Detailed instructions for applying for a work visa in the US (2025)

For applicants with exceptional ability or achievement in the sciences, arts, education, business or athletics; or for applicants with international recognition in the field of motion pictures and television. This visa includes the personal support persons listed above.

H-1B1 Visa: Free Trade Agreement (FTA) 

For applicants from Chile or Singapore working in a professional occupation, the applicant must have at least a bachelor's degree or equivalent experience in the professional field.

H-1B Visa: Specialty Occupations in Fields Requiring Highly Specialized Knowledge 

For applicants working in a specialty occupation. Applicants must have at least a bachelor's degree or equivalent experience in a specialty occupation. Includes fashion models, physicians, and DOD project participants.  

H-2B Visa: Temporary workers performing services or other work of a temporary or seasonal nature.

For applicants working in temporary or seasonal non-agricultural work. Only citizens or permanent residents of designated countries are eligible for this visa. There are some limited exceptions.

For people working in managerial or executive positions in affiliated companies.

For applicants working in a managerial or executive position; or applicants working in a position requiring specialized knowledge. The applicant must be a branch, parent company, affiliate or subsidiary of the applicant's current company. The applicant must have worked for the same company abroad for 1 year in the previous three years.

For those engaged in short-term business activities in the US.

• Length of stay: Maximum 6 months.

You may qualify for a B-1 visa if you will be engaging in trade or professional business activities in the United States, including:

• Consulting and negotiating with business partners,
• Attend conferences, seminars, professional or academic events.
• Resolve issues related to heritage.
• Negotiate and sign contracts.
• Participate in short-term training courses.
• Transit in the US: For some special cases such as individuals who are crew members, a B-1 visa can be used to transit in the US.

Conditions for successful B-1 visa issuance:

To qualify for a B-1 visa, you must demonstrate the following:

• Purpose of Travel: Travel to the United States for legitimate business purposes, such as attending a conference, negotiating a contract, or handling work-related matters.
• Length of stay: Have a specific plan for when you will enter and leave the US. The length of stay must be consistent with the purpose of your trip and not exceed the permitted period.
• Financial capacity: Proof of sufficient funds to cover the entire cost of the trip, including airfare, accommodation, meals and other incidental expenses.
• Homeland Ties: Having strong ties to the home country, such as a stable job, assets, family, etc. to ensure returning to the country after the trip ends.
• Compliance: Meet all other requirements of U.S. immigration law, including health and criminal record requirements.

• People with extraordinary ability in the sciences, arts, education, business, or athletics may apply to immigrate to the United States. To demonstrate ability, applicants need extensive evidence of international recognition in the field of expertise and do not need a specific job offer if the purpose of entry is to continue related work.
• Distinguished professors and researchers need at least three years of experience. They must be invited to the US to teach or conduct research at a university. Employers will apply for work visas for them.
• Managers or executives who have worked for a US company abroad for at least 3 years and must continue to work in the same position in the US. The company must provide an invitation and apply for a work visa for the employee as required. 

E2 Visa: Advanced Professionals and Persons of Extraordinary Ability

The applicant needs a labor certification and a job offer. The U.S. employer files the I-140. A waiver can be obtained if the waiver is in the national interest. Once the waiver is granted, the applicant files the I-140 with evidence.

E2 visas are divided into two groups:

• Professional possessing an advanced degree (higher than a bachelor's degree) or a bachelor's degree and at least five years of continuous experience in the profession.
• A person of extraordinary ability in a science, art or business. Extraordinary ability means having a level of expertise beyond the ordinary in a science, art or business.

This visa is for individuals with skilled, specialized or unskilled jobs. Only a limited number of people are granted this visa each year.

Includes the following three groups of subjects: 

• Professionals are those in occupations that require at least a bachelor's degree from a U.S. college or university or its foreign equivalent.
• Skilled workers are those whose jobs require at least 2 years of training or work experience that is not temporary or seasonal.
• Unskilled Workers (Other Workers) are those who are capable of filling positions requiring less than two years of training or experience that are not temporary or seasonal.

The E-5 immigrant investor visa is for foreign investors to invest capital in new commercial enterprises in the United States to create jobs.

To qualify for an E-5 visa, a foreign investor must invest a minimum amount of capital in a qualifying commercial enterprise:

• $1,000,000 USD: Invest in any area in the US
• $500,000 USD: Investment in a target area, such as rural areas or areas with high unemployment rates.

This commercial enterprise must create at least 10 full-time jobs for U.S. citizens or lawful permanent residents within two years.

Types of E-5 immigrant investor visas include:

• E-C5: Investment in non-target area.
• E-T5: Investment in target area.

To apply for an E-5 visa, an investor must file an I-526 petition with the United States Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS). Once the I-526 petition is approved, the investor can apply for an immigrant visa at a U.S. Embassy or Consulate. It is important to note that immigrant investors do not need a labor certification.

• Missing Documents: You have not provided all required documents such as passport, DS-160 form, photo, job offer letter, etc.
• Inaccurate Information: The information you provided in the application is inaccurate or contradictory.

• Insufficient Evidence: You cannot convincingly demonstrate that you will return to your home country after your employment in the United States ends.
• Inappropriate Career: The job you are applying for does not match your qualifications and experience.

• Criminal record: You have a criminal record or convictions involving serious crimes such as drugs, violence, or crimes involving moral turpitude.
• Immigration violations: You have violated US immigration laws, such as overstaying your permit or working illegally.

Unable to demonstrate financial means: You cannot demonstrate that you have sufficient funds to cover your living expenses while in the US.

Involvement in terrorist activities: If you are involved in terrorist activities or extremist organizations, you will be refused a visa.

• Health: If you have certain dangerous infectious diseases, you may be refused a visa.
• Fraud: If you are found to have committed fraud during the visa application process, you will be denied and may be banned from entering the United States in the future.

There are two main types of work visas in the US:

• Nonimmigrant visa: Allows you to work in the United States for a limited period of time, usually to work on a specific project or for a specific company.
• Immigrant visa: Allows you to permanently reside in the US and work here.

Yes, your spouse and unmarried children under 21 years of age can apply for a permanent resident visa with you, if your application has been approved. However, they will need to complete administrative procedures such as filling out an application, paying fees and undergoing medical examinations.

You can reapply for a visa after being refused, but you will need to demonstrate that there have been significant changes in your circumstances since your previous application, especially if you were refused on the grounds of Section 214(b) of the U.S. Immigration and Nationality Act (INA).

All U.S. citizens and permanent residents are eligible to work in the United States without needing to apply for a work permit.

However, if a foreign national wants to enter the United States for work purposes, they must apply for the appropriate work visa. Most work visas in the United States require a job offer from a US-based employer, and a US visa sponsorship for you.

A US work permit is called a Employment Authorization Document (EAD) and can be issued immediately after your visa is approved. The EAD allows you to legally work for any US company as long as your visa is valid.