Work Visa

The United States offers several types of work visas that allow foreign nationals to temporarily work in the country. Each work visa category is designed for specific purposes, employment situations, and eligibility criteria.

Here are some of the common work visa categories in the United States:

• H-1B Visa:

  1- The H-1B visa is for foreign workers in specialty occupations that require specialized knowledge, such as IT professionals, engineers, scientists, and others.

  2- Employers must sponsor H-1B applicants and demonstrate that the position requires a high level of expertise.

  3- H-1B visas are subject to an annual numerical cap, and the application process is highly competitive.

• L-1 Visa:

  1- The L-1 visa is for intracompany transferees, allowing multinational companies to transfer employees from an overseas office to a U.S. office.

  2- There are two subcategories: L-1A for managers and executives and L-1B for employees with specialized knowledge.

  3- To qualify, the foreign national must have worked for the overseas company for a specified period.

• O Visa:

  1- The O visa is for individuals with extraordinary ability or achievement in their field, including the O-1A for those with extraordinary abilities in science, education, business, or athletics, and the O-1B for individuals with extraordinary achievement in the arts or the film or television industry.

• TN Visa:

  1- The TN visa is available to citizens of Canada and Mexico under the United States-Mexico-Canada Agreement (USMCA).

  2- It allows professionals in certain occupations, such as engineers, scientists, and computer systems analysts, to work temporarily in the U.S.

• E Visa:

  1- The E visa category includes the E-1 and E-2 visas, which are for individuals involved in international trade (E-1) or those making a substantial investment in a U.S. enterprise (E-2).

  2- • E visas are available to nationals of countries with which the U.S. has treaties of commerce and navigation.

• H-2B Visa:

  1- The H-2B visa is for temporary non-agricultural workers. Employers must demonstrate that there is a temporary need for additional workers.

  2- It is often used in industries such as hospitality, landscaping, and construction.

• J-1 Visa:

  1- The J-1 visa is for individuals participating in exchange programs, including work and travel programs, research scholars, and interns.

  2- Participants must return to their home country upon completing the program.