Entering the United States to work could yield significant benefits for a worker or employee’s career. However, they could only do so by getting a work visa permitting them to do so legally, even if their stay is only temporary. Before flying to the country, an individual could obtain specific visa types based on their employment details.
The appropriate visa might depend on how long the individual plans to stay in the country for work. They could choose from various temporary worker visas, depending on which is more appropriate to their circumstances.
The following visa types are for temporary workers:
- H-1B: Appropriate for individuals with specialized skills or occupations, such as engineering or computer science. However, this visa has supply limits that refresh every year.
- L-1: Used by organizations relocating or transferring employees from their international locations to the United States. This visa has variations depending on the employee’s job position and responsibilities.
- O-1: This visa type is appropriate for people remarkably skilled in their industry or field, including business, arts, sports, science and entertainment. However, a worker must meet specific conditions to qualify for this visa.
- E-1 and E-2: These visas are specifically for trade activities, including investors or traders.
- TN: Only used for Mexican or Canadian citizens seeking work in the United States under the North American Free Trade Agreement.
- E-3: Special visas for foreign nationals in specialty occupations, specifically those traveling from Australia.
- H2-A: This is for foreigners entering the country to perform seasonal work lasting up to three years. The United States has a list of countries that could qualify for this visa type.
However, other visa types could be more appropriate based on the worker’s duties and role.
Determining appropriate visas and requirements
Some jobs have unique obligations, affecting the visa type’s relevance. Employers and foreign workers could collaborate to find out their categories and requirements. Doing so could help navigate the process and address any issues.