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Update May 10, 2024

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The purpose of your intended travel and other facts will determine what type of visa is required under U.S. immigration law. As a visa applicant, you will need to establish that you meet all requirements to receive the category of visa for which you are applying. When you apply at a U.S embassy or consulate, a consular officer will determine based on laws, whether you are eligible to receive a visa, and if so, which visa category is appropriate.

Nonimmigrant Visa Categories

The chart below contains many different purposes of temporary travel and the related nonimmigrant visa categories available on this website. Select a visa category below to learn more:

*What the abbreviations above mean  - Before applying for a visa at a U.S. embassy or consulate, the following is required:

• DOL = The U.S. employer must obtain foreign labor certification from the U.S. Department of Labor, prior to filing a petition with USCIS.
• USCIS = U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS) approval of a petition or application (The required petition or application depends on the visa category you plan to apply for.)
• SEVIS = Program approval entered in the Student and Exchange Visitor Information System (SEVIS)
• (NA) = Not Applicable - Additional approval by another U.S. government agency is not required prior to applying for a visa

Important Notes:

• About this chart – It is not a complete list of all travel purposes for the visa category. Select a visa category webpage for more information. The chart lists almost all nonimmigrant visa categories, with the exception of several not listed above. Refer to the Foreign Affairs Manual, 9 FAM 402.1  for all nonimmigrant visa categories.
• Canadian NAFTA Professional workers – A visa not required; apply to U.S. Customs and Border Protection (CBP) at border port of entry.
• K nonimmigrant visas – For U.S. citizen fiancé(e) and spouse for immigration related purposes. Refer to Immigrant Visa Categories .

Immigrant Visa Categories

The chart below contains different purposes for immigrating to the United States, and the related immigrant visa categories for which information is available on this website. Select a visa category below to learn more:

* K Visas – Listed with immigrant visas because they are for immigration related purposes.

About this chart - This chart is a list of many immigrant visa categories, but not every immigrant visa category.

** Refer to the Foreign Affairs Manual, 9 FAM 502.1  for a listing of all immigrant visa categories.

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Temporary residents: Diplomatic and official visas

This section contains policy, procedures and guidance used by IRCC staff. It is posted on the department’s website as a courtesy to stakeholders.

Diplomatic, official and courtesy visas, although not equivalent to the right of entry into Canada, are nonetheless the only evidence of Canada’s consent to official visits by foreign officials. That consent, under international and domestic law, is a condition of granting diplomatic, consular or official (functional) privileges and immunities (or courtesies), as soon as the holder sets foot on Canadian soil or during transit. Although holders of diplomatic visas are, in principle, exempt from immigration and customs inspection on entry into Canada, they are subject to mandatory security checks at Canadian airports.

Diplomatic, official and similar passports issued by the country of which the foreign national is a citizen or national are only travel documents and do not in themselves determine the type of visa that should be granted.

On this page

When diplomatic and official travellers do not require a temporary resident visa (trv) or electronic travel authorization (eta) and are not required to provide biometrics.

• People travelling to Canada to assume a diplomatic posting (accreditation in Canada)

Who is entitled to diplomatic, official and courtesy visas?

• Criteria for diplomatic and official visas

Documents to be submitted

Authority for issuance, issuance of visas, summary of procedures for diplomatic and official visas.

Persons travelling with diplomatic, official or similar passports do not require temporary resident visas, biometric information collection or an electronic travel authorization if they:

• hold a passport that contains a diplomatic Acceptance, a consular Acceptance or an official Acceptance issued by the Chief of Protocol for Global Affairs Canada (GAC) on behalf of the Government of Canada; and
• are properly accredited diplomats, consular officers, representatives or officials of a country other than Canada, of the United Nations or an agency thereof, or of any international organization of which Canada is a member [R190(2)(a)].

Diplomats from visa-required, biometric and electronic travel authorization (eTA)-required countries holding a passport that contains a diplomatic acceptance, a consular acceptance or an official acceptance issued by the Chief of Protocol for GAC will be exempt from temporary resident visa, biometric information collection and eTA requirements.

People travelling to Canada to assume a diplomatic posting (accreditation in Canada):

All foreign officials travelling to Canada to assume diplomatic positions for which an acceptance has not yet been issued should apply for a temporary resident visa (TRV) before travelling to Canada, whether they are from an eTA-required country or a visa-required country. Holders of a diplomatic or official visa wishing to take up their diplomatic/consular functions in Canada (i.e. at the time of first installation) will normally benefit from a multiple-entry visa, for up to three (3) months. Some exceptions may apply. Such multiple-entry diplomatic or official visas must not be issued without specific authorization from the Office of Protocol of GAC.

Notwithstanding the above, diplomatic visas can be issued to facilitate travel for eligible visa- and eTA-required foreign officials, as they offer evidence of Canada’s consent to official visits by foreign officials. There is no processing fee for diplomatic visas.

TRVs are the only indication to Border Services Officers in Canada that the passport holder, in Canada's view, may be entitled to diplomatic, consular or official privileges and immunities and recognized under the Foreign Missions and International Organizations Act (FMIOA).

Diplomatic visas

Diplomatic visas may be granted to persons entitled, under international and domestic law, to diplomatic or consular (and similar) privileges and immunities, who intend to travel to Canada for an official purpose or to pass through Canada on the way to an assignment in another state and who come within one of the following categories:

• Heads of state or members of organizations entrusted with head-of-state duties and their accompanying family members;
• Heads of government and their accompanying family members, and cabinet ministers of foreign governments;
• Diplomatic agents travelling to or from their diplomatic missions or on a temporary mission to Canada;
• Career consular officers travelling to or from their consular posts or on a temporary mission to Canada;
• Delegates to the international organizations listed in the Temporary Foreign Worker Guidelines including delegates to conferences convened by the latter, with the exception of clerical staff;
• Senior officials (Secretary General, Assistant Secretaries General, and holders of equivalent positions, such as President of the Council of the International Civil Aviation Organization) of the international organizations listed in the Temporary Foreign Worker Guidelines;
• Senior officers (appointed at the P-4 level and above) of the Secretariat of the I.C.A.O.;
• Persons (spouse, father, mother, children) who are recognized as members of the family forming part of the household of either diplomatic agents travelling to or from their diplomatic missions or on a temporary mission to Canada, or of senior officers of the Secretariat of the International Civil Aviation Organization;
• Foreign diplomatic couriers; and
• Special cases, on authorization from Headquarters (Diplomatic Corps Services (XDC)).

U.S. government officials

The following official U.S. government personnel assigned to temporary postings in Canada are not issued diplomatic or official acceptances in Canada and are therefore not eligible for diplomatic visas:

• Department of Homeland Security officers;
• U.S. Customs officers;
• International Joint Commission employees; and
• Inspectors with the Federal Grain Inspection Service of the United States Department of Agriculture and other U.S. government officials in possession of official U.S. government passports and assigned to temporary postings in Canada.

U.S. government employees will be issued work permits under R204 and as such are HRSDC/SC LMO exempt (T10). For more information on the documentation of U.S. government employees, refer to the Temporary Foreign Worker Guidelines.

Official visas

Official visas may be granted to persons entitled, under international and domestic law, to official (functional) privileges and immunities, who intend to travel to, or to pass through, Canada for an official purpose and who come within one of the following categories:

• Members of the administrative and technical staff of diplomatic missions or international organizations; consular staff of consular posts; and service staff of diplomatic missions and consular posts in Canada;
• Officials who hold a diplomatic, official or similar passport, invited by the Government of Canada or a provincial or territorial government for meetings in Canada;
• Other officials or experts on mission, acting on behalf of the international organizations listed in the Temporary Foreign Worker Guidelines, or contractual employees such as translators hired by the United Nations Organization or the International Civil Aviation Organization for their assemblies;
• Persons (spouse, father, mother, children) who are recognized as members of the family forming part of the household of persons listed in section (1) above and of "other officials" indicated in section (2) above;
• Private servants of a member of a diplomatic mission or a consular post, but only after a Household Domestic Worker Employment Agreement (refer to the Temporary Foreign Worker Guidelines) has been submitted by the employer to the diplomatic mission or the consular post or GAC Protocol (XDC); and
• Special cases, on authorization from GAC, Protocol (XDC).

Courtesy visas

Under Canadian law, no person other than those listed above under diplomatic visas or official visas is entitled to diplomatic, consular, or official privileges and immunities. Therefore, all other persons travelling to Canada for the purpose of an official visit, for an international organization or on behalf of a foreign government, other than those situations listed above, may be issued courtesy visas.

Officers may issue a courtesy visa in the interest of bilateral relations.

Courtesy visas may be issued as multiple-entry visas, with a validity period of up to 3 years.

Criteria for diplomatic or official visas

Purpose of a visit.

Diplomatic and official visas are not automatically granted to holders of diplomatic, official or similar passports. The purpose of the visit is the primary factor to be considered in determining whether a diplomatic or official visa should be issued. For that reason, it is essential that a written request in the form of a note be received from the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, a diplomatic mission, or a consular post, bearing a signature or initial(s) and an official stamp and clearly defining the purpose of the visit to Canada.

Official visit

Ambiguous statements, such as "special mission" or "official visit," are not sufficient to justify the issuance of a diplomatic or official visa. The purpose of the visit, as stated in the written request, must clearly be of such an official nature that, insofar as Canada is concerned, it would justify the granting of appropriate privileges and immunities in Canada under domestic law in accordance with the relevant international conventions, headquarters agreements with international organizations, or international customary law.

The following working definition of "special mission" or "official visit" should be used in considering a request for a diplomatic or official visa: such a visa is of a temporary nature by a representative of a state, sent by the latter and consented to by Canada for the purpose of dealing with:

• questions of mutual interest,
• questions pertaining to a diplomatic mission or a consular post of the sending state in Canada, and,
• questions regarding bilateral or multilateral relations with third states or international organizations, including international conferences hosted by Canada.

Examples where diplomatic visas are justified

Examples of situations justifying the issuance of diplomatic visas include:

• a diplomatic agent being assigned to a diplomatic mission in Canada or travelling through Canada on the way to a diplomatic assignment elsewhere;
• an official visit of a head of state or chief administrative officer (Secretary General, Director, or their Assistants) of the international organizations listed in Temporary Foreign Worker Guidelines.

Examples where official visas are justified

Examples of situations justifying the issuance of official visas include:

• support staff assigned to a diplomatic mission or a consular post in Canada or travelling through Canada on the way to a diplomatic mission or a consular post elsewhere;
• officials or experts of the United Nations Organization travelling to Canada on United Nations business. Some purposes that may be "official" to a sending state will not be regarded necessarily as such by Canada, like buying or selling a diplomatic mission on behalf of a governmental agency, or a fund-raising or electioneering visit to an expatriate community in Canada.
• government officials travelling to Canada to conduct business with representatives of the Government of Canada or provincial or territorial governments.

Personal status

An individual's personal status is not normally a primary consideration for the issuance of a diplomatic or official visa (except for heads of state and other relatively rare instances). For instance, a senior official of a foreign government, travelling on a diplomatic passport, should not be issued a diplomatic visa if the individual intends to enter Canada for commercial negotiations with private enterprises, or on a private visit. In that case, the individual would be issued a regular temporary resident visa, if required, or a courtesy visa, if deemed appropriate. Another instance would be a student who is the child of a diplomatic agent serving outside Canada and who enters Canada solely to pursue their studies. If not exempt from a temporary resident visa, that person would need a regular temporary resident visa before entering Canada and may require a study permit as well. This individual would not be entitled to a diplomatic or official visa although they may hold a diplomatic or special passport.

Diplomatic or official visas on an ordinary passport

A diplomatic or official visa may be inserted in an ordinary passport if the purpose of the visit warrants it, such as when a member of a foreign government, travelling on an ordinary passport, enters Canada as a member on an official mission, or when a private citizen (for example, an academic) is included in a state's delegation to a meeting of the International Civil Aviation Organization or a diplomatic conference in Canada.

An officer may issue a diplomatic or official visa only on receipt of one of the following:

• a written request, as above, from the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of the state to which the head of mission or post is accredited, or for which the diplomatic mission or consular post has jurisdiction in visa matters;
• a written request, as above, from a diplomatic mission or a consular post of the state of the applicant's citizenship;
• a written request, as above, by an international organization listed in Temporary Foreign Worker Guidelines in respect of its officials travelling to Canada to carry out official duties; or,
• in the case of persons entering Canada to take employment as officers of the Secretariat of the International Civil Aviation Organization, a letter to the individual concerned constituting an "offer of employment," indicating their official level at the I.C.A.O. and signed by or on behalf of the Secretary General.

With the exception of those cases described below, diplomatic agents, consular officers, or immigration officers may issue diplomatic and official visas without reference to Headquarters. However, if they have the slightest doubt regarding the bona fides of an applicant or their entitlement to a diplomatic or official visa, they should refer the request to the appropriate Immigration, Refugees and Citizenship Canada (IRCC) Geographic division and to GAC Protocol.

Categories requiring consultation with IRCC Geographic and GAC Protocol (XDC)

• Diplomatic agents, consular officers, and immigration officers may not issue diplomatic or official visas to officials of "special category" states without prior consultation.
• Officers should consult whenever there is some doubt or question regarding the issuance of a visa to a person assigned to Canada.
• Officers should consult on all requests for visas for members of diplomatic missions, consular posts, or other offices in Canada not listed in the latest edition of Foreign representatives in Canada . There may be other categories of persons or states where, for a temporary period, authority from headquarters will be required before diplomatic or official visas are granted. When such circumstances arise, Protocol (XDC) or IRCC Geographic will provide specific guidance to diplomatic missions and consular posts on request.

Usefulness of diplomatic, official and courtesy visas

Persons listed in “Who is entitled to diplomatic, official and courtesy visas?” above, who are within the jurisdiction of the diplomatic mission or consular post and who intend to travel to Canada, should be advised to apply for the appropriate visa or eTA, as applicable.

Diplomatic, official, and courtesy visas, although not equivalent to the right of entry into Canada, are nonetheless the only evidence of Canada's consent to official visits by foreign officials. That consent, under international and domestic law, is a condition of the granting of diplomatic, consular, or official (functional) privileges and immunities (or courtesies) as soon as the holder sets foot on Canadian soil or during transit.

Diplomatic, official and courtesy visas are the only indication to Border Services Officers in Canada that the holder, in Canada's view, may be entitled to diplomatic, consular, or official (functional) privileges and immunities (or courtesies). In that connection, the visa coding and the statement made in "purpose of stay" are the essential elements for the issuance of the visas. The possession of an appropriate visa, not the holding of a diplomatic, official or similar passport, is the sole way of ensuring the right processing on arrival in Canada and thereby avoiding unpleasant incidents.

Security checks

Although holders of diplomatic visas are, in principle, exempt from immigration and customs inspection on entry into Canada, they are subject to mandatory security checks at Canadian airports. Officers should apprise holders of diplomatic visas of that requirement whenever possible. If necessary, the persons concerned can obtain more details about that requirement from their own diplomatic missions accredited to Canada.

Multiple-entry visas

The period during which a visa is valid is left to the discretion of the officer. That leeway should not be confused with the requirement on the former visa to show the intended duration of stay.

Generally speaking, diplomats and officials may be issued a multiple-entry visa that is valid for up to 3 years . Some exceptions may apply. This does not apply to foreign officials travelling to Canada to obtain their accreditation in Canada (to assume their diplomatic posting in Canada).

Foreign officials travelling to Canada to obtain their accreditation (to assume their diplomatic posting) are issued a multiple-entry TRV that is valid for 3 months . These applicants should be advised that the duration of the initial entry into Canada is determined by the Canadian official at the border and that the diplomatic mission in Canada should send their passports, along with the required documents, to the Department of Global Affairs, Protocol (XDC), requesting accreditation or recognition. During the validity of the diplomatic or official acceptance, the applicants do not require any other visa to enter Canada.

Multiple-entry diplomatic or official visas must not be issued to persons who are on assignment to Canada without specific authorization from GAC.

Notification to IRCC Geographic Desk and GAC, Protocol

Whenever an officer issues a diplomatic, official, or courtesy visa without prior authorization from Headquarters, but pursuant to standing instructions, and believes the visit would be of interest to Headquarters, they should notify Headquarters of the name and the occupation of the person concerned and the nature and the date of the proposed visit. Notification should be addressed to GAC Protocol and to the appropriate IRCC geographic division and should be marked for distribution to other interested functional divisions or departments. Moreover, the Canadian port of entry should be alerted if that is deemed appropriate.

Areas of concern

Who is entitled to diplomatic or official visas.

• For details refer to Diplomatic or official temporary resident visas .
• In addition, consult the Office of Protocol at GAC. In urgent cases, contact the Immigration Advisor and Liaison Officer

Ports of entry procedures

The Border Service Officer (BSO) will stamp diplomatic or official passports, thereby authorizing entry for a period of six months. Officers will not refer diplomats or officials to secondary examination.

Role of Office of Protocol

• During the six-month period, the person’s foreign mission will forward the passport to the Diplomatic Corps Services Division, Office of Protocol, GAC.
• The Office of Protocol will issue a diplomatic (D), consular (C), official (J) or international (I) acceptance, which indicates that the person is accredited to Canada and entitled to remain in Canada for the duration of their status.

Visa exemption for accredited persons

Once accredited, these persons do not require a temporary resident visa or an eTA to enter Canada.

Spouses, parents and dependent children of diplomats

• People (spouses, fathers, mothers and children) who are recognized as members of the family, forming part of the household, may be granted official visas.
• Diplomats’, consular officers’, representatives’ and officials’ dependent children who are under 19 years of age and considered to be members of the family, forming part of the household, are issued acceptances.
• Children over 19 years of age are issued acceptances only if they are registered as full-time students.
• After turning 25 years of age, dependent children are no longer eligible to receive official acceptance (even if they are still studying) and must change their official status to regular immigration status.

Servants of diplomats

Note: Members of the official service staff are exempt from the same requirements as foreign representatives (diplomats).

Can be one of the following two types:

• Private servants: are issued official (O-1) visas; will receive an official (J) acceptance from the Office of Protocol; will not require a temporary resident visa if they wish to re-enter; do not require a work permit; must undergo a medical examination, and must provide biometric information if from a country or territory whose nationals are required to do so, but are exempt from the biometric fee.
• For guidance on employment requirements for diplomatic servants, refer to Temporary Foreign Worker Guidelines.
• Live-in Caregivers: must meet requirements to be live-in caregivers in Canada; must undergo a medical examination; must provide biometric information if from a country or territory whose nationals are required to do so and must pay the biometric fee; are issued a work permit; do not enjoy any privileges or immunities; require a temporary resident visa to re-enter Canada.

Learn more about the Live-in Caregiver Program in OP14.

Processing fees

There is no processing fee for diplomatic visas .

Medical examinations (exemptions)

The following people are exempt from having to undergo a medical examination, even if they are from countries where one would normally be required:

• diplomatic and consular officials entering for official duties only
• spouses and dependent children of diplomatic and consular officials, unless they intend to work
• members of the armed forces of a country designated under the Visiting Forces Act who are entering for official duties only (see Countries designated for the purposes of the Visiting Forces Act )

Biometric information (exemptions)

• Diplomats and officials and their family members who have been issued a D-1 or O-1 visa are exempt from providing biometric information, even if they are from a country or territory whose nationals are normally required to do so.
• Those issued a courtesy visa are required to provide their biometrics; however, the biometric requirement may be exempted only at the discretion of the Migration Program Manager, in the interest of bilateral relations.
• Holders of diplomatic or official passports who are nationals of a biometric-required country or territory, and who have been issued a regular TRV, are required to provide their biometric information but are exempt from the biometric fee.
• Private servants of diplomats and officials must provide their biometric information if they are nationals of a biometric-required country or territory, but are exempt from the biometric fee if their employer is travelling to Canada on official business.
• Live-in caregivers of diplomats and officials must provide their biometric information when applying for a Temporary resident visa or work permit if they are nationals of a biometric-required country or territory and must pay the biometric fee.

For further information on the biometric requirement, see Biometrics collection and screening .

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Randomized H-2B Group Assignments Sent to Employers Seeking to Hire Temporary Workers

Authors and contacts.

Leonard J. D'Arrigo

Jarrod M. Sharp

More on our practice.

The U.S. Department of Labor recently distributed randomized H-2B group assignments. In the past, there have been a sufficient number of visas reserved for Group A to meet the initial visa cap of 33,000. Group A and Group B have the best chance of getting workers under the initial cap. Any group assignments later than Group B will fall under the supplemental H-2B cap provisions. The good news is that U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services has already pre-authorized the release of these additional visas, like last year.

Although each case is unique, and there is never certainty predicting the future, based on experience from the supplemental distribution last year, some Group B, C, and D applications could receive supplemental returning worker visas. Groups through G may be able to receive country-specific visas. However, processing times at the U.S. Department of Labor may vary, the visa distribution has changed some from last year (5,000 visas reallocated from 5/15 date), and there are additional countries eligible for the country-specific allocation. Also note that workers currently in the U.S. in H-2B status transferring from another employer are exempt from the visa cap.

The April 1 or later supplemental H-2B visas have been divided into the following allocations:

• For start dates of April 1 to May 14: There are 19,000 visas limited to returning workers regardless of country of nationality. (Returning workers received an H-2B visa or were otherwise granted H-2B status during one of the last three fiscal years).
• For start dates of May 15 to Sept. 30: There are 5,000 visas limited to returning workers regardless of country of nationality.
• There are 20,000 visas available for all of FY2024 for nationals of El Salvador, Guatemala, Honduras, Haiti, Colombia, Ecuador, or Costa Rica, regardless of whether they are returning workers. These can be filed 15 days after the initial H-2B cap is reached.

Employers assigned to Group A, will soon receive a Notice of Acceptance (NOA) or Notice of Deficiency (NOD). Once the NOA is issued, there will be U.S. worker recruitment obligations. If an NOD is issued, additional documentation may be needed.

Those employers who want to file petitions under the supplemental visa release, must be prepared to demonstrate they are suffering irreparable harm, or will suffer impending irreparable harm without the ability to employ all of the H-2B workers requested on the petition. There also may be additional recruitment required, such as placing an updated job order with the State Workforce Agency, soliciting the return of former workers, contacting a bargaining representative or posting notice of the job opportunity, notifying current workers, seeking assistance from the local career center, making a website posting, and notifying the local union if the position is customarily unionized.

If you have specific questions about the applications or immigration-related matters, our New York Immigration Practice Group can help. Please reach out to immigration attorney L.J. D’Arrigo at (518) 701-2770 and [email protected] , immigration attorney Jarrod M. Sharp at (518) 701-2783 and [email protected] , or to the Harris Beach attorney with whom you most frequently work.

About Harris Beach’s Temporary and Seasonal Labor Practice

Harris Beach PLLC maintains one of the largest temporary and seasonal visa practices in the country. L.J. D’Arrigo, co-leader of the firm’s Immigration Practice Group, and Jarrod Sharp, Sr. Counsel, are nationally recognized for processing seasonal visas. Our immigration attorneys provide guidance to some of the largest employers in the U.S. across industry sectors, including agriculture, manufacturing, hospitality, construction, landscaping, equine, and others. Our immigration lawyers have assisted in drafting legislation affecting seasonal businesses and currently represent the largest commercial landscaping, tree nursery and home security companies in the nation. We facilitate the processing of more than 10,000 temporary workers through the H-2B and H-2A programs each season. We also have been successful in developing long-term permanent labor solutions for our clients.

Harris Beach attorneys guide employers through every step of the H-2 journey, developing successful strategies and ensuring that your business remains in compliance with the complex maze of government regulations. Contact our H-2 visa team today at [email protected] .

Our Immigration Law Practice Group includes immigration attorneys that work across New York state in our Albany, Buffalo, Ithaca, Long Island, New York City, Rochester and Syracuse offices.

Our immigration lawyers focus on strategies – including immigrant visas for permanent U.S. resident status and temporary visas for foreign nationals – to ensure that companies are able to hire, transfer, and retain the brightest and best non-U.S. talent.

This alert is not a substitute for advice of counsel on specific legal issues.

Harris Beach has offices throughout New York state, including Albany, Buffalo, Ithaca, Long Island, New York City, Rochester, Saratoga Springs, Syracuse and White Plains, as well as Washington D.C., New Haven, Connecticut and Newark, New Jersey.

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Visa Availability and Priority Dates

This page will help you understand how the U.S Department of State (DOS) allocates immigrant visas, the DOS Visa Bulletin process, and specific ways to adjust status depending on your situation.

The Immigration and Nationality Act (INA) sets the number of immigrant visas the U.S. Department of State (DOS) can issue to noncitizens seeking to become lawful permanent residents (get a Green Card) each year.

Immigrant visas for immediate relatives of U.S. citizens are unlimited, so they are always available. Immediate relatives include:

• The spouses of U.S. citizens;
• The children (unmarried and under 21 years of age) of U.S. citizens;
• The parents of U.S. citizens at least 21 years old; and
• Widows or widowers of U.S. citizens if the U.S. citizen filed a petition before they died, or if the widow(er) files a petition within two years of the citizen’s death.

Immigrant visas for the family-sponsored and employment-based immigrant preference categories are numerically limited, so they are not always immediately available. For more information, please see the Green Card Eligibility page.

In general, family-sponsored preference visas are limited to 226,000 visas per year, and employment-based preference visas are limited to 140,000 visas per year. (By statute, these annual visa limits may be exceeded when certain immigrant visas from the previous fiscal year’s allocation were not fully used.) Both categories are divided into several sub-categories, each of which receives a certain percentage of the overall visa numbers as prescribed by law. In addition, there are limits to the percentage of visas that can be allotted based on an immigrant’s country of chargeability (usually the country of birth).

When the demand is higher than the supply of visas for a given year in any given category or country, a visa queue (a waiting list or backlog) forms. To distribute the visas among all preference categories, DOS allocates the visas according to a prospective immigrant’s preference category, country of chargeability, and priority date . DOS uses the priority date to determine an immigrant’s place in the visa queue. When the priority date becomes available, or is “current,” immigrants may be able to apply for adjustment of status (or apply for an immigrant visa with DOS if they are outside the U.S.) and obtain lawful permanent resident status, if otherwise eligible.

We will accept Form I-485, Application to Register Permanent Residence or Adjust Status , from family-sponsored and employment-based adjustment of status preference applicants according to the monthly Visa Bulletin that DOS publishes as a guide for issuing visas at U.S. Consulates and Embassies.

The monthly DOS Visa Bulletin summarizes the availability of immigrant visas according to the:

• Application Final Action Dates chart (consistent with previous Visa Bulletins) and
• Dates for Filing Applications chart indicating when immigrant visa applicants should be notified to assemble and submit required documentation to the National Visa Center.

When we determine there are more immigrant visas available for the fiscal year than there are known applicants, you may use the Dates for Filing Applications chart to determine when to file an adjustment of status application with USCIS. Otherwise, you must use the Application Final Action Dates chart to determine when to file an adjustment of status application with USCIS.

Unless otherwise indicated on our Adjustment of Status Filing Charts for Visa Bulletin webpage, you must use the “Application Final Action Dates” for determining when you can file a Form I-485 with USCIS.

DOS, working with the Department of Homeland Security, revises the Visa Bulletin each month to estimate immigrant visa availability for prospective adjustment of status applicants. If DOS makes any changes to either chart in the Visa Bulletin after publishing it, we will review those changes and determine if any further action is necessary. Check the latest dates for filing adjustment of status applications .

If you are a prospective immigrant, you can find your priority date on Form I-797, Notice of Action , for the petition filed on your behalf. The waiting time before receiving an immigrant visa or adjusting status depends on the :

• Demand for and supply of immigrant visas.
• Per-country visa limitations; and
• Number of visas allocated for your preference category.

For family-sponsored immigrants, the priority date is the date that the Form I-130, Petition for Alien Relative , or in certain instances the Form I-360, Petition for Amerasian, Widow(er), or Special Immigrant , is properly filed with USCIS.

For employment-based immigrants, the priority date depends on the following:

The Visa Bulletin allows you to check your place in the immigrant visa queue. The Visa Bulletin provides the most recent date for when a visa number is available for the different categories and countries for family-sponsored, employment-based, and diversity (lottery) visas.

A visa must be available before you can take one of the final steps in the process of becoming a lawful permanent resident. Because more prospective immigrants want lawful permanent residency than the limited numbers of immigrant visas allow, not everyone can immediately get an immigrant visa. How long you must wait depends on your priority date, preference category, and the country to which the visa will be charged.

If the demand for immigrant visas is more than the supply for a particular category and country of chargeability, DOS considers the category and country “oversubscribed” and must impose a cut-off date to keep the allocation of visas within the statutory limits.

A visa is available to you when your priority date is earlier than the cut-off date shown for your preference category and country of chargeability in the applicable chart in the Visa Bulletin, as described above in the Acceptance of Adjustment of Status Applications section.

For example, if the Visa Bulletin shows a date of 15DEC07 for China in the family preference category (F1), visas are currently available for immigrants who have a priority date earlier than Dec. 15, 2007. Sometimes the demand for immigrant visas is less than the supply in a particular category and country of chargeability. In this situation, the Visa Bulletin shows that category as “C,” meaning that immigrant visas are currently (immediately) available to all qualified adjustment of status applicants and overseas immigrant visa applicants in that particular preference category and country of chargeability.

If the Visa Bulletin shows “U” in a category, this means that immigrant visas are temporarily unavailable to all applicants in that particular preference category and/or country of chargeability.

Sometimes, a priority date that is current one month will not be current the next month, or the cut-off date will move backward to an earlier date. This is called visa retrogression , which occurs when more people apply for a visa in a particular category than there are visas available for that month. Visa retrogression generally occurs when the annual limit for a category or country has been exhausted or is expected to run out soon. When the new fiscal year begins on Oct. 1, a new supply of visa numbers becomes available. Usually, but not always, the new supply returns the cut-off dates to where they were before retrogression. 

In certain instances, you can file your Form I-485 together, or “concurrently,” with the underlying Form I-130 or Form I-140 immigrant petition. You may concurrently file your Form I-485 only when approval of the underlying immigrant petition would make a visa immediately available to you. If you are an immediate relative, you can always concurrently file your Form I-485 application with the underlying Form I-130.

If you are seeking adjustment of status under a family-sponsored or employment-based preference category, you may concurrently file your Form I-485 with Form I-130 or Form I-140 only if:

• Your priority date is earlier than the cut-off date listed in the “Application Final Action Dates” chart in the monthly Visa Bulletin for your preference category and country of chargeability;
• The Visa Bulletin chart indicates “C” instead of a specific cut-off date, meaning that your preference category and country of chargeability is current and that you may file Form I-485 regardless of the priority date; or
• When permitted by USCIS (as described above in “Acceptance of Adjustment Status Applications”), your priority date is earlier than the cut-off date listed in the “Dates for Filing Applications” chart for your preference category and country of chargeability.
• When to File Your Adjustment of Status Application for Family-Based or Employment-Based Preference Visas
• Visa Retrogression

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Definition of assignment

task , duty , job , chore , stint , assignment mean a piece of work to be done.

task implies work imposed by a person in authority or an employer or by circumstance.

duty implies an obligation to perform or responsibility for performance.

job applies to a piece of work voluntarily performed; it may sometimes suggest difficulty or importance.

chore implies a minor routine activity necessary for maintaining a household or farm.

stint implies a carefully allotted or measured quantity of assigned work or service.

assignment implies a definite limited task assigned by one in authority.

Examples of assignment in a Sentence

These examples are programmatically compiled from various online sources to illustrate current usage of the word 'assignment.' Any opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback about these examples.

Word History

see assign entry 1

14th century, in the meaning defined at sense 1

Phrases Containing assignment

• self - assignment

Dictionary Entries Near assignment

Cite this entry.

“Assignment.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary , Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/assignment. Accessed 10 May. 2024.

Legal Definition

Legal definition of assignment, more from merriam-webster on assignment.

Nglish: Translation of assignment for Spanish Speakers

Britannica English: Translation of assignment for Arabic Speakers

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Immigrant vs. Nonimmigrant

Immigrant vs nonimmigrant visa redirects here. The United States and most other countries offer various classes of entry permits to non-citizens. The two main classes are immigrant and nonimmigrant and they connote the intent of the individual seeking entry and stay in the country.

Comparison chart

Definition of immigrant and nonimmigrant.

An immigrant visa is for individuals who want to permanently resettle in the destination country. They may or may not want eventual citizenship of the country, although in most cases they do. In the case of an immigrant, the intention of permanent residence is clear and is made known before hand.

A nonimmigrant visa is for individuals who want either a short or long-term stay (including a work permit) but do not want permanent residence in the destination country. A non-immigrant may live in the country for several years without any application to permanently resettle. Many people in the nonimmigrant status later apply to change their status to immigrant because they may later want to settle in their adopted country permanently.

Examples of immigrant and nonimmigrant visas for the United States

In the United States, visas such as business or tourist visa, and work visas such as H1B or L1 are nonimmigrant visas . These visas allow people to live and work in the United States for a limited period of time - from 6 months to several years. They also allow people to work in the United States. However, all these visas have a certain validity period and certain limits to how long they can be extended. This is because non-immigrant visas are not to be used for permanent residence.

An immigrant visa for the United States is also called a Green Card. This allows the immigrant to live in the United States permanently. It also allows the visa-holder (or green card holder) to leave and re-enter the United States at will, without require any other documentation or visa, just like a citizen would. Immigrant visa holders do not, however, have certain rights such as voting until they apply for and are granted citizenship.

How to Decide

Use this flowchart to decide whether an alien is an immigrant or not.

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UN backs Palestine’s bid for membership: How did your country vote?

A breakdown by country of the UN General Assembly vote on a resolution for Palestinian to become a full UN member.

The United Nations General Assembly (UNGA) has overwhelmingly voted to support a Palestinian bid to become a full UN member by recognising it as qualified to join and recommending the UN Security Council “reconsider the matter favourably”.

Memberships can only be decided by the UN Security Council, and last month, the US vetoed a bid for full membership .

Keep reading

United nations general assembly backs palestinian bid for membership, ‘during this genocide, the uk revoked my student visa’: palestinian student, are us graduation ceremonies the latest battleground for gaza protests.

The current resolution does not give Palestinians full membership, but recognises them as qualified to join, and it gives Palestine more participation and some rights within the UNGA.

Here is a breakdown of how each country voted in the UNGA in New York City on Friday:

A: Algeria, Andorra, Angola, Antigua and Barbuda, Armenia, Australia, Azerbaijan

B: Bahamas, Bahrain, Bangladesh, Barbados, Belarus, Belgium, Belize, Benin, Bhutan, Bolivia, Bosnia and Herzegovina, Botswana, Brazil, Brunei, Burkina Faso, Burundi

C: Cabo Verde, Cambodia, Central African Republic, Chad, Chile, China, Colombia, Comoros, Costa Rica, Cuba, Cyprus

D: Democratic People’s Republic of Korea (North Korea), Democratic Republic of the Congo, Denmark, Djibouti, Dominica, Dominican Republic

E: East Timor, Egypt, El Salvador, Equatorial Guinea, Eritrea, Estonia, Ethiopia

G: Gabon, The Gambia, Ghana, Greece, Grenada, Guatemala, Guinea, Guinea-Bissau, Guyana

H: Haiti, Honduras

I: Iceland, India, Indonesia, Iran, Iraq, Ireland, Ivory Coast

J: Jamaica, Japan, Jordan

K: Kazakhstan, Kenya, Kuwait, Kyrgyzstan

L: Laos, Lebanon, Lesotho, Libya, Liechtenstein, Luxembourg

M: Madagascar, Malaysia, Maldives, Mali, Malta, Mauritania, Mauritius, Mexico, Mongolia, Montenegro, Morocco, Mozambique, Myanmar

N: Namibia, Nepal, New Zealand, Nicaragua, Niger, Nigeria, Norway

P: Pakistan, Panama, Peru, Philippines, Poland, Portugal

R: Republic of Korea (South Korea), Russia, Rwanda

S: Saint Kitts and Nevis, Saint Lucia, Saint Vincent and the Grenadines, San Marino, Saudi Arabia, Senegal, Serbia, Seychelles, Sierra Leone, Singapore, Slovakia, Slovenia, Somalia, South Africa, Spain, Sri Lanka, Sudan, Suriname, Syria

T: Tajikistan, Thailand, Trinidad and Tobago, Tunisia, Turkmenistan, Turkey

U: Uganda, United Arab Emirates, United Republic of Tanzania, Uruguay, Uzbekistan

Z: Zambia, Zimbabwe

Thank you to the peoples of the world, nations, & majority of States who voted for Palestinian self-determination, for Palestinian existence & future. Thank you for standing for humanity, for the UN Charter, & for freedom & justice. Onwards, until 194th Member 🇵🇸🇺🇳 pic.twitter.com/H15egK4zwj — State of Palestine (@Palestine_UN) May 10, 2024

Against (9):

A: Argentina

C: Czech Republic

M: Micronesia

P: Palau, Papua New Guinea

U: United States

Abstained (25):

A: Albania, Austria

B: Bulgaria

C: Canada, Croatia

F: Fiji, Finland

G: Georgia, Germany

L: Latvia, Lithuania

M: Malawi, Marshall Islands, Monaco

N: Netherlands, North Macedonia

P: Paraguay

R: Republic of Moldova, Romania

S: Sweden, Switzeland

U: Ukraine, United Kingdom

Immigration help for your business

• News & Reports
• Guides: Individual immigration

B-1/B-2 Visitor Visa, Explained

Understanding the b visas for u.s. business and tourism, in this guide.

• How long does it take to get a B-1/B-2 visa? 
• How many times can you visit the U.S. with a B-1/B-2 Visa? 
• B-1/B-2 Visa Cost
• Can you change status from B1/B2?
• Required documents for a travel visa
• Frequently Asked Questions
• Boundless guides
• B-1/B-2 Visas

What is a B-1/B-2 visa?

A B-1/B-2 visa is a non-immigrant , visa that allows foreign nationals to travel to the United States temporarily for business (B-1), tourism (B-2), or a mix of both (B1/B2). This visa category is widely used for brief visits to the U.S. B visas are typically valid for up to 10 years from the issue date, and travelers to the U.S. can stay up to 180 days, with the option to return to the U.S. again after that time.

Take our 5-minute quiz to check your eligibility.

Learn how to increase your chance of travel visa approval, and get unlimited, live application support from start to finish.

How long does it take to get a B-1/B-2 visa?

As of December 2023, the average wait time (processing time) for most B1/B2 visa interview appointments is between 2 months (Brazil) to 2+ years (Canada). To check the wait time for your specific embassy or consulate, enter your city in this  handy State Department tool  under the section “Appointment Wait Time.” Note that if you are applying for an interview in a country other than your home country, wait times may be longer.

How long can you stay in the USA on a B-1/B-2 Visa?

A maximum of 6 months may be obtained for any B-1/B-2 entry, with the possibility for extensions within the U.S. in qualifying cases. The exact duration varies per visa holder, but you can typically stay in the U.S. for up to six months. The B1/B2 visa is a multiple-entry visa, which means you can use it to enter the U.S. more than once. There’s no set limit to the number of times you can visit the U.S. in a year, and it depends on the specific circumstances and discretion of the CBP officers who review your case each time you enter.

It’s important to remember that the B1/B2 visa is intended for temporary, occasional visits for business, tourism, or medical treatment. It’s not meant to be used for living long-term in the U.S. or spending the majority of your time in the country.

What’s the difference between a B1 visa and a B2 visa?

The B1 is used for short business trips (conferences, meetings, contract negotiations, etc). Those with B1 visas cannot work in the U.S. in the traditional sense, as of March 2023, B1 or B2 visa holders can apply for jobs in the U.S. and attend interviews. 

The B2 (tourist visa) is for tourism, vacation, or visiting friends and family. It also covers certain medical treatments and participation in social events or contests, like music or sports, without receiving pay. In most cases, a B1/B2 visa is issued together, allowing the holder to travel for both business and pleasure. 

How many times can you visit the U.S. with a B-1/B-2 Visa?

Depending on the context, the number of times you can visit the U.S. with a B visa varies. B1B2 visas are multiple-entry, meaning they can be used to enter the U.S. more than once. There’s no set limit to the number of times you can visit the U.S. in a year, and it depends on the specific circumstances and discretion of the CBP officers who review your case each time you enter.

If officers think you’re trying to live in the U.S. through frequent or extended visits, or if you’re not maintaining significant ties to your home country, they may suspect you’re misusing the visa, which could lead to denial of entry or future visa issues.

While there’s no official limit, it’s vital to respect the purpose and restrictions of your visa to avoid any problems. If you need guidance on your specific situation, it’s a good idea to consult with an immigration expert.

Currently, the government filing fee for a B visa is $185, which does not include the cost of gathering documents and evidence and acquiring passport photos.

Boundless has helped more than 100,000 people navigate the visa application process, and we’ll help you make a travel visa plan based on your unique situation. Get started today!

B visa requirements

A B1/B2 visitor visa is for many types of trips to the U.S., including business and non-business activities like tourism. If you want to apply for a B1 or B2 visa, you need to prove that your trip to the U.S. is only for a short time.

You must also show proof that you plan to return to your home country after your visit, and that you have a place to live outside the U.S. that you will not leave for good. These points help show that you will follow the rules of the B1/B2 visa.

Reasons for travel under a B1 visitor visa include:

• Business consultations : This might include meetings, negotiations, or discussions with business associates in the U.S.
• Attending conferences or seminars : This can cover professional, educational, scientific, or business conventions.
• Settling an estate : If someone inherits property or assets in the U.S., a B1 visa can allow them to handle these matters legally.
• Contract negotiations : If a person needs to sign or negotiate a contract with a U.S. company, a B1 visa is often the correct choice.
• Professional examination and licensing : Some professionals must be in the U.S. to take exams or get licenses only available there.

Reasons for travel under a B2 tourist visa include:

• Tourism : This could be sightseeing, visiting famous landmarks, exploring cities, or simply enjoying the country’s culture and atmosphere.
• Visiting family or friends : Many people use a B2 visa to visit their loved ones living in the U.S.
• Medical treatment : If someone requires medical treatment or a procedure that’s available in the U.S., they might apply for a B2 visa.
• Social events : Attending events like concerts, cooking classes, conventions, festivals, or other social gatherings can be another reason for using a B2 visa.
• Participation in events or contests : If the event doesn’t involve professional participation (like amateur tournaments or contests), a B2 visa could be suitable.
• Short courses of study : If the course duration is less than 18 hours per week, this falls under B2 visa regulations.

You cannot travel under this visa to engage any of the following:

• Long-term employment by a U.S. firm
• Paid performances, or any professional performance before a paying audience
• Arrival as a crewmember on a ship or aircraft
• Work as foreign press, in radio, film, print journalism, or other information media
• Permanent residence in the United States

Boundless has helped more than 100,000 people with their immigration and U.S. travel plans. We’ll be your partner from beginning to end. Get started today!

Boundless tip

The Visa Waiver Program allows nationals from certain countries to travel to the United States without a visa for business, tourism, or while in transit for up to 90 days. The program currently covers 38 countries and territories, including most countries in the European Union.

Canadian nationals also typically do not need a visa to enter the US for tourism purposes. Canadian nationals will need the appropriate visa if they have specific plans to study, work, or move permanently to the U.S.

Different entry requirements also apply to Canadian nationals, depending on whether they plan to work, study, invest, or immigrate. The maximum length of stay can vary, depending on circumstances, between 6 months and 1 year.

The B1 visa and B2 visa do not grant  permanent resident status  — they are temporary visas – but you can adjust your status from a B1/B2 visa to another type of visa while you are in the U.S., as long as you meet certain requirements. This process involves submitting a change of status application to U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS).

Here are a few key points to consider:

Key points to consider if you want to change status from B1/B2

• Purpose of stay : Your reason for wanting to stay in the U.S. should match the new visa type. For example, if you wish to study, you may apply to change to a student visa (F-1). If you find an employer willing to sponsor you, you could apply to change to a work visa (like H-1B).
• Timing : You should apply before your current status expires, typically indicated on the I-94 Arrival/Departure Record. USCIS recommends applying at least 45 days before your current status expires.
• Eligibility : Not everyone can change their status. For example, you cannot change your status if you entered the U.S. under the Visa Waiver Program unless it is due to marriage to a U.S. citizen.
• Status violation : If you’ve violated the terms of your current status (for instance, if you’ve started working while on a B1/B2 visa without authorization), you usually can’t change your status.
• Approval : Even if you meet all conditions and file an application, the final decision is up to USCIS.

If you’ve just married someone who’s a U.S. citizen or a permanent resident (they have a green card), you can also apply for a marriage green card. This lets you stay in the U.S. and live with your spouse. You can either apply for a green card while you’re still in the country in a process is called “adjustment of status” (AOS), or you can apply from your home country through what’s called consular processing. To find out if you’re eligible for a B1B2 visa or to change your status from a B1B2 visa, take our eligibility quiz. Get started today!

Documents needed to apply for a B1/B2 visa include:

• A passport valid for six months past the date of return
• A recent digital photograph that meets government requirements
• Documentation of the past five previous trips to the United States, if applicable
• Proof of funds to cover the entire cost of the trip, including travel, accommodation, and living expenses
• Proof of binding ties to the applicant’s home country, such as a job, property, or family

B1/B2 visa application process

Applications are processed by the United States Embassy or consulate in your country.

You will need to attend an interview before your visa is approved. You can attend an interview at an embassy or consulate in a third country, but you will likely wait longer for a visa appointment.

Steps to getting a B Visa

• First, you must complete the Online Non-Immigrant Application, Form DS-160. File the form online and print the confirmation page as you will need it for your interview.
• Upload your digital photo
• Attend the visa interview

As part of the process, ink-free, digital fingerprint scans are taken, typically at the interview. After the interview, the consular officer may request additional documents or information to make a decision about your case.

Boundless’ Travel Visa Service makes applying a breeze with online filing, 1:1 interview coaching, interview scheduling, and support if your visa is denied. Take our approval odds quiz to check your eligibility.

B-1 visas are issued for short business trips, while B-2 visas are issued for tourism purposes, such as vacations or visiting family.

If you’re looking to temporarily visit the U.S. for either holiday or work purposes, for example, attending a conference, touring a place or visiting relatives, then you can apply for a B-1/B-2 visa. You may need to show proof that you have ties to your home country, and that you plan on leaving the U.S..

When you enter the U.S., a customs officer will give you authorization to stay in the the country for up to six months . If you’d like to stay for longer, you may be able to apply to extend this for up to one year.

If you are nearing the end of your permitted stay in the U.S., then you may wish to extend it, especially since there can be future consequences if you stay in the U.S. longer than you were allowed to.

If you’re on a B-1 visa or a B-2 visa, you can request to extend your stay up to one year. To do this, you will need to file Form I-539 to extend or change your status. It’s recommended that you apply to extend your status at least 45 days before your authorized stay expires, so make sure you’re thinking ahead.

No. While you can enter the U.S. for business purposes, you cannot work or be employed by a U.S. employer. If you’re interested in working in the U.S. for a U.S. employer, you may be interested in other visa categories, such as the H-1B visa .

How can I renew my B1 visa or B2 visa?

If you would like to renew your B-1/B-2 visa, then you will need to go through the original process. Depending on the U.S. embassy or consulate where you apply, you may be able to complete your visa renewal without the need for an interview.

Should I apply for a B-1/B-2 visa or an ESTA?

If you are a citizen of one of the 38 countries that are part of the Visa Waiver Program , then you have the option of applying for an ESTA instead of a B1 visa or B2 visa.

Both allow you to enter the U.S. for the same reasons of tourism or business, but you can apply for the ESTA online. Entering the U.S. this way only permits you to stay for up to 90 days, however, so if you would like to stay in the U.S. for travel or business purposes for longer, the B-1/B-2 visitor visa may be an option for you.

Do Canadian citizens need a B-1/B-2 visa?

For casual business or tourism travel, most Canadian citizens don’t need a visa and will automatically be admitted on a B-1 visa or B-2 visa category.

Is the B-1/B-2 visa an immigrant or non-immigrant visa?

The B-1/B-2 visa is a non-immigrant visa, but if your circumstances change, for example, you marry a U.S. citizen or permanent resident, there are several paths from a visitor visa to a green card . Learn more to see how Boundless can help you avoid major headaches and make the process easier.

Do I need a certain amount of money in my bank account to be approved for a travel visa?

No. A common misconception about the travel visa process is that in order be approved, you must provide proof of a certain amount of funds in your bank account. Although financial considerations are one aspect of the B-1/B-2 process, and the consular officer may check to see if you are able to support yourself financially during your time in the U.S., there is no minimum required amount of funds that needs to be met. Evaluation of finances will vary from applicant to applicant, depending on a variety of other factors. Learn more common myths about the travel visa process in Boundless’ blog post .

Not sure how to get started? Boundless + RapidVisa can help.

Not sure how to get started? Boundless can help.

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Meaning of assignment in English

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• It was a plum assignment - more of a vacation really.
• He took this award-winning photograph while on assignment in the Middle East .
• His two-year assignment to the Mexico office starts in September .
• She first visited Norway on assignment for the winter Olympics ten years ago.
• He fell in love with the area after being there on assignment for National Geographic in the 1950s.
• act as something
• all work and no play (makes Jack a dull boy) idiom
• be at work idiom
• be in work idiom
• housekeeping
• in the line of duty idiom
• short-staffed
• undertaking

You can also find related words, phrases, and synonyms in the topics:

assignment | Intermediate English

Assignment | business english, examples of assignment, collocations with assignment.

These are words often used in combination with assignment .

Click on a collocation to see more examples of it.

Translations of assignment

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a unit for measuring the loudness of sound

Varied and diverse (Talking about differences, Part 1)

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Man or bear? Hypothetical question sparks conversation about women's safety

Women explain why they would feel safer encountering a bear in the forest than a man they didn't know. the hypothetical has sparked a broader discussion about why women fear men..

If you were alone in the woods, would you rather encounter a bear or a man? Answers to that hypothetical question have sparked a debate about why the vast majority say they would feel more comfortable choosing a bear.

The topic has been hotly discussed for weeks as men and women chimed in with their thoughts all over social media.

Screenshot HQ , a TikTok account, started the conversation, asking a group of women whether they would rather run into a man they didn't know or a bear in the forest. Out of the seven women interviewed for the piece, only one picked a man.

"Bear. Man is scary," one of the women responds.

A number of women echoed the responses given in the original video, writing in the comments that they, too, would pick a bear over a man. The hypothetical has people split, with some expressing their sadness over the state of the world and others cracking jokes. Some men were flabbergasted.

Here's what we know.

A bear is the safer choice, no doubt about it, many say

There were a lot of responses, more than 65,000, under the original post. Many wrote that they understood why the women would choose a bear.

"No one’s gonna ask me if I led the bear on or give me a pamphlet on bear attack prevention tips," @celestiallystunning wrote.

@Brennduhh wrote: "When I die leave my body in the woods, the wolves will be gentler than any man."

"I know a bear's intentions," another woman wrote. "I don't know a man's intentions. no matter how nice they are."

Other TikTok users took it one step further, posing the hypothetical question to loved ones. Meredith Steele, who goes by @babiesofsteele , asked her husband last week whether he would rather have their daughter encounter a bear or a man in the woods. Her husband said he "didn't like either option" but said he was leaning toward the bear.

"Maybe it's a friendly bear," he says.

Diana, another TikTok user , asked her sister-in-law what she would choose and was left speechless.

"I asked her the question, you know, just for giggles. She was like, 'You know, I would rather it be a bear because if the bear attacks me, and I make it out of the woods, everybody’s gonna believe me and have sympathy for me," she said. "But if a man attacks me and I make it out, I’m gonna spend my whole life trying to get people to believe me and have sympathy for me.'"

Bear vs. man debate stirs the pot, woman and some men at odds

The hypothetical has caused some tension, with some women arguing that men will never truly understand what it's like to be a woman or the inherent dangers at play.

Social media users answered this question for themselves, producing memes, spoken word poetry and skits in the days and weeks since.

So, what would you choose?

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What is “APPLICATION ASSIGNMENT”

• Thread starter jeff198901
• Start date Oct 11, 2017

Champion Member

In my gcms notes it says APPLICATION ASSIGNMENT Assigned to : CB18570 Assigned by : CB18570 Due date : 2017/09/29 What does this mean?  

Could it be referring to the employee ID# of the officer the case is assigned to?  

KBH said: Could it be referring to the employee ID# of the officer the case is assigned to? Click to expand...

Star Member

jeff198901 said: I thought maybe it meant this is the day my app was assigned to an officer? I just don’t know for sure. Hoping someone else will have some answers! Click to expand...

Mari_8 said: https://docs.google.com/spreadsheets/d/1qp2u3X_F10-peLhSZnPwBNAZivuICTZIA2eyB-tOerE/htmlview# Maybe this helps you Click to expand...

jeff198901 said: Thanks! But can’t find anything there Click to expand...

Mari_8 said: Assigned To: Visa officer’s code name 92 Assigned By: Visa officer’s code name 93 Due Date: Date when the file will be looked at again. Sometimes called a bring forward date. 94 95 SECONDARY OFFICE(S) Click to expand...

• SI SWIMSUIT
• SI SPORTSBOOK

Can Christian Scott follow in former Mets Cy Young award winner's footsteps?

Nick durst | may 6, 2024.

The New York Mets may have found themselves a potential ace in the making with the impressive debut of Christian Scott. On Saturday, against the Tampa Bay Rays, Scott showcased his talent by pitching 6.2 innings and striking out 6 batters, despite the team ultimately suffering a loss.

Comparisons to Mets' star pitcher Jacob deGrom are inevitable, especially considering the similarities in their debut performances. In deGrom's first game, he delivered a stellar performance, allowing just 1 run and recording 6 strikeouts in 7 innings, albeit in a losing effort against the Yankees.

What makes Scott's emergence even more intriguing is his journey to the big leagues. Like deGrom, he wasn't a super high draft pick and wasn't highly touted as a prospect entering professional ball. Yet, just as deGrom surprised everyone with his meteoric rise to become one of the best pitchers in baseball, Scott's debut has Mets fans thinking they may have unearthed another gem.

Could Scott follow in deGrom's footsteps and become the Mets' next ace? The parallels between their debuts certainly suggest the possibility. However, only time will tell if Scott can maintain his level of performance and consistency over the long term.

One question lingering in the minds of Mets fans is whether Scott can achieve the same level of success and accolades as deGrom, including multiple Cy Young Awards. Additionally, there's the concern about whether Scott can avoid the injury woes that plagued deGrom towards the end of his tenure with the Mets.

As Mets fans eagerly anticipate Scott's next outings, they can't help but wonder if they're witnessing the beginning of a new era of dominance on the mound, reminiscent of the legendary Jacob deGrom.

Nick Durst is the multi award nominated host and founder of the You Know I'm Right and Bleav in the Mets podcasts. When he is not podcasting, he is broadcasting NCAA sporting events and doing food reviews. Nick is a regular contributor to New York Post and SNY social media videos and has done radio hits for CBS Sports Radio.

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Understanding Assignments

What this handout is about.

The first step in any successful college writing venture is reading the assignment. While this sounds like a simple task, it can be a tough one. This handout will help you unravel your assignment and begin to craft an effective response. Much of the following advice will involve translating typical assignment terms and practices into meaningful clues to the type of writing your instructor expects. See our short video for more tips.

Basic beginnings

Regardless of the assignment, department, or instructor, adopting these two habits will serve you well :

• Read the assignment carefully as soon as you receive it. Do not put this task off—reading the assignment at the beginning will save you time, stress, and problems later. An assignment can look pretty straightforward at first, particularly if the instructor has provided lots of information. That does not mean it will not take time and effort to complete; you may even have to learn a new skill to complete the assignment.
• Ask the instructor about anything you do not understand. Do not hesitate to approach your instructor. Instructors would prefer to set you straight before you hand the paper in. That’s also when you will find their feedback most useful.

Assignment formats

Many assignments follow a basic format. Assignments often begin with an overview of the topic, include a central verb or verbs that describe the task, and offer some additional suggestions, questions, or prompts to get you started.

An Overview of Some Kind

The instructor might set the stage with some general discussion of the subject of the assignment, introduce the topic, or remind you of something pertinent that you have discussed in class. For example:

“Throughout history, gerbils have played a key role in politics,” or “In the last few weeks of class, we have focused on the evening wear of the housefly …”

The Task of the Assignment

Pay attention; this part tells you what to do when you write the paper. Look for the key verb or verbs in the sentence. Words like analyze, summarize, or compare direct you to think about your topic in a certain way. Also pay attention to words such as how, what, when, where, and why; these words guide your attention toward specific information. (See the section in this handout titled “Key Terms” for more information.)

“Analyze the effect that gerbils had on the Russian Revolution”, or “Suggest an interpretation of housefly undergarments that differs from Darwin’s.”

Additional Material to Think about

Here you will find some questions to use as springboards as you begin to think about the topic. Instructors usually include these questions as suggestions rather than requirements. Do not feel compelled to answer every question unless the instructor asks you to do so. Pay attention to the order of the questions. Sometimes they suggest the thinking process your instructor imagines you will need to follow to begin thinking about the topic.

“You may wish to consider the differing views held by Communist gerbils vs. Monarchist gerbils, or Can there be such a thing as ‘the housefly garment industry’ or is it just a home-based craft?”

These are the instructor’s comments about writing expectations:

“Be concise”, “Write effectively”, or “Argue furiously.”

Technical Details

These instructions usually indicate format rules or guidelines.

“Your paper must be typed in Palatino font on gray paper and must not exceed 600 pages. It is due on the anniversary of Mao Tse-tung’s death.”

The assignment’s parts may not appear in exactly this order, and each part may be very long or really short. Nonetheless, being aware of this standard pattern can help you understand what your instructor wants you to do.

Interpreting the assignment

Ask yourself a few basic questions as you read and jot down the answers on the assignment sheet:

Why did your instructor ask you to do this particular task?

Who is your audience.

• What kind of evidence do you need to support your ideas?

What kind of writing style is acceptable?

• What are the absolute rules of the paper?

Try to look at the question from the point of view of the instructor. Recognize that your instructor has a reason for giving you this assignment and for giving it to you at a particular point in the semester. In every assignment, the instructor has a challenge for you. This challenge could be anything from demonstrating an ability to think clearly to demonstrating an ability to use the library. See the assignment not as a vague suggestion of what to do but as an opportunity to show that you can handle the course material as directed. Paper assignments give you more than a topic to discuss—they ask you to do something with the topic. Keep reminding yourself of that. Be careful to avoid the other extreme as well: do not read more into the assignment than what is there.

Of course, your instructor has given you an assignment so that they will be able to assess your understanding of the course material and give you an appropriate grade. But there is more to it than that. Your instructor has tried to design a learning experience of some kind. Your instructor wants you to think about something in a particular way for a particular reason. If you read the course description at the beginning of your syllabus, review the assigned readings, and consider the assignment itself, you may begin to see the plan, purpose, or approach to the subject matter that your instructor has created for you. If you still aren’t sure of the assignment’s goals, try asking the instructor. For help with this, see our handout on getting feedback .

Given your instructor’s efforts, it helps to answer the question: What is my purpose in completing this assignment? Is it to gather research from a variety of outside sources and present a coherent picture? Is it to take material I have been learning in class and apply it to a new situation? Is it to prove a point one way or another? Key words from the assignment can help you figure this out. Look for key terms in the form of active verbs that tell you what to do.

Key Terms: Finding Those Active Verbs

Here are some common key words and definitions to help you think about assignment terms:

Information words Ask you to demonstrate what you know about the subject, such as who, what, when, where, how, and why.

• define —give the subject’s meaning (according to someone or something). Sometimes you have to give more than one view on the subject’s meaning
• describe —provide details about the subject by answering question words (such as who, what, when, where, how, and why); you might also give details related to the five senses (what you see, hear, feel, taste, and smell)
• explain —give reasons why or examples of how something happened
• illustrate —give descriptive examples of the subject and show how each is connected with the subject
• summarize —briefly list the important ideas you learned about the subject
• trace —outline how something has changed or developed from an earlier time to its current form
• research —gather material from outside sources about the subject, often with the implication or requirement that you will analyze what you have found

Relation words Ask you to demonstrate how things are connected.

• compare —show how two or more things are similar (and, sometimes, different)
• contrast —show how two or more things are dissimilar
• apply—use details that you’ve been given to demonstrate how an idea, theory, or concept works in a particular situation
• cause —show how one event or series of events made something else happen
• relate —show or describe the connections between things

Interpretation words Ask you to defend ideas of your own about the subject. Do not see these words as requesting opinion alone (unless the assignment specifically says so), but as requiring opinion that is supported by concrete evidence. Remember examples, principles, definitions, or concepts from class or research and use them in your interpretation.

• assess —summarize your opinion of the subject and measure it against something
• prove, justify —give reasons or examples to demonstrate how or why something is the truth
• evaluate, respond —state your opinion of the subject as good, bad, or some combination of the two, with examples and reasons
• support —give reasons or evidence for something you believe (be sure to state clearly what it is that you believe)
• synthesize —put two or more things together that have not been put together in class or in your readings before; do not just summarize one and then the other and say that they are similar or different—you must provide a reason for putting them together that runs all the way through the paper
• analyze —determine how individual parts create or relate to the whole, figure out how something works, what it might mean, or why it is important
• argue —take a side and defend it with evidence against the other side

More Clues to Your Purpose As you read the assignment, think about what the teacher does in class:

• What kinds of textbooks or coursepack did your instructor choose for the course—ones that provide background information, explain theories or perspectives, or argue a point of view?
• In lecture, does your instructor ask your opinion, try to prove their point of view, or use keywords that show up again in the assignment?
• What kinds of assignments are typical in this discipline? Social science classes often expect more research. Humanities classes thrive on interpretation and analysis.
• How do the assignments, readings, and lectures work together in the course? Instructors spend time designing courses, sometimes even arguing with their peers about the most effective course materials. Figuring out the overall design to the course will help you understand what each assignment is meant to achieve.

Now, what about your reader? Most undergraduates think of their audience as the instructor. True, your instructor is a good person to keep in mind as you write. But for the purposes of a good paper, think of your audience as someone like your roommate: smart enough to understand a clear, logical argument, but not someone who already knows exactly what is going on in your particular paper. Remember, even if the instructor knows everything there is to know about your paper topic, they still have to read your paper and assess your understanding. In other words, teach the material to your reader.

Aiming a paper at your audience happens in two ways: you make decisions about the tone and the level of information you want to convey.

• Tone means the “voice” of your paper. Should you be chatty, formal, or objective? Usually you will find some happy medium—you do not want to alienate your reader by sounding condescending or superior, but you do not want to, um, like, totally wig on the man, you know? Eschew ostentatious erudition: some students think the way to sound academic is to use big words. Be careful—you can sound ridiculous, especially if you use the wrong big words.
• The level of information you use depends on who you think your audience is. If you imagine your audience as your instructor and they already know everything you have to say, you may find yourself leaving out key information that can cause your argument to be unconvincing and illogical. But you do not have to explain every single word or issue. If you are telling your roommate what happened on your favorite science fiction TV show last night, you do not say, “First a dark-haired white man of average height, wearing a suit and carrying a flashlight, walked into the room. Then a purple alien with fifteen arms and at least three eyes turned around. Then the man smiled slightly. In the background, you could hear a clock ticking. The room was fairly dark and had at least two windows that I saw.” You also do not say, “This guy found some aliens. The end.” Find some balance of useful details that support your main point.

You’ll find a much more detailed discussion of these concepts in our handout on audience .

The Grim Truth

With a few exceptions (including some lab and ethnography reports), you are probably being asked to make an argument. You must convince your audience. It is easy to forget this aim when you are researching and writing; as you become involved in your subject matter, you may become enmeshed in the details and focus on learning or simply telling the information you have found. You need to do more than just repeat what you have read. Your writing should have a point, and you should be able to say it in a sentence. Sometimes instructors call this sentence a “thesis” or a “claim.”

So, if your instructor tells you to write about some aspect of oral hygiene, you do not want to just list: “First, you brush your teeth with a soft brush and some peanut butter. Then, you floss with unwaxed, bologna-flavored string. Finally, gargle with bourbon.” Instead, you could say, “Of all the oral cleaning methods, sandblasting removes the most plaque. Therefore it should be recommended by the American Dental Association.” Or, “From an aesthetic perspective, moldy teeth can be quite charming. However, their joys are short-lived.”

Convincing the reader of your argument is the goal of academic writing. It doesn’t have to say “argument” anywhere in the assignment for you to need one. Look at the assignment and think about what kind of argument you could make about it instead of just seeing it as a checklist of information you have to present. For help with understanding the role of argument in academic writing, see our handout on argument .

What kind of evidence do you need?

There are many kinds of evidence, and what type of evidence will work for your assignment can depend on several factors–the discipline, the parameters of the assignment, and your instructor’s preference. Should you use statistics? Historical examples? Do you need to conduct your own experiment? Can you rely on personal experience? See our handout on evidence for suggestions on how to use evidence appropriately.

Make sure you are clear about this part of the assignment, because your use of evidence will be crucial in writing a successful paper. You are not just learning how to argue; you are learning how to argue with specific types of materials and ideas. Ask your instructor what counts as acceptable evidence. You can also ask a librarian for help. No matter what kind of evidence you use, be sure to cite it correctly—see the UNC Libraries citation tutorial .

You cannot always tell from the assignment just what sort of writing style your instructor expects. The instructor may be really laid back in class but still expect you to sound formal in writing. Or the instructor may be fairly formal in class and ask you to write a reflection paper where you need to use “I” and speak from your own experience.

Try to avoid false associations of a particular field with a style (“art historians like wacky creativity,” or “political scientists are boring and just give facts”) and look instead to the types of readings you have been given in class. No one expects you to write like Plato—just use the readings as a guide for what is standard or preferable to your instructor. When in doubt, ask your instructor about the level of formality they expect.

No matter what field you are writing for or what facts you are including, if you do not write so that your reader can understand your main idea, you have wasted your time. So make clarity your main goal. For specific help with style, see our handout on style .

Technical details about the assignment

The technical information you are given in an assignment always seems like the easy part. This section can actually give you lots of little hints about approaching the task. Find out if elements such as page length and citation format (see the UNC Libraries citation tutorial ) are negotiable. Some professors do not have strong preferences as long as you are consistent and fully answer the assignment. Some professors are very specific and will deduct big points for deviations.

Usually, the page length tells you something important: The instructor thinks the size of the paper is appropriate to the assignment’s parameters. In plain English, your instructor is telling you how many pages it should take for you to answer the question as fully as you are expected to. So if an assignment is two pages long, you cannot pad your paper with examples or reword your main idea several times. Hit your one point early, defend it with the clearest example, and finish quickly. If an assignment is ten pages long, you can be more complex in your main points and examples—and if you can only produce five pages for that assignment, you need to see someone for help—as soon as possible.

Tricks that don’t work

Your instructors are not fooled when you:

• spend more time on the cover page than the essay —graphics, cool binders, and cute titles are no replacement for a well-written paper.
• use huge fonts, wide margins, or extra spacing to pad the page length —these tricks are immediately obvious to the eye. Most instructors use the same word processor you do. They know what’s possible. Such tactics are especially damning when the instructor has a stack of 60 papers to grade and yours is the only one that low-flying airplane pilots could read.
• use a paper from another class that covered “sort of similar” material . Again, the instructor has a particular task for you to fulfill in the assignment that usually relates to course material and lectures. Your other paper may not cover this material, and turning in the same paper for more than one course may constitute an Honor Code violation . Ask the instructor—it can’t hurt.
• get all wacky and “creative” before you answer the question . Showing that you are able to think beyond the boundaries of a simple assignment can be good, but you must do what the assignment calls for first. Again, check with your instructor. A humorous tone can be refreshing for someone grading a stack of papers, but it will not get you a good grade if you have not fulfilled the task.

Critical reading of assignments leads to skills in other types of reading and writing. If you get good at figuring out what the real goals of assignments are, you are going to be better at understanding the goals of all of your classes and fields of study.

You may reproduce it for non-commercial use if you use the entire handout and attribute the source: The Writing Center, University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill

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What Is an Expatriate?

Understanding expatriates.

• Retiring Abroad

Foreign Earned Income Exclusion

Foreign tax credit, expatriation tax.

• Pros and Cons of an Expatriate

The Bottom Line

• Taxpayer Types

Expatriate (Expat): Definition, With Pros/Cons of Living Abroad

Julia Kagan is a financial/consumer journalist and former senior editor, personal finance, of Investopedia.

Lea Uradu, J.D. is a Maryland State Registered Tax Preparer, State Certified Notary Public, Certified VITA Tax Preparer, IRS Annual Filing Season Program Participant, and Tax Writer.

Investopedia / Julie Bang

An expatriate, or expat, is an individual living and/or working in a country other than their country of citizenship, often temporarily and for work reasons. An expatriate can also be an individual who has relinquished citizenship in their home country to become a citizen of another.

Key Takeaways

• An expatriate is somebody who has left their country of origin in order to reside in another country.
• Expats may leave home for work reasons and seek more lucrative employment in a different country.
• Expatriates may live for a while overseas or completely renounce their citizenship of one country in favor of another.
• Retiring abroad has become an increasingly popular option.
• The IRS may impose an expatriation tax on individuals who renounce their citizenship, usually based on the value of a taxpayer's property or income in the United States.

An expatriate is a migrant worker who is a professional or skilled worker in their profession. The worker takes a position outside of their home country, either independently or as a work assignment scheduled by the employer, which can be a company, university, government, or non-governmental organization.

If your employer sends you from your job in its Silicon Valley office to work for an extended period in its Toronto office, you would be considered an expatriate or "expat" after you arrive in Toronto.

Expats usually earn more than they would at home, and more than local employees. In addition to salary, businesses sometimes give their expatriate employees benefits such as relocation assistance and housing allowance. The expat will need to open a local bank account that will allow them to function in their new home.

Living as an expatriate can be exciting and present an excellent opportunity for career advancement and global business exposure, but it can also be an emotionally difficult transition that involves separation from friends and family while adjusting to an unfamiliar culture and work environment. Hence, the reason behind the higher compensation offered to these migrant workers.

Special Considerations: Retiring Abroad

Much expatriation occurs during retirement. While most Americans spend their retirement in the U.S., a growing number are opting to retire overseas . People are motivated to relocate abroad at an older age for several reasons , including lower cost of living, better climate, access to beaches, or some combination of those and other reasons. However, it can also be tricky to navigate taxes, long-stay visas, and the language and cultural differences experienced when settling down in other countries.

Popular retirement destinations include countries in Central and South America, the Mediterranean, and parts of Europe.

A common choice presented to a retiree expat is between permanent residency and dual citizenship. Note that neither dual citizenship nor residency gets you out of filing a U.S. tax return every year. It is both surprising and burdensome, but Americans still have to pay income taxes wherever they live, and they owe it no matter where their income was earned.

You may also have to file an income tax return in your country of residence, although most deduct the amount American residents pay to the U.S. via treaties that minimize double taxation.

If you're a retiree or near-retiree who's on the fence, you face a tough decision that will require some soul searching and research—and maybe a trip abroad (or several) to test the waters before you make any decisions.

For Americans working abroad as expatriates, complying with United States income tax regulations is an added challenge and financial burden because the U.S. taxes its citizens on income earned abroad. To avoid double taxation , the U.S. tax code contains provisions that help to reduce tax liability . Taxes paid in a foreign country can be used as a tax credit in the U.S., which when applied against the expat’s tax bill, reduces it.

The Foreign Earned Income Exclusion (FEIE) , for example, allows expats to exclude from their tax returns a certain amount of their foreign income, which is indexed to inflation. For 2023, this amount is $120,000. For 2024, it is $126,500. An expat that earns, say $180,000 in 2023 from their job in a foreign country that is tax-free will only need to pay U.S. federal income tax on $180,000 - $120,00 = $60,000.

The FEIE does not apply to rental income or investment income. Therefore, any income made from interest or capital gains from investments will have to be reported to the IRS. The Foreign Tax Credit (FTC) is a provision that ensures expats are not double-taxed on their capital gains.

For example, assume an expat falls in the 35% income tax bracket in the U.S. This means their long-term capital gain on any investment is taxed at 15%.

Since the FTC provides a dollar-for-dollar credit against taxes paid to a foreign country if the expat paid 10% tax to the country where they work, they'd only have to pay 5% tax to the U.S. Likewise, if they pay no tax to the foreign country, they’ll owe the full 15% tax to the U.S. government.

If the income tax paid to a foreign government far exceeds the amount of the credit (because the foreign tax rate far exceeded the U.S. rate), the expat will forfeit that amount. The credit, however, can be carried into the future.

An individual who has renounced their citizenship in their home country and moves to another is also referred to as an expatriate for tax purposes and is subject to an exit tax known as expatriation tax .

According to the Internal Revenue Service (IRS), the expatriation tax provisions apply to U.S. citizens who have renounced their citizenship and long-term residents who have ended their U.S. residency for tax purposes, if one of the principal purposes of the action is the avoidance of U.S. taxes .

This emigration tax applies to individuals who:

• Have a net worth of at least $2 million on the date of expatriation or termination of residency
• Have an average annual net income tax liability that is more than $190,000 if the expatriation date was in 2023 ($201,000 if the expatriation date is in 2024) over the five years ending before the date of expatriation or termination of residency
• Do not (or cannot) certify five years of U.S. tax compliance for the five years preceding the date of their expatriation or termination of residency

Advantages and Disadvantages of Becoming an Expatriate

Living and working in another country for an extended period of time can have its benefits. These can range from new experiences and adventure to more practical considerations like a lower cost of living or being closer to extended family abroad. Depending on where you settle, you may also get government perks like free healthcare and education and more favorable taxation.

There are also some potential drawbacks. Regarding taxation, unless you fully relinquish your American citizenship, you will still need to file tax returns each year and may need to pay taxes to Uncle Sam, even on income earned in your new country.

You'll also be a long way from home, potentially. This can make seeing friends and family more difficult, and time zone differences can also interfere with finding a good time to link up by phone or video chat. Learning a new language and customs can also be difficult for some, and certain items or products that you like may not be available where you live. And remember that not all countries enjoy the same level of political and economic stability that the U.S. does.

New experiences and maybe a better climate

Potentially lower cost of living

Potential access to affordable healthcare

Potential for double taxation

Long way away from friends and family

Language, cultural, political, and economic barriers

Potential challenges securing the proper visa

What Does It Mean to Become an Expatriate?

An expatriate or "expat" is somebody who leaves their country of origin and settles abroad for an extended period of time, often permanently.

What Is Expat Taxation?

Americans living overseas still have to file U.S. tax returns unless they relinquish their American citizenship. Several international tax treaties exist to help minimize double taxation.

What Is an Expat Community?

When people relocate to a foreign country, they often find comfort in seeking out other foreigners, especially from their home country. Expat communities are enclaves of people from a similar national origin, often with their own school and shopping options. In many countries, English-speaking enclaves are called "Anglo" communities.

Expats typically have to navigate a complex web of tax rules and regulations, which can be challenging to understand and comply with. Though retiring abroad to a lower cost of living, there are retirement considerations to comply with. In addition, expat U.S. Federal taxes are complicated, though they may rely on tax credits and income exclusions to receive favorable U.S. tax treatment.

Bonache, Jaime, and et al. " The Interaction of Expatriate Pay Differential and Expatriate Inputs on Host Country Nationals' Pay Unfairness ." The International Journal of Human Resource Management , vol. 20, no. 10, October 2009, pp. 2137.

The Wall Street Journal. " Americans are Saving Money by Retiring Overseas ," Slide 2.

International Living. " The World’s Best Places to Retire in 2023 ."

World Economic Forum. " The World's Best Retirement Destinations Might Surprise You ."

Internal Revenue Service. " Publication 54, Tax Guide for U.S. Citizens and Resident Aliens Abroad ," Page 3.

Internal Revenue Service. " Tax Treaties ."

Internal Revenue Service. " IRS Provides Tax Inflation Adjustments for Tax Year 2024 ."

Internal Revenue Service. " Foreign Earned Income Exclusion ."

Internal Revenue Service. " Publication 54, Tax Guide for U.S. Citizens and Resident Aliens Abroad ," Page 15-16.

Internal Revenue Service. " Foreign Tax Credit ."

Internal Revenue Service. " Topic No. 409, Capital Gains and Losses ."

Internal Revenue Service. " Foreign Taxes that Qualify for the Foreign Tax Credit ."

Internal Revenue Service. " Publication 54, Tax Guide for U.S. Citizens and Resident Aliens Abroad ," Page 24.

Internal Revenue Service. " Publication 519, U.S. Tax Guide for Aliens ," Pages 23-24.

Internal Revenue Service. " Expatriation Tax ."

Internal Revenue Service. " 26 CFR 601.602: Tax Forms and Instructions; Rev. Proc. 2023-34 ," Page 21.

Internal Revenue Service. " 26 CFR 601.602: Tax Forms and Instructions: Rev. Proc. 2022-38 ," Page 19.

Internal Revenue Service. " Publication 519, U.S. Tax Guide for Aliens ," Page 24.

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