Each year the United States issues thousands of work visas to foreign nationals. However, there are dozens of different types of nonimmigrant visas that cover a wide variety of jobs.
From specialized jobs, to openings that do not require an academic degree. Here's what you should know about U.S. work visas:
Skilled Worker Visas (H-1B).
This type of visa is for skilled workers, highly skilled professionals in fields including engineering, technology, medicine and higher education.
And there are three subcategories of H-1B visas:
H-1B1: for specialized workers from Chile and Singapore.
H-1B2: for specialists who will work on projects for the Department of Defense Cooperative Research and Development program.
H-1B3: for fashion models of "distinguished merit and ability".
In 2021, the U.S. granted a total of 61,569 H-1B visas.
Requirements
The applicant must have educational preparation, training or experience in the chosen specialty. Eligibility criteria vary by H-1B visa type and can be found on the U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS) website.
How to Process
Once the Form I-129 has been filed by the employee and approved by USCIS, the applicant must apply for an H-1B visa through the U.S. Department of State (DOS) at a U.S. embassy or consulate.
Duration
Individuals under the H-1B visa may be admitted for a period of up to three years. However, their stay may be extended, but generally no more than six years.
Fee
The visa application fee is US$190.
Visas for non-professional workers without an academic degree (H-2A/H-2B)
Each year, the United States issues thousands of H-2 visas to experienced and inexperienced workers (nonprofessional and without an academic degree) to work temporarily in the country. This category is divided into two types of visas: H-2A for agricultural workers and H-2B for non-agricultural workers.
In 2021, the U.S. granted a total of 257,898 H-2A visas and 95,053 H-2B visas.
Requirements
Be a citizen of one of the eligible countries; see details here:
H-2A for agricultural workers
H-2B for non-agricultural workers
How to Apply
Temporary jobs available in the United States are posted on the Department of Labor (DOL) website. Interested individuals can log on to the site and search by occupation, industry, employer name, location, start date, or type of work, whether agricultural or non-agricultural.
Those interested in vacancies should call the telephone number, write to the e-mail address or go to the website listed under "Recruitment Information" to request more information and/or apply for the available vacancy.
Once they have a job offer from the employer, prospective workers outside the U.S. must apply for an H-2A or H-2B visa (after USCIS approves their Form I-129) with the U.S. Department of State at a U.S. embassy or consulate. Finally, they must apply for admission to the U.S. at a U.S. port of entry.
Duration
The maximum period of stay for both visas is 3 years.
H-2 visas are granted for a term of one year, although two extensions of up to one year each may be requested. The extension application must be filed prior to expiration and workers may remain in the U.S. during the extension process.
After a 3-year stay, H-2 visa beneficiaries must leave the U.S. for a period of 3 continuous months before applying for readmission under the same type of visa.
Fee
The visa application fee is US$190.
NAFTA Temporary Worker (TN) Visas
TN visas came about through the North American Free Trade Agreement (NAFTA) between the U.S., Mexico and Canada, whereby qualified Mexican and Canadian citizens may apply for admission to the U.S. as nonimmigrants to perform temporary work in the country. In 2021, the United States granted a total of 24,904 TN visas, according to government data.
Requirements
To apply for a TN visa it is necessary to be a citizen of Mexico or Canada, demonstrate a professional level in one of the professions established by NAFTA, have a pre-established full-time or part-time job offer from a U.S. employer, and meet the education and work experience requirements in the profession.
How to apply
Mexicans who want to apply for a TN visa will have to complete the DS-160 form online, print the application confirmation page and attend the interview at the U.S. Embassy or consulate in Mexico.
For the interview, the applicant must bring a valid passport, confirmation of the DS-160 form, receipt of payment of the application fee, a letter of job offer or contract in the U.S., and documentation showing that he/she meets the minimum education and/or work experience requirements.
Duration
Up to 3 years. However, there is no specific limit on the total period of time a foreign national may be under the TN visa as long as he/she continues his/her employment relationship.
Price
The visa application fee is US$160.
Visas for Persons of Extraordinary Ability (O-1)
The O-1 visa is for persons who have extraordinary ability in the sciences, arts, education, business or athletics or who can demonstrate extraordinary achievement in the motion picture or media industry and have been recognized for those achievements.
And there are 2 subcategories for O-1 visas:
O-1A: persons with extraordinary ability in the sciences, education, business or athletics.
O-1B: persons with extraordinary ability in the arts or extraordinary achievement in the motion picture or television industry.
In 2021, the United States granted a total of 7,294 O-1 visas, according to government data.
Requirements
USCIS stipulates that to qualify for an O-1 visa the beneficiary must demonstrate nationally and internationally recognized extraordinary ability. There is a list of documentation that the applicant must submit that USCIS lists on its website.
How to Apply
To begin, a U.S. employer or agent must submit Form I-129, contract between the petitioner and beneficiary, itinerary and evidence to demonstrate the beneficiary's eligibility.
Duration
USCIS will initially determine the time necessary to complete the activity for which the beneficiary was petitioned. However, "new petitions involving new events or an event to be determined individually if it is materially different from the event included in the initial petition, may be approved for up to 3 years," USCIS states.
Price
The visa application fee is US$ 190.
Intra-company transfer visa (L-1A/L-1B)
L-1A visas allow U.S. employers to transfer an executive or manager from one of their foreign offices to one of their U.S. offices, while the L-1B nonimmigrant classification allows U.S. employers to transfer professionals with specialized knowledge within the same company.
The United States granted a total of 24,863 L-1s in 2021.
Requirements
The employee must have worked for an eligible organization abroad for one continuous year within the three years prior to entering the U.S. The employee must also have performed executive, managerial or expert services, as the case may be, in a branch office of the same employer or in an eligible organization.
How to Apply
The U.S. employer must file Form I-129 with USCIS, pay the application fee (US$460) and submit all required documentation.
The applicant must complete the DS-160 form online, print the application confirmation page and attend the interview at the U.S. Embassy or Consulate in Mexico. At the interview, the applicant must present documents proving eligibility.
Duration
Employees entering the U.S. to open a new office will be allowed a maximum initial stay of one year. All other employees will be allowed a maximum initial stay of three years.
L-1A visa extensions are granted for up to two years, until the total maximum limit of seven years is reached.
L-1B visa extensions are granted for up to two years, until the total maximum limit of five years is reached.
Fee
The visa application fee is US$190.
From specialized jobs, to openings that do not require an academic degree. Here's what you should know about U.S. work visas:
Skilled Worker Visas (H-1B).
This type of visa is for skilled workers, highly skilled professionals in fields including engineering, technology, medicine and higher education.
And there are three subcategories of H-1B visas:
H-1B1: for specialized workers from Chile and Singapore.
H-1B2: for specialists who will work on projects for the Department of Defense Cooperative Research and Development program.
H-1B3: for fashion models of "distinguished merit and ability".
In 2021, the U.S. granted a total of 61,569 H-1B visas.
Requirements
The applicant must have educational preparation, training or experience in the chosen specialty. Eligibility criteria vary by H-1B visa type and can be found on the U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS) website.
How to Process
Once the Form I-129 has been filed by the employee and approved by USCIS, the applicant must apply for an H-1B visa through the U.S. Department of State (DOS) at a U.S. embassy or consulate.
Duration
Individuals under the H-1B visa may be admitted for a period of up to three years. However, their stay may be extended, but generally no more than six years.
Fee
The visa application fee is US$190.
Visas for non-professional workers without an academic degree (H-2A/H-2B)
Each year, the United States issues thousands of H-2 visas to experienced and inexperienced workers (nonprofessional and without an academic degree) to work temporarily in the country. This category is divided into two types of visas: H-2A for agricultural workers and H-2B for non-agricultural workers.
In 2021, the U.S. granted a total of 257,898 H-2A visas and 95,053 H-2B visas.
Requirements
Be a citizen of one of the eligible countries; see details here:
H-2A for agricultural workers
H-2B for non-agricultural workers
How to Apply
Temporary jobs available in the United States are posted on the Department of Labor (DOL) website. Interested individuals can log on to the site and search by occupation, industry, employer name, location, start date, or type of work, whether agricultural or non-agricultural.
Those interested in vacancies should call the telephone number, write to the e-mail address or go to the website listed under "Recruitment Information" to request more information and/or apply for the available vacancy.
Once they have a job offer from the employer, prospective workers outside the U.S. must apply for an H-2A or H-2B visa (after USCIS approves their Form I-129) with the U.S. Department of State at a U.S. embassy or consulate. Finally, they must apply for admission to the U.S. at a U.S. port of entry.
Duration
The maximum period of stay for both visas is 3 years.
H-2 visas are granted for a term of one year, although two extensions of up to one year each may be requested. The extension application must be filed prior to expiration and workers may remain in the U.S. during the extension process.
After a 3-year stay, H-2 visa beneficiaries must leave the U.S. for a period of 3 continuous months before applying for readmission under the same type of visa.
Fee
The visa application fee is US$190.
NAFTA Temporary Worker (TN) Visas
TN visas came about through the North American Free Trade Agreement (NAFTA) between the U.S., Mexico and Canada, whereby qualified Mexican and Canadian citizens may apply for admission to the U.S. as nonimmigrants to perform temporary work in the country. In 2021, the United States granted a total of 24,904 TN visas, according to government data.
Requirements
To apply for a TN visa it is necessary to be a citizen of Mexico or Canada, demonstrate a professional level in one of the professions established by NAFTA, have a pre-established full-time or part-time job offer from a U.S. employer, and meet the education and work experience requirements in the profession.
How to apply
Mexicans who want to apply for a TN visa will have to complete the DS-160 form online, print the application confirmation page and attend the interview at the U.S. Embassy or consulate in Mexico.
For the interview, the applicant must bring a valid passport, confirmation of the DS-160 form, receipt of payment of the application fee, a letter of job offer or contract in the U.S., and documentation showing that he/she meets the minimum education and/or work experience requirements.
Duration
Up to 3 years. However, there is no specific limit on the total period of time a foreign national may be under the TN visa as long as he/she continues his/her employment relationship.
Price
The visa application fee is US$160.
Visas for Persons of Extraordinary Ability (O-1)
The O-1 visa is for persons who have extraordinary ability in the sciences, arts, education, business or athletics or who can demonstrate extraordinary achievement in the motion picture or media industry and have been recognized for those achievements.
And there are 2 subcategories for O-1 visas:
O-1A: persons with extraordinary ability in the sciences, education, business or athletics.
O-1B: persons with extraordinary ability in the arts or extraordinary achievement in the motion picture or television industry.
In 2021, the United States granted a total of 7,294 O-1 visas, according to government data.
Requirements
USCIS stipulates that to qualify for an O-1 visa the beneficiary must demonstrate nationally and internationally recognized extraordinary ability. There is a list of documentation that the applicant must submit that USCIS lists on its website.
How to Apply
To begin, a U.S. employer or agent must submit Form I-129, contract between the petitioner and beneficiary, itinerary and evidence to demonstrate the beneficiary's eligibility.
Duration
USCIS will initially determine the time necessary to complete the activity for which the beneficiary was petitioned. However, "new petitions involving new events or an event to be determined individually if it is materially different from the event included in the initial petition, may be approved for up to 3 years," USCIS states.
Price
The visa application fee is US$ 190.
Intra-company transfer visa (L-1A/L-1B)
L-1A visas allow U.S. employers to transfer an executive or manager from one of their foreign offices to one of their U.S. offices, while the L-1B nonimmigrant classification allows U.S. employers to transfer professionals with specialized knowledge within the same company.
The United States granted a total of 24,863 L-1s in 2021.
Requirements
The employee must have worked for an eligible organization abroad for one continuous year within the three years prior to entering the U.S. The employee must also have performed executive, managerial or expert services, as the case may be, in a branch office of the same employer or in an eligible organization.
How to Apply
The U.S. employer must file Form I-129 with USCIS, pay the application fee (US$460) and submit all required documentation.
The applicant must complete the DS-160 form online, print the application confirmation page and attend the interview at the U.S. Embassy or Consulate in Mexico. At the interview, the applicant must present documents proving eligibility.
Duration
Employees entering the U.S. to open a new office will be allowed a maximum initial stay of one year. All other employees will be allowed a maximum initial stay of three years.
L-1A visa extensions are granted for up to two years, until the total maximum limit of seven years is reached.
L-1B visa extensions are granted for up to two years, until the total maximum limit of five years is reached.
Fee
The visa application fee is US$190.