| A US Work Visa provides the opportunity for | | | | duration. If you will be learning a specific skill or |
| individuals from foreign countries to live and work | | | | training to perform a task for your employer, the |
| in the United States. Each year there are a limited | | | | length of your stay is limited to two years. Skilled |
| number of work visas made available. Citizens of | | | | and highly trained professionals may extend their |
| countries that have signed the NAFTA treaty | | | | employment stay for up to seven years. You |
| with the United States are considered first. | | | | must apply for extensions prior to the expiration |
| Types of Work Visas: There are many types of | | | | date. |
| work visas, and the complexity of the application | | | | Special Consideration: Citizens from NAFTA treaty |
| process will require some study and perseverance. | | | | countries have less stringent work visa |
| The H type applications are for highly trained and | | | | requirements. While some non-skilled applications |
| skilled workers. People with medical training such | | | | are approved, skilled and professional workers are |
| as nurses receive priority over other applications. | | | | granted first consideration. United States work |
| If you are working for a company that has | | | | visas go to Canadian, Mexican and Currently |
| offices in another country and you will be | | | | 10,500 Australian workers annually. |
| transferring you will need an L type application. | | | | Visa Assistance: The application process for a |
| The United States Citizenship and Immigration | | | | United States work visa is very complicated. In |
| Service (USCIS) web site lists the types of work | | | | addition to submitting the proper application forms, |
| visas available along with assistance to help you | | | | your employer must submit a request for you to |
| choose the correct application. | | | | work in the U.S. Before you submit your visa |
| Family Members: In most cases, individuals who | | | | application, this request must be approved. There |
| receive a work visa can apply for visas for their | | | | are private companies that for a fee can assist |
| family members. There are two types of visas. | | | | you in the application process. The USCIS has |
| One is for family members who wish to live in | | | | many helpful guidelines and information on their |
| the United States during the term of employment. | | | | web site to help you. |
| This type of visa does not allow any of those | | | | Every citizen of another country must have a |
| family members to be employed during their stay. | | | | work visa before arriving in the United States for |
| The other only permits family members to visit | | | | employment. Although citizens of certain countries |
| the country during the employment of the | | | | will find they have a better chance of being |
| worker here on a work visa. | | | | approved than those of some other countries. |
| Length of Stay: Most work visas are limited in | | | | |