A visa issued to an immigrant alien within one of the classes described below shall bear an appropriate visa symbol to show the classification of the alien.
Immigrants------------------------------------------------------------------------
Symbol Class Section of law------------------------------------------------------------------------
Immediate Relatives------------------------------------------------------------------------IR1................. Spouse of U.S. Citizen..... 201(b).IR2................. Child of U.S. Citizen...... 201(b).IR3................. Orphan Adopted Abroad by 201(b) &
U.S. Citizen. 101(b)(1)(F).IH3................. Child from Hague Convention 201(b) &
Country Adopted Abroad by 101(b)(1)(G).
U.S. Citizen.IR4................. Orphan to be Adopted in 201(b) &
U.S. by U.S. Citizen. 101(b)(1)(F).IH4................. Child from Hague Convention 201(b) &
Country to be Adopted in 101(b)(1)(G).
U.S. by U.S. Citizen.IR5................. Parent of U.S. Citizen at 201(b).
Least 21 Years of Age.CR1................. Spouse of U.S. Citizen 201(b) & 216.
(Conditional Status).CR2................. Child of U.S. Citizen 201(b) & 216.
(Conditional Status).IW1................. Certain Spouses of Deceased 201(b).
U.S. Citizens.IW2................. Child of IW1............... 201(b).IB1................. Self-petition Spouse of 204(a)(1)(A)(iii).
U.S. Citizen.
IB2................. Self-petition child of U.S. 204(a)(1)(A)(iv).
Citizen.IB3................. Child of IB1............... 204(a)(1)(A)(iii).IB5................. Self-petition Parent of 204(a)(1)(A)(vii)
U.S. Citizen.VI5................. Parent of U.S. Citizen Who 201(b) & sec. 2 of
Acquired Permanent the Virgin Islands
Resident Status Under the Nonimmigrant Alien
Virgin Islands Adjustment Act,
Nonimmigrant Alien (Pub. L. 97-271).
Adjustment Act.------------------------------------------------------------------------
Vietnam Amerasian Immigrants------------------------------------------------------------------------AM1................. Vietnam Amerasian Principal 584(b)(1)(A) of the
Foreign Operations,
Export Financing,
and Related Programs
Appropriations Act,
1988 (as contained
in section 101(e) of
Pub. L. 100-102) as
amended.AM2................. Spouse or Child of AM1..... 584(b)(1)(A) and
584(b)(1)(B) of the
Foreign Operations,
Export Financing,
and Related Programs
Appropriations Act,
1988 (as contained
in section 101(e) of
Public Law 100-102)
as amended.AM3................. Natural Mother of AM1 (and 584(b)(1)(A) and
Spouse or Child of Such 584(b)(1)(C) of the
Mother) or Person Who has Foreign Operations,
Acted in Effect as the Export Financing,
Mother, Father, or Next-of- and Related Programs
Kin of AM1 (and Spouse or Appropriations Act,
Child of Such Person). 1988 (as contained
in section 101(e) of
Public Law 100-102)
as amended.------------------------------------------------------------------------
Special Immigrants------------------------------------------------------------------------SB1................. Returning Resident......... 101(a)(27)(A).SC1................. Person Who Lost U.S. 101(a)(27)(B) &
Citizenship by Marriage. 324(a).SC2................. Person Who Lost U.S. 101(a)(27)(B) & 327.
Citizenship by Serving in
Foreign Armed Forces.SI1................. Certain Aliens Employed by Section 1059 of Pub.
the U.S. Government in L. 109-163 as
Iraq or Afghanistan as amended by Pub. L.
Translators or 110-36.
Interpreters.SI2................. Spouse of SI1.............. Section 1059 of Pub.
L. 109-163 as
amended by Pub. L.
110-36.SI3................. Child of SI1............... Section 1059 of Pub.
L. 109-163 as
amended by Pub. L.
110-36.SM1................. Alien Recruited Outside the 101(a)(27)(K).
United States Who Has
Served or is Enlisted to
Serve in the U.S. Armed
Forces for 12 Years.SM2................. Spouse of SM1.............. 101(a)(27)(K).SM3................. Child of SM1............... 101(a)(27)(K).SQ1................. Certain Iraqis or Afghans Section 602(b),
Employed by or on Behalf Division F, Title
of the U.S. Government. VI, Omnibus
Appropriations Act
of 2009, Pub. L. 111-
8 and Section 1244
of Pub. L. 110-181.SQ2................. Spouse of SQ1.............. Section 602(b),
Division F, Title
VI, Omnibus
Appropriations Act
of 2009, Pub. L. 111-
8 and Section 1244
of Pub. L. 110-181.SQ3................. Child of SQ1............... Section 602(b),
Division F, Title
VI, Omnibus
Appropriations Act
of 2009, Pub. L. 111-
8 and Section 1244
of Pub. L. 110-181.SU2................. Spouse of U1............... INA 245(m)(3) & INA
101(a)(15)(U)(ii).SU3................. Child of U1................ INA 245(m)(3) & INA
101(a)(15)(U)(ii).SU5................. Parent of U1............... INA 245(m)(3) & INA
101(a)(15)(U)(ii).------------------------------------------------------------------------
Family-Sponsored Preferences------------------------------------------------------------------------
Family 1st Preference------------------------------------------------------------------------F11................. Unmarried Son or Daughter 203(a)(1).
of U.S. Citizen.F12................. Child of F11............... 203(d) & 203(a)(1).B11................. Self-petition Unmarried Son 204(a)(1)(A)(iv) &
or Daughter of U.S. 203(a)(1).
Citizen.B12................. Child of B11............... 203(d),
204(a)(1)(A)(iv) &
203(a)(1).------------------------------------------------------------------------
Family 2nd Preference (Subject to Country Limitations)------------------------------------------------------------------------F21................. Spouse of Lawful Permanent 203(a)(2)(A).
Resident.F22................. Child of Lawful Permanent 203(a)(2)(A).
Resident.F23................. Child of F21 or F22........ 203(d) &
203(a)(2)(A).F24................. Unmarried Son or Daughter 203(a)(2)(B).
of Lawful Permanent
Resident.F25................. Child of F24............... 203(d) &
203(a)(2)(B).C21................. Spouse of Lawful Permanent 203(a)(2)(A) & 216.
Resident (Conditional).C22................. Child of Alien Resident 203(a)(2)(A) & 216.
(Conditional).C23................. Child of C21 or C22 203(d) & 203(a)(2)(A)
(Conditional). & 216.C24................. Unmarried Son or Daughter 203(a)(2)(B) & 216.
of Lawful Permanent
Resident (Conditional).C25................. Child of F24 (Conditional). 203(d) & 203(a)(2)(B)
& 216.B21................. Self-petition Spouse of 204(a)(1)(B)(ii).
Lawful Permanent Resident.B22................. Self-petition Child of 204(a)(1)(B)(iii).
Lawful Permanent Resident.B23................. Child of B21 or B22........ 203(d) &
204(a)(1)(B)(ii).B24................. Self-petition Unmarried Son 204(a)(1)(B)(iii).
or Daughter of Lawful
Permanent Resident.B25................. Child of B24............... 203(d) &
204(a)(1)(B)(iii).------------------------------------------------------------------------
Family 2nd Preference (Exempt from Country Limitations)------------------------------------------------------------------------FX1................. Spouse of Lawful Permanent 202(a)(4)(A) &
Resident. 203(a)(2)(A).FX2................. Child of Lawful Permanent 202(a)(4)(A) &
Resident. 203(a)(2)(A).FX3................. Child of FX1 or FX2........ 202(a)(4)(A) &
203(a)(2)(A) &
203(d).CX1................. Spouse of Lawful Permanent 202(a)(4)(A) &
Resident (Conditional). 203(a)(2)(A) & 216.CX2................. Child of Lawful Permanent 202(a)(4)(A) &
Resident (Conditional). 203(a)(2)(A) & 216.CX3................. Child of CX1 or CX2 202(a)(4)(A) &
(Conditional). 203(a)(2)(A) &
203(d) & 216.BX1................. Self-petition Spouse of 204(a)(1)(B)(ii).
Lawful Permanent Resident.BX2................. Self-petition Child of 204(a)(1)(B)(iii).
Lawful Permanent Resident.BX3................. Child of BX1 or BX2........ 204(a)(1)(B)(ii) &
203(d).------------------------------------------------------------------------
Family 3rd Preference------------------------------------------------------------------------F31................. Married Son or Daughter of 203(a)(3).
U.S. Citizen.F32................. Spouse of F31.............. 203(d) & 203(a)(3).F33................. Child of F31............... 203(d) & 203(a)(3).C31................. Married Son or Daughter of 203(a)(3) & 216.
U.S. Citizen (Conditional).C32................. Spouse of C31 (Conditional) 203(d) & 203(a)(3) &
216.C33................. Child of C31 (Conditional). 203(d) & 203(a)(3) &
216.B31................. Self-petition Married Son 204(a)(1)(A)(iv) &
or Daughter of U.S. 203(a)(3).
Citizen.B32................. Spouse of B31.............. 203(d),
204(a)(1)(A)(iv) &
203(a)(3).B33................. Child of B31............... 203(d),
204(a)(1)(A)(iv) &
203(a)(3).------------------------------------------------------------------------
Family 4th Preference------------------------------------------------------------------------F41................. Brother or Sister of U.S. 203(a)(4).
Citizen at Least 21 Years
of Age.F42................. Spouse of F41.............. 203(d) & 203(a)(4).F43................. Child of F41............... 203(d) & 203(a)(4).------------------------------------------------------------------------
Employment-Based Preferences
Employment 1st Preference (Priority Workers)------------------------------------------------------------------------E11................. Alien with Extraordinary 203(b)(1)(A).
Ability.E12................. Outstanding Professor or 203(b)(1)(B).
Researcher.E13................. Multinational Executive or 203(b)(1)(C).
Manager.E14................. Spouse of E11, E12, or E13. 203(d) & 203(b)(1)(A)
& 203(b)(1)(B) &
203(b)(1)(C).E15................. Child of E11, E12, or E13.. 203(d) & 203(b)(1)(A)
& 203(b)(1)(B) &
203(b)(1)(C).------------------------------------------------------------------------
Employment 2nd Preference (Professionals Holding Advanced Degrees or
Persons of Exceptional Ability)------------------------------------------------------------------------E21................. Professional Holding 203(b)(2).
Advanced Degree or Alien
of Exceptional Ability.E22................. Spouse of E21.............. 203(d) & 203(b)(2).E23................. Child of E21............... 203(d) & 203(b)(2).------------------------------------------------------------------------
Employment 3rd Preference (Skilled Workers, Professionals, and Other
Workers)------------------------------------------------------------------------E31................. Skilled Worker............. 203(b)(3)(A)(i).E32................. Professional Holding 203(b)(3)(A)(ii).
Baccalaureate Degree.E34................. Spouse of E31 or E32....... 203(d) &
203(b)(3)(A)(i) &
203(b)(3)(A)(ii).
E35................. Child of E31 or E32........ 203(d) &
203(b)(3)(A)(i) &
203(b)(3)(A)(ii).EW3................. Other Worker (Subgroup 203(b)(3)(A)(iii).
Numerical Limit).EW4................. Spouse of EW3.............. 203(d) &
203(b)(3)(A)(iii).EW5................. Child of EW3............... 203(d) &
203(b)(3)(A)(iii).------------------------------------------------------------------------
Employment 4th Preference (Certain Special Immigrants)------------------------------------------------------------------------BC1................. Broadcaster in the U.S. 101(a)(27)(M) &
employed by the 203(b)(4).
International Broadcasting
Bureau of the Broadcasting
Board of Governors or a
grantee of such
organization.BC2................. Accompanying spouse of BC1. 101(a)(27)(M) &
203(b)(4).BC3................. Accompanying child of BC1.. 101(a)(27)(M) &
203(b)(4).SD1................. Minister of Religion....... 101(a)(27)(C)(ii)(I)
& 203(b)(4).SD2................. Spouse of SD1.............. 101(a)(27)(C)(ii)(I)
& 203(b)(4).SD3................. Child of SD1............... 101(a)(27)(C)(ii)(I)
& 203(b)(4).SE1................. Certain Employees or Former 101(a)(27)(D) &
Employees of the U.S. 203(b)(4).
Government Abroad.SE2................. Spouse of SE1.............. 101(a)(27)(D) &
203(b)(4).SE3................. Child of SE1............... 101(a)(27)(D) &
203(b)(4).SF1................. Certain Former Employees of 101(a)(27)(E) & 203
the Panama Canal Company (b)(4).
or Canal Zone Government.SF2................. Spouse or Child of SF1..... 101(a)(27)(E) & 203
(b)(4).SG1................. Certain Former Employees of 101(a)(27)(F) & 203
(4).SG1................. Certain Former Employees of 101(a)(27)(F) & 203
the U.S. Government in the (b)(4).
Panama Canal Zone.SG2................. Spouse or Child of SG1..... 101(a)(27)(F) & 203
(b)(4).SH1................. Certain Former Employees of 101(a)(27)(G) & 203
(4).SH1................. Certain Former Employees of 101(a)(27)(G) & 203
the Panama Canal Company (b)(4).
or Canal Zone Government
on April 1, 1979.SH2................. Spouse or Child of SH1..... 101(a)(27)(G) &
203(b)(4).SJ1................. Certain Foreign Medical 101(a)(27)(H).
Graduates (Adjustments
Only).SJ2................. Accompanying Spouse or 101(a)(27)(H) &
Child of SJ1. 203(b)(4).SK1................. Certain Retired 101(a)(27)(I)(iii) &
International Organization 203(b)(4).
employees.SK2................. Spouse of SK1.............. 101(a)(27)(I)(iv) &
203(b)(4).SK3................. Certain Unmarried Sons or 101(a)(27)(I)(i) &
Daughters of an 203(b)(4).
International Organization
Employee.SK4................. Certain Surviving Spouses 101(a)(27)(I)(ii) &
of a deceased 203(b)(4).
International Organization
Employee.SL1................. Juvenile Court Dependent 101(a)(27)(J) &
(Adjustment Only). 203(b)(4).SN1................. Certain retired NATO6 101(a)(27)(L) &
civilians. 203(b)(4).SN2................. Spouse of SN1.............. 101(a)(27)(L) &
203(b)(4).SN3................. Certain unmarried sons or 101(a)(27)(L) &
daughters of NATO6 203(b)(4).
civilian employees.SN4................. Certain surviving spouses 101(a)(27)(L) &
of deceased NATO6 civilian 203(b)(4).
employees.SP.................. Alien Beneficiary of a Section 421 of Public
petition or labor Law 107-56.
certification application
filed prior to September
11, 2001, if the petition
or application was
rendered void due to a
terrorist act of September
11, 2001. Spouse, child of
such alien, or the
grandparent of a child
orphaned by a terrorist
act of September 11, 2001.SR1................. Certain Religious Workers.. 101(a)(27)(C)(ii)(II)
& (III) as amended,
& 203(b)(4).SR2................. Spouse of SR1.............. 101(a)(27)(C)(ii)(II)
& (III) as amended,
& 203(b)(4).SR3................. Child of SR1............... 101(a)(27)(C)(ii)(II)
& (III) as amended,
& 203(b)(4).------------------------------------------------------------------------
Employment 5th Preference (Employment Creation Conditional Status)------------------------------------------------------------------------C51................. Employment Creation OUTSIDE 203(b)(5)(A).
Targeted Areas.C52................. Spouse of C51.............. 203(d) &
203(b)(5)(A).C53................. Child of C51............... 203(d) &
203(b)(5)(A).T51................. Employment Creation IN 203(b)(5)(B).
Targeted Rural/High
Unemployment Area.T52................. Spouse of T51.............. 203(d) & 203
(b)(5)(B).T53................. Child of T51............... 203(d) &
(5)(B).T53................. Child of T51............... 203(d) &
203(b)(5)(B).R51................. Investor Pilot Program, Not 203(b)(5) & Sec. 610
in Targeted Area. of the Departments
of Commerce,
Justice, and State,
the Judiciary and
Related Agencies
Appropriations Act,
1993 (Pub. L. 102-
395), as amended.
R52................. Spouse of R51.............. 203(d) & 203(b)(5) &
Sec. 610 of the
Departments of
Commerce, Justice,
and State, the
Judiciary and
Related Agencies
Appropriations Act,
1993 (Pub. L. 102-
395), as amended.R53................. Child of R51............... 203(d) & 203(b)(5) &
Sec. 610 of the
Departments of
Commerce, Justice,
and State, the
Judiciary and
Related Agencies
Appropriations Act,
1993 (Pub. L. 102-
395), as amended.I51................. Investor Pilot Program, in 203(b)(5) & Sec. 610
Targeted Area. of the Departments
of Commerce,
Justice, and State,
the Judiciary and
Related Agencies
Appropriations Act,
1993 (Pub. L. 102-
395), as amended.I52................. Spouse of I51.............. 203(d) & 203(b)(5) &
Sec. 610 of the
Departments of
Commerce, Justice,
and State, the
Judiciary and
Related Agencies
Appropriations Act,
1993 (Pub. L. 102-
395), as amended.I53................. Child of I51............... 203(d) & 203(b)(5) &
Sec. 610 of the
Departments of
Commerce, Justice,
and State, the
Judiciary and
Related Agencies
Appropriations Act,
1993 (Pub. L. 102-
395), as amended.------------------------------------------------------------------------
Other Numerically Limited Categories
Diversity Immigrants------------------------------------------------------------------------DV1................. Diversity Immigrant........ 203(c).DV2................. Spouse of DV1.............. 203(d) & 203(c).DV3................. Child of DV1............... 203(d) & 203(c).------------------------------------------------------------------------ [74 FR 61521, Nov. 25, 2009, as amended at 79 FR 32482, June 5, 2014]