Temporary Work Visas
Temporary work visas are for noncitizens who want to enter the United States for employment lasting a fixed period of time, and are not considered permanent or indefinite. In most cases, these categories require the prospective employer to first file a petition with U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS).
Temporary (Nonimmigrant) Workers
H-1B
Workers in a specialty occupation, as well as the following sub-classifications:
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H-1B1 - Free Trade Agreement workers in a specialty occupation from Chile and Singapore.
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H-1B2 - Specialty occupations related to Department of Defense Cooperative Research and Development projects or Co-production projects.
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H-1B3 - Fashion models of distinguished merit and ability.
TN
This category permits qualified Canadian and Mexican to engage in business activities at a professional level. Among the types of professionals who are eligible to seek admission as TN nonimmigrants are accountants, engineers, lawyers, pharmacists, scientists, and teachers.
L
This category allows a U.S. employer to transfer an employee working for a qualifying affiliate abroad in either:
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A managerial or executive capacity
(L-1A) or, -
A specialized knowledge capacity
(L-1B).
P
This category is for accomplished athletic teams and athletes (P-1A), members of entertainment groups (P-1B), and artists or entertainers (P-2 or P-3) that have received an offer of short-term employment from a U.S. based employer.
Did you know...?
In addition to the categories mentioned above, there are other types of petitions an employer could file for you, such as:
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H-2A - Temporary or seasonal agricultural workers
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H-2B - Temporary non-agricultural workers.
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H-3 - Trainees other than medical or academic as well as practical training in the education of handicapped children.
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I - Representatives of foreign press, radio, film or other foreign information media.
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O-1A - Individuals with an extraordinary ability in the sciences, education, business, or athletics.
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O-1B - Individuals with an extraordinary ability in the arts or extraordinary achievement in motion picture or television industry.
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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 noncitizen's home country.
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R-1 - Religious workers.