Job visas, student visas, and marriage visas are among the various immigrant and non-immigrant visas available.
Overview of US visas
Non-citizens may serve in the United States on a variety of work visas. Many permits you to work for a limited time, while others provide a route to permanent residency. Determine if you qualify for a temporary or permanent job visa.
What do I require to begin working in the United States?
You will operate in the United States as a non-citizen if you have a temporary or permanent job visa. If you are an international student, a refugee who has been provided asylum, or a legal permanent resident, you can work in the United States.
What are temporary work permits, and how can you get one?
Non-immigrant work visas, also known as temporary work visas, permit you to work in the United States for a limited time. Numerous categories of temporary visas are available under the Immigration and Nationality Act (INA), including visas for:
- Employees whose employers want them to live in the United States
- People from specific countries choose to do foreign business.
- People who have advanced talents, professions, or exceptional abilities
- Those enrolled in special training services as trainees.
- Religious professionals
H1-B visas, L-1A visas, L-1B visas, and J-1 visas are significant kinds of temporary work visas.
H1-B visas for specialty occupations
The H1-B1 visa is the most general of the three forms of H1-B visas. With H1-B1, non-citizens with bachelor’s degrees or higher are permitted to receive work opportunities in the United States. If you have an international degree, it has to be at least the equivalent of a bachelor’s degree in the United States. The work you want to do for this form of visa must be related to your degree. Your company shall file forms ETA-9035 and I-129 on your behalf.
L-1A and L1-B Intracompany transferee visas
L-1A non-immigrant visas allow US employers to move executives or managers from a foreign office to a US location. It also encourages an international corporation that still doesn’t have a US office to assign an executive or manager to the country to open one. L1-B visas are close to L1-A visas in that they enable US employers to move workers with advanced skills. The company should file Form I-129 on behalf of the employee for any visa.
J-1 visa for exchange travelers
J-1 visas enable non-citizens to pursue schooling, the arts, and science in accredited exchange programs. Professors, researchers, study assistants, apprentices, trainees, instructors, experts, nannies, and camp counselors are examples of exchange guests.
If you choose to serve on a J-1 visa, you must apply for Form DS-2019 to the Department of State and be sponsored by your employer or university. Your partner and children too are permitted to serve in the United States if you are given a J-1 visa.
What are permanent job permits, and how can you get one?
Try applying for a permanent employment visa, also known as an immigrant work visa, if you choose to immigrate to the United States rather than work briefly. The five permanent visas are grouped into five priority sections since the US only accepts 140,000 immigrant work visas each year.
- EB-1 visas enable highly skilled individuals with “extraordinary talent” in the sciences, arts, education, industry, or athletics to immigrate to the United States based on their professional achievement.
- EB-2 visas enable people with advanced degrees or extraordinary ability in the arts, sciences, or industry to operate in the United States.
- Professionals, technical employees, and other workers are qualified for EB-3 visas.
- EB-4 visas are only granted to “unique immigrants,” such as religious personnel, former foreign organization employees, and court ward’s children
- EB-5 visas enable foreigners to spend $1 million in a new commercial company of at least ten full-time workers.
What is the best way to find out whether I am permitted to work in the United States?
Your education, qualifications, and priorities decide your eligibility. An employment-related immigration attorney will assist you in determining which visa to apply for, as well as completing and filing the application.
The United States offers several types of visas and processes millions of applicants per year. On the other hand, many individuals only use a limited percentage of the total number of visa forms accessible. The B1 company visa and the B2 visitor visa (often provided together as a B1/B2), the F-1 student visa, the H-1B speciality occupation visa, the H-4 based visa, the J-1 trade visa, and the K-1 fiance visa are some of the most popular.
Each form of visa has its own set of conditions. In the table below, you will read more about them. However, since immigration law is continuously evolving, consulting an immigration lawyer before applying is indeed a brilliant idea.
Purpose | Length of stay | Application | Key requirements | |
B1/B2 Visa | Tourism, visits, and business travel. | Up to 6 months. | Complete the online DS-160 application. | 1) Evidence that your stay in the United States will be temporary. |
F-1 Visa | Study in an academic or language-training program at a qualifying US college or university. | Until graduation or your last day as a student, plus a 60 day grace period. | Obtain an I-20 from your school, and complete the online DS-160 application. | 1) Enrollment in a SEVP-approved school. 2) In an academic or language-training program (vocational programs do not qualify). |
H-1B Visa | Employment in a specialty occupation. | Duration of the employment relationship. | Your employer handles the application process. | 1) Position in a specialty occupation. 2) Position related to your field of study. 3) Pay at or above the actual or prevailing wage. 4) Valid employment relationship. 5) Available at time of petition. |
H-4 Visa | Family members of an H-1B worker. | Duration of the H-1B visa used as the basis for the H-4 visa. | Complete the online DS-160 application once the H-1B holder has received their I-797 notice of approval. | 1) Spouse or child of an H-1, H-2, or H-3 visa holder. |
J-1 Visa | Participation in an exchange visitor program. | Dependent on the program. Ranges from 4 months to 7 years, plus a 30 day grace period. | Complete the DS-2019 form provided to you by your program’s sponsor. | Varies by program. |
K-1 Visa | The fiancee of a US citizen traveling to the US to marry that citizen. | 90 days, during which marriage must occur. | US citizens complete the I-129F petition, then the fiancee completes the DS-160 application. | 1) US citizen petitioner. 2) Marrying within 90 days of the fiancee’s entrance. 3) Free to marry. 4) Has met fiancee in person at least once in the 2 years before application (with certain exceptions.) |
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