What is the Best United States Work Visa For You

Various work visas are available for internationals who wish to work in the United States. Different types of visas are available for different kinds of workers.  It is important to apply for the best United States work visa for you to get the best experience working abroad as possible. 

Permanent Residency and Green Card

If you have obtained a higher degree and are a registered nurse, or physical therapist, have strong professional ability in the sciences, arts, education, athletics and business, are an international executive, or are known as an outstanding professor or researcher you may obtain a green card which includes applying for a permanent US residency.

If you do not fit into any of the above categories it can be very difficult to initially obtain a permanent residence and green card in the United States. This is because you must apply for a PERM Labor Certification as criteria for a Green Card that states that there are not enough Americans who could fill the job vacancy that you hope to fill. It is best to first apply for a temporary work visa. 

Temporary Work Visas

Many different temporary work visas are available with time periods last anywhere between 1 and 3 years.  There is also the option to petition to extend your temporary work visa if your job needs to continue for another year or so. 

• The B1 and B2 visas are temporary visitor visas that can be used for business trips.  If you simply have business to do in the United States such as negotiate, make sales, handle investments, attend meetings or conferences, interview and hire or conduct research you should apply for a B1/B2 visa. 

• The H1B Visa is a temporary visa that allows a corporation or company to employ a foreigner for as long as 6 years.  This is a better option than the green card, since nonimmigrant visas are processed faster and generally granted more often.  Your employer must petition for your H1B, you cannot obtain it yourself.

• The L1 Visas are for international companies that work both in the US and abroad, to transfer employers to positions in the US to work for 3 years but sometimes up to 7 years.  This is generally limited to managers, executives and specialized knowledge staff , or those who have extensive knowledge  of the company.

• E treaty trader or treaty investor visas are for people who are already employed by companies that are registered as Treaty Traders or Treaty Investors with the US. These visas generally last for up to 2 years.  The E-3 visa is particularly for Australians to move to the US along with their families in order to work in a specialty occupation. These "specialty occupations" are jobs that simply require a minimum education level of a bachelor's degree.  As with all temporary work visas, an E visas requires that your US employer petitions on your behalf.
• The J-1 exchange visitor visa is the best way to work for a short period of time (18 months) in the US in order to learn skills to take back to your home country.  After completing the J-1 visitor visa you must live in your home country for at least 2 years before you may ever apply for another US visa. 

• H visas are for specialty workers, fashion models, temporary agricultural workers, skilled and unskilled workers, those training for positions, and family members of people who are on a work visa. The employer must provide proof that there are no unemployed US workers able or willing to do the work they seek to hire foreigners to do by having posted ads within a worker recruitment campaign.   The H visa lasts as long as the temporary work lasts.

• There are many other temporary work visas that are less common.  The A visas are for diplomatic personnel.  The D visas are for crewmembers. F visas are for students who may also apply to work while studying in the US.  G visas are for representatives from international organizations. The I visas are for press and foreign media. P visas are for entertainers and athletes that are internationally recognized. The R visas are designated for religious workers and TN visas are trade visas for Mexicans and Canadians.

Go to your specific US consulate or embassy website for detailed information on how to go about applying for your specific United States work visa.  If you need help finding a temporary job in the United States you can search the many job resource websites online, such as workpermit.com.