• An immigrant visa, also known as a "Green card', is the visa issued to persons wishing to live permanently in the United States.
• A nonimmigrant visa is the visa issued to persons with permanent residence outside the U.S. but who wish to be in the U.S. on a temporary basis, for example, tourism, medical treatment, business, temporary work, or study. Visas such as B1/B2, H-1B, L-1 or F1 are nonimmigrant visas

 What is meant by “non-immigrant intent?”

A “Non-immigrant” intent is undoubtedly the most closely scrutinized element of the nonimmigrant visa application process. Non-immigrant visas are visas which allow the alien to enter the US for a temporary period of time. A B1B2 (business or visitor), J1 (trainee), F1 (student) visas are examples of nonimmigrant visas.

When you apply for any nonimmigrant visa at a US Embassy overseas, Embassy staff will need to be satisfied that you do not have the intention of immigrating to the US, or falling out of status, or becoming a visa overstay. To prove non-immigrant intent you will need to show ‘ties’ to your home country, and that you have not entirely abandoned your residency there. Ties to your home country could include having immediate relatives, home ownership, car ownership, apartment leases, utility bills, a letter from an employer indicating that you have been granted a temporary leave or vacation from your job.