a permit affixed or stamped to a page in the passport to the US

a sticker in your passport (it used to be a stamp, and in fact the term "visa stamp" is sometimes still used to distinguish it from the term "visa" when you really mean "status")

a visa issued by American Embassies and Consulates abroad to applicants traveling to the United States for a temporary period of time

Unlike a permanent immigrant visa, a non-immigrant visa is only valid for a limited time. Foreigners can come to the U.S. as nonimmigrants on student visas, temporary work visas, tourist visas or other types of temporary visas. Nonimmigrants are not permanent residents and therefore do not receive green cards.

Any visa type that permits the visa holder to stay in American for a temporary period for a specific process.

permission by the government to remain in the United States for a termed or temporary period.