There are 35 countries that participate in the Visa Waiver Program who will not need a visa if they plan to visit the US for tourism or business for 90 days or less. These countries include Andorra, Iceland, Norway, Australia, Ireland, Portugal, Austria, Italy, San Marino, Belgium, Japan, Singapore, Brunei, Latvia, Slovakia, Czech Republic, Liechtenstein, Slovenia, Denmark, Lithuania, South Korea, Estonia, Luxembourg, Spain, Finland, Malta, Sweden, France, Monaco, Switzerland, Germany, the Netherlands, United Kingdom, Hungary and New Zealand. Otherwise, you must demonstrate that the purpose of the trip is for business, pleasure, or medical treatment, that the stay is for a definitive amount of time, that you have enough funds to cover your expenses in the US and that you have residence outside the US to ensure that you will return to your home country. You will also need a passport, two passport photos and to fill out the online application form.
To qualify for a student visa, an applicant must be a resident from another country with no intention of abandoning that country of residence, intend to leave the USA once she has finished her course and has sufficient funds for the course and for living expenses. This visa requires Form I-20A-B, Certificate of Eligibility for Nonimmigrant (F-1) Student Status-For Academic and Language Students or Form I-20M-N, Certificate of Eligibility for Nonimmigrant (M-1) Student Status for Vocational Students, a SEVIS generated Form, I-20, provided and signed by the institution you are studying at, a passport, one passport photo, the application fee and application receipt and the SEVIS I-901 fee receipt.
There are a range of temporary working visas offered in the US. Depending on the visa, you will have to fill out the specific online application. Some temporary worker categories may require the prospective employer to provide a labor certification or approval from the Department of Labor. Abroad applicants must gather an approved Form I-129, Petition for Nonimmigrant Worker from USCIS, before applying for a temporary working visa. You will also need your passport and a passport photo.