U.S. Visas
The United States of America has the world’s largest economy and is a top destination for skilled foreign workers and their families.
Up to 140,000 skilled immigrants and their family members become new U.S. permanent residents each year through Employment-Based Green Card programs.
U.S. Permanent Resident Green Card holders can live, study, and work in the USA for an unlimited time period and have the opportunity to become American citizens after five years.
Additionally, around 1.2 million foreign workers and their families relocate to the United States annually through temporary work visa programs.
Temporary U.S. work visas are normally valid for up to 1-3 years and usually have an option for renewal if the foreign worker meets the criteria.
U.S. visas for skilled foreign workers are generally classified as either Immigrant Visas for permanent residency or Nonimmigrant Visas for temporary residency.
Immigrant Visas
Skilled foreign workers who want to live and work in the United States as permanent residents can apply for Employment-Based (EB) Immigrant Visas and Green Cards, such as the EB-1, EB-2, and EB-3.
The EB-1 Immigrant Visa is for individuals with extraordinary ability in the arts, athletics, business, education, or sciences; top professors and researchers; and particular multinational managers and executives.
The EB-2 Immigrant Visa is for advanced degree professionals; and individuals with exceptional ability in the arts, business or sciences.
The EB-3 Immigrant Visa is for skilled workers; professionals; and certain unskilled workers.
Each U.S. Employment-Based Immigrant Visa and Green Card has its own eligibility requirements and application procedure.
Please note that the U.S. Immigrant Visa is used to initially enter the United States, while the Permanent Resident Green Card is carried long-term as official identification and proof of Lawful Permanent Resident (LPR) status while living in the USA.
Furthermore, there are other ways to live and work in the United States as a permanent resident Green Card holder, such as through Family Sponsorship and the Diversity Visa Program.
U.S. Permanent Resident Green Card holder benefits include:
- Live, study and work in the U.S. for an unlimited time period
- Sponsor eligible family members for a U.S. Green Card
- Opportunity to buy a home and other property in the U.S.
- Gain access to U.S. educational programs
- Apply for a driver’s license in the state of residence
- Open a bank account in the United States
- Travel to and from the U.S. in compliance with residency requirements
- Receive Social Security, Medicare and other benefits once eligible
- Have the option to become an American citizen after living in the U.S. for five years
Temporary Work Visas
Foreign workers have the option to live and work in the United States for a specified amount of time (for example, 1-3 years) with one of the temporary Nonimmigrant U.S. Work Visas, such as the E-1, E-2, H-1B, H-2A, H-2B, L-1 and O-1 work visas.
Most temporary Nonimmigrant U.S. Work Visas have an option to be renewed if the foreign worker satisfies the eligibility requirements.
For example, the H-1B Work Visa can be initially valid for up to three years and has an option to be renewed for up to an additional three years if the skilled foreign worker qualifies.
Family members of the U.S. Nonimmigrant Work Visa holder can generally apply for the relevant U.S. visa for family members.
Some of the temporary Nonimmigrant U.S. Work Visas include:
- E-1 Work Visa for Treaty Traders
- E-2 Work Visa for Treaty Investors
- H-1B Work Visa for Workers in Specialty Occupations
- H-2A Work Visa for Temporary or Seasonal Agricultural Workers
- H-2B Work Visa for Temporary Non-Agricultural Workers
- L-1A Work Visa for Intracompany Transferees (Managers and Executives)
- L-1B Work Visa for Intracompany Transferees (Workers with Specialized Knowledge)
- O-1 Work Visa for Individuals with Extraordinary Ability in the Arts, Athletics, Business, Education, Film or Television, or Sciences
Each temporary Nonimmigrant U.S. Work Visa has its own qualifying criteria and application process.
Learn About Your Potential Eligibility!
America is the land of opportunity for millions of immigrants from around the world.
Over one million foreign workers along with their accompanying family members move to the United States every year through various Immigrant and Nonimmigrant U.S. visa programs.
Would you like to live and work in the United States, but you don’t know which U.S. visa program is right for you?
Global USA can provide you with a U.S. Visa Assessment which will consider your personal profile and the current U.S. visa criteria in order to determine your best option to legally live and work in the United States.
Once you know which U.S. visa program best matches your profile, you will have the opportunity to receive guidance from the Global USA legal team to properly prepare your documents before you submit your application.