How To Get A Us Visa For Work

Getting a US visa for work can seem complicated. It’s time consuming, and puts you under a lot of stress. But it doesn’t have to be this way.

In the highly competitive world of today, it is really tough for people to get a job in their desired country. Lots of candidates apply for jobs in foreign countries but only few are able to get successful on their visa applications. But if you are thinking that getting a US Visa is impossible then you’re wrong!

The US has many great economic and business opportunities. From the Silicon Valley in California to New York City, there are plenty of work places to choose from. Getting a US visa can be an arduous process. But it is worth if you want to work in the US.

This guide is intended to help you know how to get a US visa. It includes information on the required documents, forms and steps for getting a Work Visa for USA.

A student visa to the U.S. is an F-1 Visa. Anyone who wants to study in the U.S. has to apply for this visa. Several countries require that students apply for an F-1 Visa even if they intend to only study for a short time, or if they plan to visit the U.S. on vacation or for medical treatment only.

Besides being a country where many people go for touristic purposes, the US is also a popular working destination. People from all over the world want to work in the US because of the high salaries and good working environments.

How To Get A Us Visa For Work

There are two ways through which you can go to the US for employment purposes:

• As a temporary employee
• As a sponsored/permanent employee

The temporary employees need a US non immigrant visa, while the sponsored employees need an Immigrant Visa. This article will cover all you need to know about being a temporary employee and getting a US work visa.

What is the American Work Visa?

The Work Visa USA is used for people to go and work temporarily in the US. for a specified period of time. The period of time that you will be working should be noted in the employment contract or the visa application. This type of US visa does not allow individuals to work in the US indefinitely or permanently. Applicants need to fulfill a list of US visa requirements and submit the documents specified in the next sections of this article to be eligible to apply for a temporary work visa USA.

Work Visa USA Types

There are several types of US work visas depending on the purpose and the kind of work that you want to do.

Here are the types of US Temporary Work Visas:

• H1B visa: Person in Specialty Occupation. To work in a specialty occupation. Requires a higher education degree or its equivalent. Includes fashion models of distinguished merit and ability and government-to-government research and development, or co-production projects administered by the Department of Defense.
• H-1B1 visa: Free Trade Agreement (FTA) Professional – Chile, Singapore. To work in a specialty occupation. Requires a post-secondary degree involving at least four years of study in the field of specialization. (Note: This is not a petition-based visa.)
• H-2A visa: Temporary Agricultural Worker. For temporary or seasonal agricultural work. Limited to citizens or nationals of designated countries, with limited exceptions, if determined to be in the United States interest.
• H-2B visa: Temporary Non-agricultural Worker. For temporary or seasonal non- agricultural work. Limited to citizens or nationals of designated countries, with limited exceptions, if determined to be in the United States interest.
• H-3 visa: Trainee or Special Education visitor. To receive training, other than graduate medical or academic, that is not available in the trainee’s home country or practical training programs in the education of children with mental, physical, or emotional disabilities.
• I visa: Representatives of Foreign Media. The visa allows journalists and those who work in the information or media sector to complete their work while in the US.
• L1 visa: Intracompany Transferee. To work at a branch, parent, affiliate, or subsidiary of the current employer in a managerial or executive capacity, or in a position requiring specialized knowledge.  Individual must have been employed by the same employer abroad continuously for 1 year within the three preceding years
• P-1 visa: Individual or Team Athlete, or Member of an Entertainment Group. To perform at a specific athletic competition as an athlete or as a member of an entertainment group. Requires an internationally recognized level of sustained performance. Includes persons providing essential services in support of the above individual.
• P-2 visa: Artist or Entertainer (Individual or Group). For performance under a reciprocal exchange program between an organization in the United States and an organization in another country. Includes persons providing essential services in support of the above individual.
• P-3 visa: Artist or Entertainer (Individual or Group). To perform, teach or coach under a program that is culturally unique or a traditional ethnic, folk, cultural, musical, theatrical, or artistic performance or presentation. Includes persons providing essential services in support of the above individual.
• R-1 visa: Temporary Nonimmigrant Religious Workers. To help foreign nationals to come to the US and work in a religious organization. Only ministers and those who are directly tied to religious work are qualified.
• TN visa: NAFTA Workers. This visa allows lawyers, scientists, engineers, teachers from Canada to work in the US temporarily.
• O1 Visa: Visa for persons with extraordinary abilities. The O1 visa is for those who show expert knowledge in science, business, education, athletics, or art, including international recognition for their work.

Read more:

>Differences between H1b visa and L1 visa

Work Visa USA Qualifications

There are three preconditions that someone interested in obtaining a US work visa needs to fulfill before applying for it. If you do not meet even one of these conditions, the Embassy might deny your visa application. This will make you unable to travel to the US and work there. These preconditions are as follows:

Have a job offer in the US

You need to have applied for, and been accepted in a job position within the US in order to qualify for a work visa. That is because the US requires several documents from your employer before you start your visa application.

Approved petition by the US Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS)

This requirement means that before you apply for a US work visa, your employer must file a Petition for a Nonimmigrant Worker with USCIS. This petition, otherwise known as a I-129 form is the most important document for you to get your work visa. When USCIS approves your employer’s petition, you can start applying for the visa. However, if your petition is approved, that does not necessarily mean that the US Embassy will automatically give you a work visa. Due to reasons that might remain at the discretion of the Embassy, you could be denied the work visa even if your USCIS petition is approved.

Labor certification approval by the Department of Labor (DOL)

Some of the work visas, more specifically the H-1B, H-1B1, H-2A, and H-2B also require your employer to have a certification from DOL. Your employer should apply for the DOL on your behalf before even filing the petition with USCIS. The US government requires this certification as proof that US employers need foreign workers. They have to prove that they cannot fill those work positions with US employees. In addition, the certification is needed in order to ensure that temporary foreign workers are not having an impact on job opportunities for US citizens in a negative way.

US Work Visa Requirements

In addition to fulfilling the three qualifying preconditions, you will also need to have these documents:

• Valid passport – which needs to be valid for the entire duration of your stay in the US and an additional six months after you return
• US visa photo – which you need to upload when you fill out the online application form.
• The Receipt Number, which you can find on your approved Petition for a Nonimmigrant Worker (I-129 Form) which your employer filed.
• A confirmation page that you have completed your Nonimmigrant Visa Application (DS-160 Form).
• Receipt that proves that you have paid the application fee. For US work visas, the application fee is $190. There might also be additional fees that apply to your location, so you should check with your local US Embassy about more details.
• Proof that you will return to your home country after your work in the US ends. This applies to all types of work visas with the exception of the H-1B and the L visa. Examples of how you can prove you will return from the US include the following:
  • Submitting your economic situation
  • Your family relationships
  • Any long term plans you might have
  • Residence that you plan on returning to
• For those applying for an L Visa, you will also need to have a filled I-129S form (Nonimmigrant Petition Based on Blanket L Petition). You should bring this form with you when you have your visa interview.

Besides these general requirements, which apply to all those who want to get a US work visa, there might also be other documents which you need to submit. You should contact your local US Embassy for more detailed information.