What is the Difference Between an Immigrant and a Nonimmigrant?
Immigrants are those who want to move to the U.S. on a permanent basis. Nonimmigrants, on the other hand are foreign nationals who wish to come to the U.S. for a specific purpose and stay here for a certain period of time.
To come to the U.S., you will need to get a visa. If you wish to get a permanent resident card or a green card and make the U.S. your permanent home, you will need to get an immigrant visa. Immigrant visas will be issued to people who have approved immigrant petitions based on a family or work relationship and who wish to live here permanently.
If you just seek to work here for a few years, visit the country for few months, seek medical attention or study here, you can go for a nonimmigrant visa. Nonimmigrant visas differ and they range from travel to work visas. Nonimmigrants will also be allowed to switch their status to that of an immigrant, in some cases.
Check out our immigration blog for more immigration facts!