Non-Immigrant Visas

Temporary Workers

Persons going to the United States with the intention of working there temporarily require a nonimmigrant work visa. Persons entering the United States on a visitor or business visa are not permitted to work.

The United States does not issue work visas for casual employment. In general, work visas are based on a specific offer of employment from a U.S. employer.

The most common categories of nonimmigrant work visas are:

• Temporary Work Visa (H) - This visa is for prearranged professional or highly skilled employment for a temporary period, or to fill a temporary position for which there is a shortage of U.S. workers, or to receive training from an employer. The employment or training must be approved in advance by United States Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS) in the United States on the basis of an application filed by the prospective employer. For more information, please click here.

• Intra-company Transferee Visa (L-1) - The visa allows a multinational business having offices in several countries to transfer managerial and executive personnel to the United States. The employer must first receive an approval from USCIS in the United States for the transfer of the employee before a visa application can be submitted. For more information, please click here.

Application Procedures: For information on applying for this visa, please see “How to Apply.”

Due to new security regulations, some applications may require additional clearance and longer processing. Since the application process cannot be accelerated, please apply well in advance of your travel date, and do not purchase plane tickets until you have received your visa. Applicants should refrain from calling the Embassy to inquire about the status of their application. Visa applicants should never assume their application will be automatically approved.