Everything You Need to Know About Working Temporarily and Permanently in the US and Getting Your Work Visa
The United States is a desirable place in which to work, study, visit, conduct business and invest. People from all over the world go to the US for a variety of reasons and to a variety of places.
With every diverse state offering unique work opportunities, working in the United States may be appealing to you.
In order to work in the United States, you must possess a valid US visa and maintain your status according to applicable eligibility requirements.
The following visas are grouped for temporary and permanent work in the US. Read on to discover which visa will help you achieve your goal of working in one of the great 52 states in America.
Click on the heading that interests you:
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- TN Visa
- L-1 - Work Visa
- E-1 - Treaty Trader Work Visa
- H-1B - Specialty Occupations - US Department of Defense (DOD) and Fashion Models Work Visa
- H-2B - Temporary Non-Agricultural Worker Visa
- R-1 - Religious Worker Visa
- O-1 - Extraordinary Ability Worker Visa
- O-1A - Extraordinary Ability Worker Visa for Science, Education, Business, Athletics
- O-1B - Extraordinary Ability in the Arts Worker Visa
- O-2 Visa - Personnel Accompanying O-1B Worker Visa Holders
- P-1 Worker Visa Category
- P-1A - Work Visa for Internationally Recognized Athlete and Sports Teams
- P-1B - Work Visa for Members of Internationally Recognized Entertainment Groups
- P-2 - Work Visa for Performers or Groups Performing Under Reciprocal Exchange
- Permanent Work Visas
- EB-1 - Work Visa for Immigrants with Extraordinary Ability
- EB-2 - Work Visa for Individuals with an Advanced Degree or Exceptional Ability
- EB-3 - Skilled, Professional, and Unskilled Worker Green Card
- EB-4 - Green Card for Special Immigrants
- Why Contact My Visa Source for an Assessment?
- Begin Your Application for a Work Visa Today!
Nonimmigrant Work Visas (Temporary)
TN Visa
Are you a Canadian or Mexican citizen who wants to work temporarily in the United States?
Have you been offered full-time employment in the US and you are a trained professional in one of the professions listed in the North American Free Trade Agreement (NAFTA)? If so, this Trade National (TN) visa might apply to you and your situation.
You may qualify for the TN if you are an individual and either a Canadian or Mexican citizen and you have a US job offer. The TN visa is also for families who are Canadian or Mexican citizens.
Are you a business owner who is looking to fill a role in your US organization? Apply today for the TN visa. For more details. Back to the Table of Contents.
L-1 - Work Visa
Do you work for a US company overseas, but want to be transferred to the same US company in the US location? If so, you may consider applying for the L-1A work visa.
Are you an individual with specialized knowledge? If so, the L-1B visa may be right for you.
Both the L-1A and L-1B visas apply to individuals, family members, business owners, and investors.
The L-1A and L-1B visa holders are employees working for companies outside the United States that have branches, subsidiaries, affiliates or joint venture partners in the United States. For more details. Back to the Table of Contents.
E-1 - Treaty Trader Work Visa
For individuals, business owners, or family members who want to live and work temporarily in the United States and who are involved in the exchange, purchase or sale of goods/services or merchandise. For more details. Back to the Table of Contents.
H-1B - Specialty Occupations - US Department of Defense (DOD) and Fashion Models Work Visa
Have you achieved international prominence as a fashion model and you have been given an opportunity to work temporarily in the US for a runway show, a fashion shoot, or similar?
The H-1B visa could be the right solution for you to see your dream come true.
Other specialty workers, such as US Department of Defense workers may also qualify for the H-1B visa. H-1B applies to individuals, family members, and businesses or business owners. For more details. Back to the Table of Contents.
H-2B - Temporary Non-Agricultural Worker Visa
This temporary worker visa is for individuals, family members, and businesses or business owners.
Are you a skilled or unskilled worker who wants to work in the United States temporarily in a non-agricultural position? You may qualify for the H-2B visa. For more details. Back to the Table of Contents.
R-1 - Religious Worker Visa
If you have found your calling in religious work and wish to pursue temporary work, like preaching, in the United States, the R-1 temporary work visa will allow you to work within the US for a religious organization. For more details. Back to the Table of Contents.
O-1 - Extraordinary Ability Worker Visa
If you are lucky enough to have been born with extraordinary ability in the arts, sport, business, education, or the sciences, you may consider applying for one of the visas in the O-1 visa program. For more details. Back to the Table of Contents.
O-1A - Extraordinary Ability Worker Visa for Science, Education, Business, Athletics
You are a unique individual and have been born with extraordinary ability in the sciences, education, business, or athletics and want to work temporarily in the US; consider applying for the O-1A visa. Family members and business owners may also be eligible for this visa. For more details. Back to the Table of Contents.
O-1B - Extraordinary Ability in the Arts Worker Visa
If you are someone with extraordinary ability in the arts or extraordinary achievement in the motion picture or television industry and you want to work temporarily in the US, you could realize your dream by applying for an O-1B visa. For more details. Back to the Table of Contents.
O-2 Visa - Personnel Accompanying O-1B Worker Visa Holders
The O-2 is for an individual to accompany the O-1 visa holder to a specific event or performance on a temporary basis in the US. For more details. Back to the Table of Contents.
P-1 Worker Visa Category
This non-immigrant visa for temporary work in the United States may be given to individuals or as an individual on a team, to members in the entertainment industry who all want to visit the US to compete, perform or promote themselves. There are two visas in this category: P-1A and P-1B. For more details. Back to the Table of Contents.
P-1A - Work Visa for Internationally Recognized Athlete and Sports Teams
Are you an internationally recognized individual athlete or sports team and you have been invited to attend an athletic competition on a one-time basis in the US?
If you are, then the P-1A visa might be your best option for working in the US temporarily. For more details. Back to the Table of Contents.
P-1B - Work Visa for Members of Internationally Recognized Entertainment Groups
Are you fortunate enough to have been born with exceptional talent, enough so that you are a member of an entertainment group that has received international recognition?
If so, and you are in a group with two or more members, the P-1B visa may apply to you or your family members. For more details. Back to the Table of Contents.
P-2 - Work Visa for Performers or Groups Performing Under Reciprocal Exchange
Are you a performer in a group and you want to enter the US to perform as part of a reciprocal exchange program between the US and an organization in your country? Find out more about the P-2 visa. For more details. Back to the Table of Contents.
Immigrant Work Visas (Permanent)
EB-1 - Work Visa for Immigrants with Extraordinary Ability
This employment-based visa is for individuals and family members who have an extraordinary ability, are an outstanding professor or researcher, or are a multinational executive or manager and who want to reside in the US permanently.
The EB-1 does not require an employment offer but requires applicants to work in the US in their field of expertise. For more details. Back to the Table of Contents.
EB-2 - Work Visa for Individuals with an Advanced Degree or Exceptional Ability
This permanent work visa, the EB-2, may be appropriate for you, your family members, or for you as a business owner, if you have achieved success in academics or you have exceptional ability and you have been offered a permanent employment position in the United States. For more details. Back to the Table of Contents.
EB-3 - Skilled, Professional, and Unskilled Worker Green Card
If you are dreaming of immigrating to the United States and you fit the criteria for a skilled worker, a professional, or an unskilled worker, you may be eligible for the EB-3 visa for permanent residence.
The United States offers many employment positions for individuals who are non-citizens of the US and who want to move to the US on a permanent basis. For more details. Back to the Table of Contents.
EB-4 - Green Card for Special Immigrants
United States Citizenship and Immigration (USCIS) classifies some individuals as ‘Special Immigrants’. If you are considered a special immigrant by USCIS, you may be eligible for the EB-4 special immigrant worker visa, which would allow you to live and work permanently in the US. For more details. Back to the Table of Contents.
Why Contact My Visa Source for an Assessment?
Congratulations on taking your first step toward working and living in the United States.
The more research you do on the immigration process, the more you will learn about your specific situation and how we can help you navigate through the work visa process.
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Our expertise focuses on immigration and visa programs for the United States and Canada, including global immigration.
Partnering with an award-winning immigration team greatly increases the likelihood of achieving your specific immigration or visa goals.
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