Introduction
All foreign nationals traveling to the U.S. with the intention of working temporarily must obtain a nonimmigrant work visa. The U.S. government does not issue work visas for casual employment. All work visas are based on a specific offer of employment from a U.S. employer.
The most common categories of work visas are listed below:
-
E-1 Visa For Treaty Traders »
The E-1 Treaty Trader visa is available to nationals from countries that have trade treaties in effect with the U.S., to enter the U.S. for conducting trade between the U.S. and their home country.
-
E-2 Visa For Treaty Investors »
The E-2 Treaty Investor visa is available to nationals from countries that have commerce treaties in effect with the U.S., to enter the U.S. for the purpose of developing and directing a business in the U.S.
-
E-3 Visa For Australian Professionals In Specialty Occupations »
The E-3 visa is available to nationals of Australia who are professionals in specialty occupations. The position must require a degreed individual, and the applicant must have a degree or equivalent related to the position, and/or the appropriate license.
Note: Not all licensed positions are considered specialty occupations by the U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS).
-
H-1B Visa For Professionals In Specialty Occupations »
The H-1B visa is available to professionals in specialty occupations. The position must require a degreed individual, and the applicant must have a degree or equivalent related to the position, and/or the appropriate license.
Note: Not all licensed positions are considered specialty occupations by the U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS).
-
H-2A Visa For Seasonal Agricultural Workers »
The H-2A USA work visa is available to foreign agricultural workers seeking temporary employment in the U.S.
Learn more about The H-2A Visa For Seasonal Agricultural Workers
-
H-2B Visa For Seasonal Non-Agricultural Workers »
The H-2B visa is available to foreign non-agricultural workers seeking temporary employment in the U.S.
Learn more about The H-2B Visa for Seasonal Non-Agricultural Workers
-
H-3 Visa For Trainees »
The H-3 visa is available to foreign nationals seeking training in the U.S. that is unavailable in their home country and those seeking training and experience in teaching children with physical, mental or emotional disabilities.
-
H-1B1 Visa For Chilean And Singaporean Professionals In Specialty Occupation »
The H-1B1 visa is available to nationals of Chile and Singapore who are professionals in specialty occupations. The position must require a degreed individual, and the applicant must have a degree or equivalent related to the position, and/or the appropriate license.
Note: Not all licensed positions are considered specialty occupations by the U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS).
Learn more about The H-1B1 Visa For Chilean And Singaporean Professionals
-
I Visa For Representatives of Foreign Media »
The I visa is available to foreign journalists and representatives of radio, film or other information organizations traveling to the U.S. to engage in information media activities.
-
L-1 Visa For Corporate Transfers »
The L-1 intra-company transferee visa is available to foreign nationals who are being transferred by their current employer to a specific executive, managerial or specialized knowledge job with the same firm, subsidiary, or affiliate thereof, in the U.S.
-
L Blanket »
The L Blanket is available to U.S. Companies that are branches, parents, subsidiaries or affiliates of foreign companies that frequently transfer their non-U.S. employees to their related U.S. Companies. The L Blanket allows U.S. Companies to pre-qualify to transfer non-U.S. employees to U.S. under the L Visa through a quicker process.
-
O-1 Visa For Persons With Extraordinary Ability »
The O-1 visa is available for people of “Extraordinary” ability in sciences, arts, education, business or athletics.
Learn more about The O-1 Visa For Persons With Extraordinary Ability
-
O-2 Visa For O-1 Essential Support Personnel »
The O-2 visa is available for essential support personnel of O-1 visa holders in athletics, entertainment, motion picture and television production.
Learn more about The O-2 Visa For O-1 Essential Support Personnel
-
P-1 Visa For Athletes, Artists And Entertainers »
The P-1 visa is available to athletes, and internationally recognized artists and entertainment groups for entering the U.S. to participate in internationally recognized events for a U.S. employer, or an international employer working through a U.S. agent.
Learn more about The P-1 Visa For Athletes, Artists And Entertainers
-
P-2 Visa For Artists And Entertainers Under Reciprocal Exchange Programs »
The P-2 work visa is available to athletes, and internationally recognized artists and entertainment groups, and their support personnel for entering the U.S. to perform under a reciprocal exchange program between the U.S. and the foreign country.
Learn more about The P-2 Visa For Reciprocal Exchange Programs
-
P-3 Visa For Artist And Entertainers Under Culturally Unique Programs »
The P-3 US work visa is available for foreign nationals coming temporarily to the U.S. to perform, teach, or coach as an artist or entertainer, individually or as part of a group under a commercial or noncommercial program that is culturally unique.
-
Q-1 Visa For Participants In International Cultural Exchange Programs »
The Q-1 work visa is available for foreign nationals coming temporarily to the U.S. to participate in an international cultural exchange program.
Learn more about The Q-1 Visa For International Cultural Exchange Participants
-
R-1 Visa For Religious Workers »
The R-1 work visa is available to foreign members of religious denominations, having bona fide nonprofit religious organizations in the U.S., for entering the U.S. to carry on the activities of a religious worker.
-
TN Visa For Canadian Professionals »
The TN visa is available only for Mexican and Canadian professionals. Professions covered under this category include Software Programmers, Management Consultants, Economists etc.
-
TN Visa For Mexican Professionals »
The TN visa is available only for Mexican and Canadian professionals. Professions covered under this category include Software Programmers, Management Consultants, Economists etc.
-
Consular Processing – Nonimmigrant »
The Consular Processing process is available to foreign nationals to apply for a nonimmigrant visa at a U.S. Embassy or Consulate outside the U.S.