What is US work Visa?
A US work visa is a permit which gives legal rights to the foreign nationals to work in a country for a particular period of time. All foreign nationals are required to have a work permit in order to take up employment legally in the US.
Types of US Work Visa
There are several types of work visas in the US for people looking for permits to work in the US. Depending on the type of your work you need to apply for the US visa.
H-1B (Speciality Occupation) – To qualify for the H-B1 visa, the applicant must have a Master/Higher degree and earn minimum of $60,000 annually.
H-2B (skilled and unskilled workers) – H-2B visa is issued for seasonal/temporary jobs which allowS theemployers to hire skilled or unskilled workers to fulfill the shortage of workers in the US.
H-3 (Trainee) – Applicants visiting the US to receive training from an employer must submit the application form along with the completed Form DS-160, receipt number from USCIS, Letter of employment, etc.
H-4 (Dependents) – The dependents of the H- visa (H-1B, H-2B and H-3) holders can apply for the H-4 visa to visit the US to accompany the principal H visa holder. The visa holders of H-4 visa are not allowed to work in the US.
L-1 (Intra-company transferees) – This visa type is issued only to those at the managerial or executive level of an international company and being transferred to the US on a temporary basis.
L-2 (Dependents) – The dependents of the L-1 visa can apply for the L-2 visa to visit the US to accompany the L-1 visa principal holder. The L-2 visa holders are permitted to apply for a work permit in the US.
O (Extraordinary Ability) – People with an extraordinary ability in arts, science, education, business, athletics or extraordinary achievement in production /motion pictures are eligible to apply for the 0 work visa.
P (Artists/entertainers) – Applicants who want to visit the US to perform as athletes, entertainers, artists, need to apply for this visa.
Q (Cultural exchange) – If an individual is traveling to the US to be a part of a cultural exchange program or to provide training at an International cultural exchange, then he/she must apply for this visa.
Documents required for the US Work Visa application
- A valid passport with at least six months of validity and 3 blank pages
- 2 recent color photographs (51 x 51 mm in size with white background)
- Confirmation page of Form DS-160
- Receipt of visa fee payment
- Appointment letter confirmation
- Copies of education qualifications
- Past employment testimonials
- Company’s appointment letter
- Detailed description of the type of work to be performed by the applicant in the US
- Professional documents like Experience certificates, salary slips etc.
- Income Tax/ Form 16 for last 3 years
- Notice of approval I-797 (petition copy)
- Updated bank statement with sufficient bank balance (last 6 months)
- Any other financial documents like FD, mutual funds, property papers or any other documents.
Application Process
The visa application process differs based on your nationality. The following are the few common steps to apply for US work visa for Indians:
- Visa Type: The first step is to determine the visa type as per the qualification and the visa type which applies to your situation.
- Form DS 160 – The next step is to fill the Form DS – 160 online and obtain the photocopy of the confirmation page after the submission. You will need the DS-160 number to book your appointment.
- Schedule Appointment: This step requires the appliacant to schedule two appointments, one for the Visa Application Centre (VAC) and one for the visa interview at the Embassy/Consulate.
- Visa Application Centre (VAC) - Prior visiting the US Embassy/Consulate, the applicants are required to visit the nearby VAC for the biometrics ( fingerprints and digital photograph)
- Visa Interview- Once you have provided your biometrics, you need to attend the visa interview with the consulate. Do not forget to carry all the required documents on the day of the interview. Applicants under the age of 13 years and over 80 years are not required to appear for the visa interview.
Validity
The work permits for the US are usually valid for a maximum period of 10 years. However, it may vary from the Employment term and depends on various other factors.
Need help with your US Work Visa Application?
Applying for a US Work Visa online could be an arduous process. Many are unaware of the great difficulty required to get B1/B2 visa. So, to avoid the risk of rejection it is better to take help of an experienced visa agent. Akbartravels.com is an expert in processing all types of visas. With professional services delivered by our experienced Visa experts, Akbartravels.com provides its customers with a swift and effortless visa processing. With 40 years of experience in Travel & Tourism sector we have helped a significant number of individuals in getting a successful UK visa online in the first attempt.
Useful Links:
How to apply for a US Visa
Tips to get US Visa
Reasons for US Visa Rejection
