Labor - Visit Or Work Visas

Temporary workers (H and L Visas) can work in the U.S. after a petition is submitted by the employer-to-be in the United States and is approved by the USCIS. H1B Visas (for Specialty Occupations) are given to college-educated professionals (e.g. software programmers). In this status, they can work for a total of six years in the United States. H1C Visas are for Registered Nurses, H2B for Non-Agricultural Workers, H-3 for Trainees. The L Visa is for Intra-Company Transferees who are executives or managers of foreign-based companies or who are essential, specialized-knowledge employees. Non-immigrants apply to come to the U.S. on a temporary basis on either a B-1 Visa for business (e.g. attending conferences, business meetings) or on a B-2 Visa for pleasure (e.g. tourism, visit friends or relatives). These visas require that the applicant has permanent residence in the home country, which s/he has no intention of abandoning, that the person enters the U.S. for a temporary period, and that s/he engages in activity relating to business or pleasure (no employment).