13 Different Types of US Visa Sponsorship Jobs
The United States, Canada and the United Kingdom have become favored destinations for skilled immigrants seeking work visas. The United States offers a variety of work visas that allow foreign workers to enter and work in the country on a temporary or permanent basis compared to other countries.
The U.S. work visa system provides foreign workers with the opportunity to contribute their skills and expertise to the U.S. economy.
In this article, we will explore the different types of US work visas, eligibility requirements, and length of stay.
What is the US work visa?
The US work visa is designed for people seeking work in the United States for a specific duration. It includes various categories, including H-1B visas for highly skilled professionals and L-1 visas for intra-company transfers.
Types of US Visa Sponsorship Jobs
Knowing the different visa types and their respective requirements can help you decide which work visa is best for you.
We’ll take a look at 13 different types of work visas, including temporary and permanent visas:
H-1B Visa
The H-1B visa program allows U.S. employers to temporarily sponsor foreign professionals to fill specialized positions that require theoretical or technical expertise in a specific field. This program plays a crucial role in addressing labor shortages in various sectors, particularly in the technology and healthcare industries.
To be eligible for an H-1B visa, foreign professionals must meet specific criteria, including:
- Possessing a bachelor’s degree or equivalent qualification in the relevant specialty.
- Receiving a job offer from a U.S. employer in a specialty occupation.
- Demonstrating that their qualifications align with the requirements of the offered position.
The annual cap on H-1B visas ensures that the program remains sustainable and prevents an influx of foreign workers that could potentially displace U.S. citizens.
In 2023, the cap for regular H-1B visas was set at 65,000, with an additional 20,000 visas reserved for foreign nationals with master’s or doctoral degrees in STEM fields (science, technology, engineering, and mathematics).
Duration of Stay : 3 Years + 3 Years Extension
L-1 Visa
The L-1 visa is designed for employees of multinational companies who are being transferred to a U.S. branch or subsidiary of their current employer. This type of visa is intended for individuals who hold managerial or executive positions or possess specialized knowledge relevant to the company’s operations.
To qualify for an L-1 visa, employees must meet specific criteria, including:
- Employment with a qualifying foreign company: The employee must have been employed by a qualifying foreign company for at least one continuous year within the three years immediately preceding their application for an L-1 visa.
- Affiliation with a U.S. company: The foreign company must have a direct affiliation with a U.S. company, such as a parent company, branch, subsidiary, or affiliate.
It’s important to note that there are two categories for this type of visa:
- L-1A: This visa is intended for managers and executives who are being transferred to a U.S. office of their current employer or to establish a new U.S. location for the company.
- L-1B: This visa is designed for employees who possess specialized knowledge about the company’s products, services, or processes and are being transferred to work in the U.S. office.
Duration of Stay : 7 Years + 2 Years Extension
O-1 Visa
The O-1 visa is a nonimmigrant visa category for individuals who possess extraordinary ability in the sciences, arts, education, business, or athletics, or who have a demonstrated record of extraordinary achievement in the motion picture and television industries.
To qualify for an O-1 visa, applicants must meet the following criteria:
- Extraordinary ability: Applicants must demonstrate that they have sustained national or international acclaim for extraordinary ability in their field. This acclaim can be evidenced through a variety of factors, such as awards, publications, critical reviews, or other forms of recognition.
- Coming to the U.S. temporarily: Applicants must intend to work temporarily in the U.S. in their field of extraordinary ability.
- Job offer: Applicants must have a job offer from a U.S. employer that is sponsoring them for the O-1 visa.
Duration of Stay : 3 Years + 1 Year Extension
TN Visa
The TN visa is a category established under the North American Free Trade Agreement (NAFTA) that allows Canadian and Mexican citizens to work in the United States in prearranged business activities for U.S. or foreign employers. It provides a streamlined process for qualified professionals from Canada and Mexico to temporarily enter the U.S. to engage in professional-level work.
Eligibility Requirements
To qualify for a TN visa, applicants must meet the following criteria:
- Citizenship: Applicants must be citizens of Canada or Mexico.
- Profession: Applicants must be a professional in a qualifying profession listed in Annex 1603.D.1 of NAFTA. These professions span a wide range of fields, including accountants, engineers, scientists, teachers, and lawyers.
- Prearranged Employment: Applicants must have a prearranged job offer from a U.S. employer in a qualifying profession.
- Qualifications: Applicants must possess the necessary qualifications, including education, training, or experience, to perform the duties of the offered position.
Duration of Stay: 6 months + 5 Years Extension
Seasonal Agricultural Work Visas
Seasonal agricultural work visas are a type of temporary work visa that allows foreign nationals to work in the agriculture industry in a specific country for a limited period of time. These visas are typically granted to workers who are needed to fill labor shortages during peak seasons, such as harvesting or planting.
Eligibility Requirements
The eligibility requirements for seasonal agricultural work visas vary from country to country. However, some common requirements include:
- Citizenship: Applicants must be citizens of a country that has an agreement with the host country to allow for the exchange of seasonal agricultural workers.
- Age: Applicants must be of legal working age in the host country.
- Health: Applicants must be in good health and free from any diseases that could pose a risk to public health.
- Experience: Applicants must have experience working in agriculture.
- Job Offer: Applicants must have a job offer from a registered agricultural employer in the host country.
13 Different Types of US Visa Sponsorship Jobs
Duration of Stay: 1 Year
E-1 and E-2 Visas
This type of visa allows people from certain countries to visit the U.S. to carry on trade activities. E-1 visas can be obtained by treaty traders or E-2 visas by treaty investors.
Treaty traders are individuals from a country with a trade agreement with the U.S. who engage in ongoing trade activities. Treaty investors, on the other hand, are those who have made a substantial investment in a U.S. business and can demonstrate their intention to develop their investment.
Eligibility Requirements
To be eligible for an E-1 or E-2 visa, applicants must meet the following criteria:
- Citizenship: Applicants must be citizens of a country with which the United States maintains a treaty of commerce and navigation.
- Purpose: Applicants must come to the United States to engage in substantial trade (E-1 visa) or to develop and direct the operations of an enterprise in which they have invested a substantial amount of capital (E-2 visa).
- Qualifications: Applicants must have the necessary qualifications to perform the duties of their position.
- Financial Support: Applicants must be able to financially support themselves and their family members during their stay in the United States.
Duration of Stay: 2 Years + 3 Years Extension
R-1 Visa
The R-1 visa is a nonimmigrant visa category for religious workers who come to the United States to work temporarily in a religious vocation or occupation. This visa is designed for individuals who are ordained ministers, religious professionals, or other workers who are authorized to perform religious duties by a recognized religious denomination or organization.
Eligibility Requirements
To qualify for an R-1 visa, applicants must meet the following criteria:
- Citizenship: Applicants must be citizens of a foreign country.
- Religious Worker: Applicants must be a religious worker who is authorized to perform religious duties by a recognized religious denomination or organization.
- Job Offer: Applicants must have a job offer from a U.S. employer that is a non-profit religious organization, a religious organization that is authorized by a group tax exemption holder to use its group tax exemption, or a non-profit organization that is affiliated with a religious denomination in the United States.
- Qualifications: Applicants must possess the necessary qualifications to perform the duties of the offered position.
Duration of Stay: 3 Years + 2 Years Extension
E-3 Visa
The E-3 visa allows citizens of Australia to work temporarily in the United States in a specialty occupation. A specialty occupation is one that requires theoretical and practical application of a body of highly specialized knowledge and attainment of a bachelor’s degree or higher in the specific specialty, or its equivalent.
Eligibility Requirements
To qualify for an E-3 visa, applicants must meet the following criteria:
- Citizenship: Applicants must be citizens of Australia.
- Specialty Occupation: Applicants must be working in a specialty occupation that requires theoretical and practical application of a body of highly specialized knowledge and attainment of a bachelor’s degree or higher in the specific specialty, or its equivalent.
- Job Offer: Applicants must have a job offer from a U.S. employer that is sponsoring them for the E-3 visa.
- Qualifications: Applicants must possess the necessary qualifications to perform the duties of the offered position.
Duration of Stay: 5 Years + 2 Years Extension
- Citizenship: Applicants must be citizens of a foreign country.
- Religious Worker: Applicants must be a religious worker who is authorized to perform religious duties by a recognized religious denomination or organization.
- Job Offer: Applicants must have a job offer from a U.S. employer that is a non-profit religious organization, a religious organization that is authorized by a group tax exemption holder to use its group tax exemption, or a non-profit organization that is affiliated with a religious denomination in the United States.
- Qualifications: Applicants must possess the necessary qualifications to perform the duties of the offered position.
Duration of Stay: 3 Years + 2 Years Extension
E-3 Visa
The E-3 visa allows citizens of Australia to work temporarily in the United States in a specialty occupation. A specialty occupation is one that requires theoretical and practical application of a body of highly specialized knowledge and attainment of a bachelor’s degree or higher in the specific specialty, or its equivalent.
Eligibility Requirements
To qualify for an E-3 visa, applicants must meet the following criteria:
- Citizenship: Applicants must be citizens of Australia.
- Specialty Occupation: Applicants must be working in a specialty occupation that requires theoretical and practical application of a body of highly specialized knowledge and attainment of a bachelor’s degree or higher in the specific specialty, or its equivalent.
- Job Offer: Applicants must have a job offer from a U.S. employer that is sponsoring them for the E-3 visa.
- Qualifications: Applicants must possess the necessary qualifications to perform the duties of the offered position.
Duration of Stay: 5 Years + 2 Years Extension
13 Different Types of US Visa Sponsorship Jobs
