US Work Visa

There are many types of working visas. Each visa to USA has different qualify criteria which you should need to meet, and most US working visas have an annual quota.

Usually with a work permit you have the right to get a US driver license, state ID, bank account, credit card, house, etc, and is allowed to travel in and out of the United States with a valid visa.

One important thing that you should be aware of is that getting a US work visa does not automatically lead to a Green Card or US citizenship.

In this page we will describe only the main categories.

Please look into the following categories and find out which us work visa is relevant for your situation.

This visa is for people from all over the world with a specialty occupation which requires the completion of higher education. It includes engineering, architecture, mathematics, social sciences, physical sciences, medicine and health, business specialties, education, law, theology, accounting and the arts.

You must have a secured job offer from a US employer, before you apply for a USA work permit. Your search for H1B Visa Jobs can start here.

The visa is valid for three years initially, and can be extended to years.

Your spouse and children can accompany you and live in the USA for the same time period. They are not allowed to work, but can attend school in the United States.

This visa is available for foreign nurses coming to perform nursing services in medically underserved areas for a temporary period up to three years. The number of US work visas issued under this category each year is limited.

This USA work permit is for people who are coming to the United States to accept a temporary or seasonal non-agricultural job from an U.S. employer. H2B Visa is available for both skilled and unskilled workers.

The H-2B Visa is valid for one year, and may be extended for a maximum of three years. After the three years period has expired, you must depart the U.S. for at least six months. During this time you cannot extend, change status, nor be readmitted to the U.S. under the H and L nonimmigrant visa.

Your spouse and unmarried children under 21 years of age can be issued an H-4 visa. They may stay in the US as long as your H-2B visa is valid, but they are not permitted to work in the US.

This US work visa is available for foreign nationals coming to the United States to receive on the job training provided by an American company in any field, other than medical or academic.

The US employer must prove that the training program is not available in your home country and that the training will benefit you in pursuing a career and obtaining employment in your home country.

As an H-3 Trainee Visa holder you will be allowed to work only for the company that is providing the training. The main objective should be the training, not the actual work.

H-3 Temporary Trainee Visas are usually issued for the duration of the training program (up to 2 years). Extensions may be granted, but within the 2 years limit.

Your spouse and unmarried children under 21 years of age can be issued an H-4 visa. They may stay and attend school in the US as long as your H 3 visa is valid. They are allowed to travel in and out of the USA, but are not permitted to work in the US with an H 4 visa.

You are eligible to an Intra-company transfer visa if you are a foreign national and have worked for a multi-national company outside the US for one continuous year within the three years prior to your transfer to the US.

You must be transferred to the United States branch, subsidiary, affiliate, or joint venture partner of the non-U.S. company that you worked for. You must have served the non US company in an executive, managerial or "specialized knowledge" capacity and be employed by the US Company in a similar position.

Visa Validity – If you are employed at company that is just starting up, then your L-1 visa can be valid for one year. For companies that have already been doing business in the United States for a year or longer, the visa is valid for up to three years with two-year extensions available for a total of up to five years for an employee with specialized knowledge, and up to seven years for an executive or manager.

Your spouse and unmarried minor children are eligible for E visas and can also enter under this category. And as of 2002, spouses of intra-company transferees, treaty traders, and treaty investors are allowed to work in the U.S.

The Treaty Trader/Investors category is available to individuals from nations which have signed a treaty of trade and commerce with the United States.

E-1 Treaty Trader Visa – You are eligible for this visa if you are a citizen of a country with which the United States has signed a commercial treaty.

You can come to the United States to trade, exchange, purchase or sale good, services or merchandise. Services include technology transfer, architecture and engineering services, management consulting or accounting.

The trade must be of a substantial nature between the United States and your country of nationality.

You must be employed in a supervisory or executive capacity, or possess highly specialized skills essential to the efficient operation of the firm.

E-2 Treaty Investor Visa - You are eligible for this visa if you are a citizen of a country with which the United States has signed a treaty of commerce.

As an E2 visa holder you are required to come to the United States to develop and manage the operations of an enterprise in which you have made a substantial investment. In addition to the investment you must be coming to the United States to develop and direct the operations of the enterprise.

Holders of E visas may reside in the United States as long as they continue to maintain their status with the enterprise. Your spouse and minor dependents are allowed to live and attend school in the United States, and your spouse can apply for an employment authorization.

You are eligible for a temporary religious visa if you are a clergy member or a key employee of legitimate religious organizations, and have been a member/employee for the two years immediately preceding your application.

In principal, any bona fide non-profit religious organization can sponsor a religious worker. However, the organization must be "closely associated" with your religion.

You are allowed to work only for the sponsoring organization; outside employment is not permitted.

The initial period of time given for a religious US work visa is normally three years, with a two-year extension possible, for a total of five years.

Your spouse and children under 21 may live, but not work, in the United States.

Disclaimer: The contents of the US work visa are provided as an information guide only. The use of this website is at the viewer/user's sole risk. While every effort is made in presenting up-to-date and accurate information, no responsibility or liability is accepted by the owner to this website for any errors, omissions, outdated or misleading information on these pages or any site to which these pages connect or are linked.

Source & Copyright: The source of the above visa and immigration information and copyright owner/s is the:

Travel State – URL www.travel.state.gov

The viewer/user of this web page should use the above information as a guideline only, and should always contact the above sources or the user's own government representatives for the most up-to-date information at that moment in time, before making a final decision to travel to that country or destination.