The Different Types of U.S. Work Visas

Specialty Occupation

The most common work visa — for roles requiring at least a U.S. bachelor's degree (or equivalent) in a specific field.

Eligibility

• Job offer from a U.S. employer for a specialty occupation (one normally requiring a bachelor's degree in a specific field).
• Candidate must hold a U.S. bachelor's degree or higher in that field, or its foreign equivalent. Equivalent experience can sometimes substitute (typically three years of experience for each missing year of degree).
• Employer must file a Labor Condition Application (LCA) certified by the Department of Labor, attesting to wage and working-condition standards. The LCA is not a labor-market test — H-1B does not require the employer to show there are no qualified U.S. workers for the role (that requirement applies to PERM, used for some green card filings).

Seasonal and Temporary Workers

For temporary or seasonal labor in agricultural (H-2A) or non-agricultural (H-2B) settings.

Both H-2A and H-2B require employer-side certification from the Department of Labor demonstrating that qualified U.S. workers are not available. H-2A has no annual numerical cap; H-2B is capped at 66,000 per fiscal year (split between the two halves of the year), with periodic supplemental allocations. Workers may stay for the duration of the certified employment, generally up to one year, with limited extensions. H-2 visas are nationality-restricted — petitions are generally only approvable for workers from a designated list of eligible countries.

Trainee or Special Education Exchange Visitor

For nonimmigrants coming to receive training (other than graduate medical training) or special-education training programs.

The training must not be available in the worker's home country, must benefit the worker in pursuing a career outside the U.S., and cannot be designed to provide productive employment. H-3 is narrow and infrequently used.

Intracompany Transferee

For multinational company employees transferring to a U.S. parent, subsidiary, branch, or affiliate.

Two subcategories

• L-1A — Managers and executives. The U.S. role must be primarily managerial or executive in nature.
• L-1B — Workers with specialized knowledge of the company's products, services, research, systems, or operations.

Core requirements

• The worker must have been employed by the qualifying foreign entity for at least one continuous year within the three years immediately preceding the L-1 petition.
• A qualifying corporate relationship must exist between the foreign entity and the U.S. entity (parent, subsidiary, branch, or affiliate).
• The role in the U.S. must match the L-1A or L-1B framework.

L-1 spouses receive L-2 status and are eligible for employment authorization.

Extraordinary Ability or Achievement

For individuals with extraordinary ability in the sciences, education, business, or athletics (O-1A), or extraordinary ability in the arts or achievement in motion picture or television (O-1B).

The O-1 is record-based, not degree-based. Eligibility is established either by a single major internationally recognized award (Nobel, Olympic medal, Oscar, or comparable) or by satisfying at least three of the regulatory criteria — including nationally or internationally recognized prizes, membership in selective associations, published material about the candidate, judging others' work, original contributions of major significance, scholarly authorship, critical role at distinguished organizations, or high salary.

A peer consultation from an appropriate organization in the field is generally required. O-1 can be filed by a U.S. employer or a U.S. agent — the latter making it workable for founders, consultants, and others without a traditional single employer.

O-3 status is available to spouses and unmarried children under 21, but O-3 dependents are not work-authorized.

For deeper coverage: O-1 vs H-1B Decision Guide and The O-1 as a Strategic Alternative to H-1B.

Athletes, Entertainers, and Artists

For internationally recognized athletes and entertainers, members of culturally unique performance groups, and participants in reciprocal exchange programs.

P-1 covers internationally recognized athletes (individually or as part of a team) and members of internationally recognized entertainment groups. P-2 covers performers in reciprocal exchange programs between U.S. and foreign organizations. P-3 covers artists or entertainers performing in a culturally unique program. Duration is typically tied to the specific event, competition, or performance period — initial admissions of up to 5 years for P-1 athletes; up to one year for P-2 and P-3, with extensions available.

USMCA Professional

For Canadian and Mexican citizens working in certain professional occupations under the United States-Mexico-Canada Agreement (USMCA).

The TN program continues under the USMCA, which replaced NAFTA in July 2020. Eligibility is limited to a specific list of qualifying professional occupations (engineers, scientists, accountants, lawyers, certain medical professionals, university teachers, and others). The candidate must be a citizen (not just a permanent resident) of Canada or Mexico, and the U.S. role must fit one of the listed professions and meet the educational and qualification standards for that profession.

Canadian citizens may apply for TN status directly at the U.S. port of entry; Mexican citizens must obtain the TN visa at a U.S. consulate before traveling.

Treaty Traders, Investors, and Australian Specialty Occupation

For nationals of countries with qualifying treaties with the United States.

E-1 (Treaty Trader): For nationals of treaty countries engaged in substantial trade — principally between the U.S. and the treaty country — including the trader and certain essential employees.

E-2 (Treaty Investor): For nationals of treaty countries investing a substantial amount of capital in a U.S. enterprise. The investment must be at risk, the enterprise must be real and active (not marginal), and the investor must be coming to develop and direct the enterprise. There is no fixed minimum investment amount — "substantial" is evaluated relative to the type of business.

E-3 (Australian Specialty Occupation): Available only to Australian nationals for specialty-occupation work similar in concept to H-1B but with separate eligibility. Annual cap of 10,500.

E visas can be renewed indefinitely as long as the underlying treaty, trade, or investment qualifies. Spouses of E visa holders are work-authorized.

Foreign Media Representative

For representatives of foreign press, radio, film, or other foreign information media.

The applicant must be a bona fide representative of a foreign media outlet with a home office in a foreign country, traveling to the U.S. to engage solely in their profession. I visas are typically issued for the duration of the qualifying employment.

Religious Worker

For ministers and other religious workers coming to the U.S. to work for a qualifying religious organization.

The applicant must have been a member of the religious denomination for at least two years immediately before filing. R-1 is initially granted for up to 30 months, with extensions available up to a maximum total stay of five years.

Academic Student

F-1 students at SEVP-certified academic institutions may work in three main contexts:

• On-campus employment — limited hours during the school year, full-time during breaks.
• Curricular Practical Training (CPT) — work that is an integral part of the curriculum, authorized by the designated school official.
• Optional Practical Training (OPT) — pre-completion or post-completion work in the student's field of study. Standard post-completion OPT is up to 12 months.
• STEM OPT extension — an additional 24 months of work authorization for graduates in qualifying STEM fields working for E-Verify employers.

F-1 OPT employees are increasingly relevant to corporate immigration planning, particularly given the wage-weighted H-1B selection that took effect for FY 2027.

Exchange Visitor

J-1 covers a wide range of educational and cultural exchange programs — including research scholars, professors, students, interns, trainees, au pairs, camp counselors, and others. Work authorization is tied to the specific J-1 category and program.

Certain J-1 subcategories carry a two-year home residency requirement under INA §212(e). Affected J-1 holders must return to their home country for two years before changing to most other nonimmigrant categories or applying for an immigrant visa, unless a waiver is granted.

Vocational Student

For students enrolled in non-academic vocational or technical training programs. M-1 students generally cannot work during their program, with narrow exceptions for practical training after program completion.

Business Visitor

For nonimmigrants conducting short-term business activities in the U.S. — attending conferences, negotiating contracts, consulting with associates, settling an estate, and similar activities. Compensation cannot come from a U.S. source for activities in the U.S. (with limited exceptions). Typical stays are a few weeks to a few months; the period is determined at the port of entry by Customs and Border Protection.

B-1 is not appropriate for employment, hands-on work for a U.S. company, or for activities that should properly be under a work visa. See our B-1/B-2 strong ties article for application preparation.

Visa Waiver Program — Business

Nationals of 41 participating countries can travel to the U.S. for business or tourism for up to 90 days without a visa, after obtaining authorization through the Electronic System for Travel Authorization (ESTA). The activities permitted are the same as B-1 (for business) and B-2 (for tourism); the only difference is the absence of a visa.

The 90-day limit under VWP is firm and cannot be extended. Overstaying a VWP entry has significant consequences for future U.S. travel.

Temporary Visitor to Guam / Northern Mariana Islands

A narrow category covering visits to Guam and the Northern Mariana Islands. Stays cannot exceed 45 days; travelers need a return or onward ticket. Not applicable to the rest of the United States.