U.S. Work Visas: Different Types and Eligibility Requirements
A visa is a document authorizing you to gain admittance into the United States. If you wish to visit, work, or immigrate to the country, you’ll need to obtain a U.S. visa first. Note that your entry into the U.S. is not guaranteed by a visa. However, it does indicate to a U.S. Consulate or Embassy officer that you’re eligible to seek entry into the U.S. for a specific purpose.
Foreign nationals wanting to work legally in the U.S. can apply for different types of work visas that suit them. The most common types are green cards, temporary work visas, and seasonal work visas.
U.S. Green Cards
You can become a permanent resident of the United States or a Green Card holder via offer of employment. Green cards are also provided to a number of successful applicants in a lottery program.
In some cases, the U.S. Department of Labor requires certification to prove that there weren’t enough able, qualified, willing, and available U.S. workers in a geographical area; making hiring an immigrant necessary and ensuring that no American worker was displaced by a foreign one.
It’s possible to get a visa based on your current employment. This is true for specialized job categories. For example, you might be eligible for First Preference EB-1 visa for employment-based immigration in case you are an accomplished professor, researcher, or multinational executive.
For more information on applying for a Green Card, visit U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS) official website.
Temporary Worker Visas for Skilled Workers
Skilled and educated individuals holding specialized occupations can apply for U.S. H-1B non-immigrant visas. It allows foreign workers to work for a U.S. employer on a temporary basis. There are certain requirements that applicants must fulfill before applying, though.
You need to show evidence of an employee-employer relationship and be paid more than the average wage for that occupation. Each year, only 65,000 H-1B visas are issued. Access the latest instructions for applying for H-1B visas on the USCIS website.
Seasonal Agricultural Worker Visas
Foreign agricultural workers can acquire U.S. Seasonal Agricultural Worker Visas (H-2A) on a temporary or seasonal basis. However, there should be a shortage of domestic workers. The H-2A program allows U.S. employers to fulfill the requirement of bringing foreign nationals to the country to take over temporary jobs. You can find detailed information on H-2A visas on the USCIS website.
Affordable Immigration Attorney Services
Need legal counsel on U.S. immigration? Milenkovic Law Group PLLC has a team of immigration law specialists that can help you obtain the U.S. work visa that meets your needs. We also provide personal injury attorney and real-estate attorney services in Long Island, Brooklyn, and surrounding areas of New York.
Reach out to us today to learn more.