Which visas can get a mortgage? A complete list by visa type
Most US work visas and work permits qualify for a regular conventional mortgage — the same loan a citizen gets, from as little as 3% down.
A handful of statuses don’t. But here’s the part no one tells you: “not eligible for a conventional loan” almost never means “can’t buy a home.”
Find your status below and see your best path.
How to read this: “Conventional loan” means the standard Fannie Mae and Freddie Mac programs.
If your status shows as not eligible for those, the last column points you to the program that usually still works — an ITIN loan if you file US taxes, or a foreign national loan if you’re investing from abroad.
Find your visa or status
Start typing your visa (for example “H-1B”, “DACA”, or “student”), or filter by whether it qualifies for a conventional loan.
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Visa or status
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Conventional loan? (Fannie Mae / Freddie Mac)
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Your likely path
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|---|---|---|
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H-1B / H-1B1 — Specialty occupation worker
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Yes
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Conventional
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L-1 / L-1A / L-1B — Intracompany transfer
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Yes
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Conventional
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L-2 / L-2S — Spouse of an L-1 (work-authorized)
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Yes
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Conventional
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TN — Canadian or Mexican professional (USMCA)
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Yes
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Conventional — shorter authorizations may need extra docs
|
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O-1 / O-2 — Extraordinary ability or achievement
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Yes
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Conventional; self-employed may use a bank statement loan
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E-1 / E-2 / E-3 — Treaty trader or investor
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Yes
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Conventional; self-employed often use a bank statement loan
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E-2S / E-3S — Treaty spouse (work-authorized)
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Yes
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Conventional
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H-4 — Spouse of an H-1B (with a work permit)
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Yes
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Conventional when a valid EAD is held
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P-1 / P-2 / P-3 — Athlete, artist, or entertainer
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Yes
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Conventional
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R-1 — Religious worker
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Yes
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Conventional
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I — Media / journalist
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Yes
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Conventional
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G-1 / G-3 / G-4 — Foreign government / international org employee
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Yes
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Conventional
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NATO-1 to NATO-6 — NATO-related duties
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Yes
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Conventional
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K-3 / K-4 — Spouse or child of a US citizen
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Yes
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Conventional
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S-5 / S-6 — Witness or informant
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Yes
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Conventional when work-authorized
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CFA — Micronesia, Marshall Islands, or Palau citizen
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Yes
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Conventional
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J-1 — Exchange visitor
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Yes
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Conventional when work-authorized
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J-2 — Spouse of a J-1 (with a work permit)
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Yes
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Conventional when a valid EAD is held
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Asylee (asylum granted) — Approved asylum status
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Yes
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Conventional
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Asylum pending — Application pending with a work permit
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Yes
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Conventional when a valid EAD is held
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Refugee — Approved refugee status
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Yes
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Conventional
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DACA — Deferred Action for Childhood Arrivals (work permit)
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Yes
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Conventional or ITIN — we verify current terms
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TPS — Temporary Protected Status (with a work permit)
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Yes
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Conventional when a valid EAD is held
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Green card pending — Adjustment of status with a work permit
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Yes
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Conventional when a valid EAD is held
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Withholding of removal — Granted, with a work permit
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Yes
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Conventional when a valid EAD is held
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VAWA self-petitioner — Approved Form I-360 with a work permit
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Yes
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Conventional when a valid EAD is held
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U visa (U-1 to U-5) — Crime victim and qualifying family
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Yes
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Conventional when work-authorized
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|
T visa (T-1 to T-6) — Human trafficking survivor and family
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Yes
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Conventional when work-authorized
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F-1 (OPT or STEM) — Student working on OPT or a STEM extension
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With work permit
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Conventional when working on OPT/STEM; income must be usable
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B-1 / B-2 — Business or tourist visitor
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Not conventional
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Foreign national loan (investment property)
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Visa Waiver / ESTA — Short business or tourist visit
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Not conventional
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Foreign national loan (investment property)
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K-1 — Fiancé(e) of a US citizen
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Not conventional
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Usually wait for status; foreign national for investment
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H-2A / H-2B — Seasonal agricultural or non-ag worker
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Not conventional
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ITIN loan if you file US taxes
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H-3 — Trainee or special-education visitor
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Not conventional
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ITIN loan if you file US taxes
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H-1C — Foreign nurse (temporary)
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Not conventional
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ITIN loan if you file US taxes
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M / M-1 — Vocational student
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Not conventional
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Conventional only with a qualifying work permit; otherwise ITIN
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F-2 / F-3 — Spouse or child of an F-1 student
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Not conventional
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ITIN loan if you file US taxes
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Q — Cultural exchange program
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Not conventional
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ITIN loan if you file US taxes
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D — Crewmember
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Not conventional
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Foreign national loan (investment property)
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Dependents without a work permit — O-3, P-4, R-2, TD, G-5, NATO-7 and similar
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Not conventional
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ITIN loan if you file US taxes
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V — Family awaiting an immigrant petition
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Not conventional
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ITIN loan if you file US taxes
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CNMI (CW / E-2C) — Northern Mariana Islands transitional
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Not conventional
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Case by case — ask us
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A (diplomatic) — Diplomatic status and dependents
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Not conventional
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Case by case — ask us
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Humanitarian parolees — Certain parole categories (varies)
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Not conventional
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Case by case; ITIN if you file US taxes
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Can’t find your exact status, or landed on a “not eligible”? Don’t assume that’s the end of it — take the 2-minute quiz and we’ll confirm your real options. New to US mortgages generally? Start with our guide for non-permanent residents.
"Not conventional" doesn't mean "no mortgage"
A conventional loan is just one door. When it’s closed, we open a different one — here are the three that cover almost everyone.
You file US taxes with an ITIN
Live and work here without a Social Security number? An ITIN mortgage buys a home to live in from as little as ~10% down.
You're self-employed
Running your own business on an eligible visa? A bank statement loan qualifies you on deposits instead of tax returns.
You're buying from abroad
Not a US resident? A foreign national loan finances a US rental, qualifying on the rent with no US credit needed.
One thing that matters more than your visa type: keeping status current
Whatever your visa, lenders care most about whether your authorization is valid at closing. The plain-English version:
Current status — you’re in good shape; just bring your standard documents.
Close to expiring — bring proof that a renewal was already filed in the same category. That usually keeps things moving.
Expiring very soon with nothing filed — on some statuses, a lender may not be able to count your income yet. Filing your renewal first is the fix, and it’s exactly the kind of timing we map out with you up front.
DACA, asylum, and refugee borrowers
A lot of outdated information is given by lenders and content generator websites. We deal with real life DACA and asylee borroweres on a daily basis, so to be clear and current:
Under current agency guidelines, work-permit statuses including DACA, asylum, and refugee are generally eligible for conventional financing — the same as other work-authorized borrowers — and Non-QM programs offer an additional path.
Treatment in this area has changed over the years and can change again, so we always confirm the current rules for your exact situation before you commit to anything.
Andes Mortgage provides mortgage guidance only — not immigration or legal advice. For any question about your status itself, an immigration attorney is the right person to ask.
Where this list comes from
Conventional eligibility reflects current Fannie Mae and Freddie Mac guidelines for non-permanent resident and work-authorized borrowers, which most lenders follow. We’ve translated the underwriting categories into the visa and permit names people actually use, and simplified the documentation rules to the essentials. The “not eligible for conventional” statuses are matched to the non-QM programs that most often work instead.
- Eligible: most work visas (H-1B, L-1, TN, O-1, E-2 and similar) and most work permits, including DACA, asylum, and refugee EADs.
- Not eligible for conventional: mostly visitor, seasonal, and dependent categories — but many of these still qualify through ITIN or foreign national programs.
- What gates it: valid, work-authorizing status (or a filed renewal), and — for the conventional path — a Social Security number.
Eligibility is general information based on current agency guidelines and is subject to change without notice — not a commitment to lend or a determination of your eligibility. The “likely path” for ineligible statuses is directional and depends on your full situation. Guidelines last verified: July 2026.
The questions people actually ask
Does my visa type decide whether I can get a mortgage?
It decides which door you go through, not whether a door exists. Most work visas and permits qualify for a conventional loan. If yours doesn’t, an ITIN or foreign national program usually can — so the visa type shapes the path more than it decides yes or no.
What does "eligible for conventional" actually mean?
It means you can use the standard Fannie Mae and Freddie Mac loan programs — the same ones a US citizen uses, with the same low down payments (as little as 3%) and standard rates. FHA and VA options may apply too. It’s the best-terms path of all the options here.
My visa isn't on the eligible list — can I still buy a home?
Very likely, yes. If you live and work in the US and file taxes with an ITIN, an ITIN mortgage can buy a home to live in. If you’re investing from abroad, a foreign national loan finances a US rental. The “not eligible for conventional” label is where a broker earns their keep.
Can I get a mortgage on an F-1 student visa?
Usually only if you’re working on OPT or a STEM extension, since a lender needs to be able to count your income. If you’re a student not authorized to work, your income generally can’t be used to qualify — though a co-borrower or, in some cases, an ITIN program may open a path. It’s worth a quick look at your specifics.
Do I need a green card?
No. Permanent residency isn’t required for any of these paths. A valid work-authorizing status opens the conventional door; even without one, ITIN and foreign national programs give you a way to finance a home.
Can DACA, asylum, or refugee borrowers get a mortgage?
Generally yes. Under current agency guidelines, these work-permit statuses are eligible for conventional financing like other work-authorized borrowers, with ITIN programs as an added option. Rules here have shifted before, so we verify current terms for you. We offer mortgage guidance only, not immigration advice.
Found your status? Let's confirm your real options
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Additional resources to inform you best
ITIN loans
The full program guide
Foreign National & Non-Residents
Difference explained
Mortgage Calculator
Calculate your mortgage payments
Owner & mortgage broker, Andes Mortgage LLC · NMLS #988935
- Guidelines last verified: July 2026 · reviewed quarterly
Andes Mortgage provides mortgage guidance only, not immigration, legal, or tax advice. Eligibility reflects current conventional (Fannie Mae / Freddie Mac), FHA, and VA guidelines as of the date above and is subject to change without notice — this is general information, not a commitment to lend or a determination of eligibility. Andes Mortgage LLC · NMLS #2187991 · Equal Housing Lender.