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 to work, study, visit, conduct business and invest. People from all over the world travel to the US for a variety of reasons and to a variety of places.
With every state offering unique employment 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 further 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:
Nonimmigrant Work Visas (Temporary)
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 is 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.
You may qualify for the TN visa if you are 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.
Do you work for a US company overseas, but want to be transferred to the same US company in a 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.
This visa is 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.
Have you achieved international prominence as a fashion model and have been given the 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.
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.
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.
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.
O-1A - Extraordinary Ability Worker Visa for Science, Education, Business, Athletics
If you are a unique individual that has 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.
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 want to work temporarily in the US, you could achieve your dream by applying for an O-1B visa.
O-2 Visa - Personnel Accompanying O-1B Worker Visa Holders
The O-2 visa is for the individual accompanying the O-1 visa holder to a specific event or performance on a temporary basis in the US.
This non-immigrant visa for temporary work in the United States may be given to individuals, an individual on a team, or to members in the entertainment industry who want to visit the US to compete, perform or promote themselves. There are two visas in this category: P-1A and P-1B.
P-1A - Work Visa for Internationally Recognized Athlete and Sports Teams
Are you an internationally recognized individual athlete or sports team and 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.
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, the P-1B visa may apply to you or your family members if you are in a group with two or more members.
P-2 - Work Visa for Performers or Groups Performing Under Reciprocal Exchange
Are you a performer in a group and 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.
