If you are a foreign national who is job-hunting in the United States, or has received a job offer, chances are that your employer will not be ready or able to sponsor you for a green card right away. Instead, you will likely need to apply for a temporary, nonimmigrant visa. And before you can do that, you will need to make sure that the type of job you have been offered matches up with one of the available U.S. visa types. Here, you can learn more about each type of U.S. work visa.
E-1 Visa for Treaty Traders in the U.S.: Who Qualifies?
Depending on your country's treaty arrangements with the U.S. and your company's business activities, you may be eligible to spend time in the U.S. for international trade purposes.
E-2 Visa for Treaty Investors in the U.S.: Who Qualifies?
The United States has entered into trade treaties with several countries and established the E-2 visa to allow businesspeople from certain countries to work in the U.S. for a business in which people from their country have invested.
H-2B Visa for Temporary Nonagricultural Workers: Who Qualifies?
The H-2B visa allows people to come to the U.S. temporarily as nonagricultural workers, to fill positions for which U.S. workers are in short supply.
H-3 Visa to the U.S. as a Temporary Trainee: Who Qualifies?
The H-3 visa is useful for a limited group of people; namely those who have been invited to participate in a training program in the United States.
L-1, Intracompany Transferee Visa to the U.S.: Who Qualifies?
Learn which managers, executives, and especially knowledgeable employees who work outside the U.S. for a company that has an affiliated entity inside the U.S. can get an L-1 visa to come work temporarily in the United States.
O-1 Visa to the U.S. for Employment: Who Qualifies?
Short-term work visas are available to certain people doing specialized work, including the O visa for outstanding workers in the sciences, arts, athletics, education, or business.
P-1, P-2, or P-3 Visa to the U.S.: Who Qualifies?
A short-term U.S. work visa known as the P visa is available to outstanding athletes, athletic teams, and entertainment companies (including circuses) with a job offer from a U.S. employer.