American visa law group
Temporary Work Visa Attorneys
American Visa Law Group assists employers, professionals, entrepreneurs, investors, executives, athletes, entertainers, religious workers, and qualifying Canadian and Mexican citizens with temporary U.S. work visas. The appropriate classification depends on the applicant’s nationality, occupation, employer, business activities, qualifications, and intended work in the United States. Explore the principal work visa categories below or contact our immigration team for an individualized assessment.
What Are the Main Temporary Work Visa Categories?
Select a visa category below to review its eligibility requirements, application process, legal fees, and related resources.
The E-1 classification permits nationals of qualifying treaty countries to enter the United States to engage in substantial trade principally between the United States and the treaty country. Trade may involve goods, services, technology, banking, insurance, transportation, tourism, or other qualifying activities. Certain executives, managers, and essential employees of an eligible treaty enterprise may also qualify.
The E-2 classification permits nationals of qualifying treaty countries to develop and direct a U.S. business in which they have invested, or are actively investing, a substantial amount of capital. The investment must be placed at risk in a real and operating enterprise, and the investor must generally control the business or possess operational control through a managerial position. Certain qualifying employees of an E-2 enterprise may also be eligible.
H-1B classification may be available for positions requiring the theoretical and practical application of highly specialized knowledge and at least a bachelor’s degree or equivalent in a directly related specific specialty. The employer must file the petition and satisfy applicable wage, labor-condition, and specialty-occupation requirements. Many H-1B petitions are subject to the annual numerical cap, although certain employers and petitions are cap-exempt.
L-1A classification permits a qualifying U.S. organization to transfer an executive or manager from a related foreign organization. The employee generally must have worked abroad for a qualifying organization for at least one continuous year during the three years preceding the applicable admission or petition, and the U.S. and foreign entities must have a qualifying corporate relationship.
L-1B classification permits a qualifying U.S. organization to transfer an employee who possesses specialized knowledge concerning the organization’s products, services, research, equipment, techniques, management, or other interests, or advanced knowledge of its processes and procedures. The employee generally must have worked abroad for a qualifying related organization for at least one continuous year during the applicable three-year period.
O-1 classification may be available to individuals with extraordinary ability in the sciences, education, business, athletics, or arts, or extraordinary achievement in motion pictures or television. A U.S. employer or agent must file the petition. The evidentiary requirements vary depending on the applicant’s field, and consultation from an appropriate peer group may be required unless an exception applies.
P-1 classification may be available to internationally recognized athletes, certain professional athletes, qualifying amateur athletes or coaches, and members of internationally recognized entertainment groups. Eligibility and evidentiary requirements depend on the particular P-1 subcategory and the nature of the event, competition, performance, or employment.
R-1 classification permits qualifying religious workers to work temporarily for an eligible nonprofit religious organization or affiliated organization in the United States. The worker must have been a member of the same type of religious denomination as the petitioning organization for at least two years immediately before the petition and must be coming to work as a minister or in a qualifying religious vocation or occupation.
TN classification permits qualified Canadian and Mexican citizens to work temporarily in the United States in a profession listed under the United States-Mexico-Canada Agreement. The applicant must have a qualifying position and satisfy the education, licensing, or credential requirements for the listed profession. Canadian citizens may generally request TN admission at a designated port of entry, while Mexican citizens generally must obtain a TN visa before requesting admission.
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