Working in the U.S.
Learn about the many ways to work and conduct business acitivities in the U.S.
Important things to keep in mind
While some other popular destinations tend to split work visas in two (ex:seasonal and long term employment), the U.S. first splits it into permanent and temporary classifications and then situation specific work visas instead. Outside of Q-1 visa holders, all other visa groups have visas available for dependent spouses and children.
Permanent Worker Visa Preference Categories
First Preference EB-1
This preference is reserved for persons of extraordinary ability in the sciences, arts, education, business, or athletics; outstanding professors or researchers; and certain multinational executives and managers.
Second Preference EB-2
This preference is reserved for persons who are members of the professions holding advanced degrees or for persons with exceptional ability in the arts, sciences, or business.
Third Preference EB-3
This preference is reserved for professionals, skilled workers, and other workers.
Fourth Preference EB-4
This preference is reserved for “special immigrants,” which includes certain religious workers, employees of U.S. foreign service posts, retired employees of international organizations, alien minors who are wards of courts in the United States, and other classes of aliens.
Fifth Preference EB-5
This preference is reserved for business investors who invest $1,050,000 or $800,000 (if the investment is made in a targeted employment area) in a new commercial enterprise that employs at least 10 full-time U.S. workers.
Temporary (Nonimmigrant) Worker Classification
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E-1 - Treaty traders and qualified employees
E-2 - Treaty investors and qualified employees
E-2C - Long-term foreign investors in the CNMI
E-3 - Certain "specialty occupation" professionals from Australia
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H-1B - Workers in a specialty occupation and the following sub-classifications:
H-1B1 - Free Trade Agreement workers in a specialty occupation from Chile and Singapore.
H-1B2 - Specialty occupations related to Department of Defense Cooperative Research and Development projects or Co-production projects.
H-1B3 - Fashion models of distinguished merit and ability.
H-2A - Temporary or seasonal agricultural workers
H-2B - Temporary non-agricultural workers
H-3 - Trainees other than medical or academic. This classification also applies to practical training in the education of handicapped children
CW-1 - CNMI-Only transitional worker
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O-1 - Persons with extraordinary ability in sciences, arts, education, business, or athletics and motion picture or TV production
O-2 - Persons accompanying solely to assist an O-1 nonimmigrant
P-1A - Internationally recognized athletes.
P-1B - Internationally recognized entertainers or members of internationally recognized entertainment groups.
P-2 - Individual performer or part of a group entering to perform under a reciprocal exchange program.
P-3 - Artists or entertainers, either an individual or group, to perform, teach, or coach under a program that is culturally unique.
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I - Representatives of foreign press, radio, film or other foreign information media
L-1A - Intracompany transferees in managerial or executive positions
L-1B - Intracompany transferees in positions utilizing specialized knowledge
Q-1 - Persons participating in an international cultural exchange program for the purpose of providing practical training, employment, and to share the history, culture, and traditions of the alien's home country.
R-1 - Religious workers.
TN - North American Free Trade Agreement (NAFTA) temporary professionals from Mexico and Canada.
