2(q)(9)(iii) - Revocation on notice

8 CFR 214.2(q)(9)(iv) - Notice and decision

8 CFR 214.2(q)(9)(v) - Appeal of a revocation of a petition

8 CFR 214.2(r) - Religious workers

8 CFR 248.1(a) - Change of Nonimmigrant Classification-General

8 CFR 248.1(b) - Timely filing and maintenance of status

8 CFR 248.3(a) - Requests by petitioners

8 CFR 248.3(g) - Denial of application

8 CFR 274a.12 - Classes of aliens authorized to accept employment

INA 101(a)(15)(H)(iii) - Definition of H-3

INA 101(a)(15)(I) - Representatives of foreign media

INA 101(a)(15)(O) - Extraordinary ability in arts or athletics

INA 101(a)(15)(P) - Extraordinary ability in arts or athletics as part of a group

INA 101(a)(15)(Q) - Definition of Q nonimmigrant classification

INA 101(a)(15)(R) - Definition of R nonimmigrant classification

INA 101(a)(46) - Definition of “extraordinary ability” in the arts

INA 204(i) - Definition of Professional Athlete

INA 214(a)(2)(B) - Admission (Stay)

INA 214(b) - Temporary employees

INA 214(c) - Admission of nonimmigrants

INA 214(c)(1) - Importing Employer

INA 214(c)(4) - Petition of Importing Employer

INA 214(c)(5)(B) - Return Transportation

INA 214(c)(6) - Consultation Requirement

INA 248(a) - Change of nonimmigrant classification

Pub. L. 102-110 (PDF) - Armed Forces Immigration Adjustment Act of 1991

Pub. L. 109-463 (PDF) - COMPETE Act of 2006

Appendices

Appendix: Summary of Nonimmigrant Categories Subject to Public Benefits Condition

Updates

POLICY ALERT - Nonimmigrant Cultural Visitor (Q) Visa Classification

U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS) is issuing policy guidance in the USCIS Policy Manual regarding the nonimmigrant cultural visitor visa classification, commonly known as the “Q” visa category.

Read More
Technical Update - Incorporating Existing Guidance into the Policy Manual

This technical update is part of an initiative to move existing policy guidance from the Adjudicator’s Field Manual (AFM) into the Policy Manual. This update does not make major substantive changes but consolidates and incorporates existing AFM guidance into the Policy Manual, streamlining USCIS’ immigration policy while removing obsolete information. This guidance replaces Chapter 33 of the AFM, related appendices, and policy memoranda.

POLICY ALERT - O Nonimmigrant Visa Classification

U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS) is issuing policy guidance in the USCIS Policy Manual to update and consolidate guidance related to O nonimmigrant classifications.

Read More
POLICY ALERT - Fee Schedule and Changes to Certain Other Immigration Benefit Request Requirements Final Rule

U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS) is revising its policy guidance in the USCIS Policy Manual to align with the Fee Schedule and Changes to Certain Other Immigration Benefit Request Requirements Final Rule, published in the Federal Register on August 3, 2020. This guidance becomes effective October 2, 2020. For information regarding implementation, see our litigation summary.

Read More
Technical Update - Moving the Adjudicator’s Field Manual Content into the USCIS Policy Manual

U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS) is updating and incorporating relevant Adjudicator’s Field Manual (AFM) content into the USCIS Policy Manual. As that process is ongoing, USCIS has moved any remaining AFM content to its corresponding USCIS Policy Manual Part, in PDF format, until relevant AFM content has been properly incorporated into the USCIS Policy Manual. To the extent that a provision in the USCIS Policy Manual conflicts with remaining AFM content or Policy Memoranda, the updated information in the USCIS Policy Manual prevails. To find remaining AFM content, see the crosswalk (PDF) between the AFM and the Policy Manual.

Technical Update - Incorporating Existing Guidance into the Policy Manual

This technical update is part of an initiative to move existing policy guidance from the Adjudicator’s Field Manual (AFM) into the Policy Manual. This update does not make major substantive changes but consolidates and incorporates existing AFM guidance into the Policy Manual, streamlining USCIS’ immigration policy while removing obsolete information. This guidance replaces Chapters 1, 3.4, 10.2, 10.3(a), 10.3(c), 10.3(e), 10.3(i), 10.4, 10.22, 11.1(c), 13, 14, 17, 23.8, 31.7, 33.10, 34.5, 35, 41.6, 42, 44, 56.1, 56.3, 56.4, 62, 81, 82, 83.1, 83.2, and 83.3 of the AFM, related appendices, and policy memoranda.

POLICY ALERT - Implementation of Guidance on Inadmissibility on Public Charge Grounds

This update incorporates into Volumes 2, 8, and 12 policy guidance that U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS) announced February 5, 2020, implementing the Inadmissibility of Public Charge Grounds Final Rule. This guidance is in effect as of February 24, 2020 and applies nationwide to all applications and petitions postmarked on or after that date. Certain classes of aliens are exempt from the public charge ground of inadmissibility (such as refugees, asylees, certain VAWA self-petitioners, U petitioners, and T applicants) and therefore, are not subject to the Final Rule. For more information about the classes of aliens who are exempt from the Final Rule, see the appendices related to applicability. For information on related litigation affecting implementation, see our page on the injunction.

Read More
POLICY ALERT - Public Charge Ground of Inadmissibility

U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS) is issuing guidance in the USCIS Policy Manual to address the final rule on the public charge ground of inadmissibility. This policy guidance is effective on February 24, 2020, and will apply to all applicants and petitioners filing applications and petitions for adjustment of status, extension of stay, and change of status, except for applicants and petitioners in the State of Illinois, whose cases will be adjudicated under prior policy, including the 1999 Interim Field Guidance (PDF) and AFM Ch. 61.1. For additional information, see Public Charge Inadmissibility Determinations in Illinois. Certain classes of aliens are exempt from the public charge ground of inadmissibility (such as refugees, asylees, certain VAWA self-petitioners, U petitioners, and T applicants) and therefore, are not subject to the Inadmissibility on Public Charge Grounds final rule. For more information about the classes of aliens who are exempt from the final rule, see the appendices related to applicability.

Read More
Technical Update - Replacing the Term “Foreign National”

This technical update replaces all instances of the term “foreign national” with “alien” throughout the Policy Manual as used to refer to a person who meets the definition provided in INA 101(a)(3) [“any person not a citizen or national of the United States”].

POLICY ALERT - Media Representatives (I) Nonimmigrant Visa Classification

U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS) is issuing policy guidance regarding the foreign information media representative nonimmigrant visa classification, commonly known as the “I” visa category.

Read More
POLICY ALERT - Nonimmigrant Trainees (H-3)

U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS) is issuing policy guidance on the trainees (H-3) nonimmigrant visa category.  

Read More