US Work (Temporary Worker) Visa Types and Application Tips
A temporary work visa is a type of visa given to foreign nationals who will go to the United States to find work or on assignment and work in the United States for a certain period of time.
The US work visa is divided into different sub-classes depending on the qualifications of the employee and the characteristics of the job to be done in the US. For each visa class, different visa requirements must be met and the relevant application procedure must be followed.
The common condition for all US temporary worker visas is that an employer or representative operating in the US must first apply to the US Immigration and Naturalization Service (USCIS).
What are the Types of US Temporary Work Visas?
The types of visas that may grant you the right to work temporarily in the United States are listed below.
- US temporary worker visa
- US intra-company transfer visa
- US gifted talent visa
- US artist/athlete visa
- US cultural exchange visa
- US media visa
- US clergy visa
US Temporary Worker (H) Visa
The American H visa is a general type of work visa issued to foreign nationals hired by an employer operating in the United States.
The H visa, also known as the American worker visa, is divided into the following subtypes depending on the nature of the work to be done in the USA.
- US skilled worker visa (H1B)
- US seasonal agricultural worker visa (H2A)
- US non-agricultural worker visa (H2B)
- US internship visa (H3)
Spouses and unmarried children under the age of 21 of a US worker visa holder can travel to the United States with an H4 visa .
US Intra-Company Transfer (L) Visa
An intra-company transfer visa to the United States is available to individuals who have worked abroad for one consecutive year within the previous three years and who will be working for the same employer in a managerial, executive, or specialized role in a branch, parent company, subsidiary, or representative office in the United States.
With the intra-company transfer visa, also known as the L visa, managers or executives working in another office of a US employer can transfer to offices in the US. Foreign companies that do not yet have a US office can also send a manager or executive to the US to establish an office with the intra-company transfer visa.
US Gifted (O) Visa
The O visa, which is the US gifted talent visa, is granted to individuals who have extraordinary talent in the fields of science, art, education, business or sports, or who have achieved extraordinary success in media such as film or television, and who are recognized nationally or internationally for these achievements. Essential service providers who support these individuals are also included in the visa scope.
People who are assistants or helpers of the US gifted talent visa applicant, known as the O1 visa, can apply for the O2 visa subclass, and their family members can apply for the O3 visa subclass.
US Artist/Athlete (P) Visa
The P visa, which is the US artist and athlete visa, is issued to internationally recognized athletes, artists and performing groups and gives the holder the right to work in the US for a temporary period.
The US P visa , a non-immigrant visa type , is a temporary work visa designed by the US government to support those working in the arts, culture, sports and performance fields. Individuals who wish to apply for the visa must be supported by a sponsor in the US.
US Cultural Exchange (Q) Visa
The US cultural exchange visa is a type of non-immigrant visa that aims to provide individuals with practical internship and work experience in the US and to share the country’s culture, history and traditions.
Individuals who wish to participate in international cultural exchange programs designated by the U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS) must obtain a U.S. cultural exchange visa .
America Media (I) Visa
The U.S. media visa, or I visa, is granted to members of the media, radio, film or publishing industries, as well as reporters, film crews, editors and similar professions whose activities are essential to the functioning of foreign media.
In order to apply for a US media visa for foreign media representatives , individuals must work in the qualified activities of a media organization headquartered in a different foreign country. The applicant must be working in the qualified activities of a media organization headquartered in a foreign country.
US Religious Worker (R) Visa
The U.S. religious worker visa, also known as an R visa, is issued to individuals who wish to temporarily serve in a religious capacity in the U.S. The religious worker visa generally covers individuals appointed by authorized institutions to conduct religious services and perform other duties for a particular religion, as well as those who work in other religious-related professions.
US Work Visa Application Steps
In order to obtain a US temporary work visa, the employer and employee must complete the procedures listed below.
- Your U.S. employer must apply for a foreign worker work permit with USCIS on your behalf.
- After receiving your work permit approval, fill out the US temporary visa application form (DS-160).
- Prepare the necessary documents for a US work visa.
- Make a visa appointment at the US foreign mission (Ankara or Istanbul).
- Attend the visa interview at the appointment and complete the biometrics process.
The application steps you need to follow for a US work visa and the points to be considered are detailed under the following headings.
How to Get a US Work Permit?
A US work permit is a permit that must be obtained from the relevant authority by the employer or representative in the US before applying for a work visa. The application procedure for a work permit varies depending on the type of US work visa applied for.
In order to apply for a visa in all temporary worker categories, the applicant’s employer must first submit a petition in the form of Form I-129, which must be approved by the U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS). For some types of work visas, especially Group H, the sponsoring employer applies to the U.S. Department of Labor (LCA) before submitting the I-129 petition.
Frequently Asked Questions
Answers to frequently asked questions to our consultants about US work visas and work permits are provided below.
How to Fill Out the US Work Visa Application Form?
Those who have received temporary work permit approval from the USA must first fill out the DS-160 visa form via ceac.state.gov to apply for a visa. Regardless of the type of work visa applied for, all applicants must fill out the DS-160 form.
You must mark the type of work visa requested in the “Travel Purpose” section of the DS-160 form, and enter the receipt number on your I-129 form in the “Application Receipt/Petition Number” field.
A sample DS-160 form for the US H visa is given below.
For the H visa, you must provide the person’s work dates, information about their accommodation status, and the financial resources that will be used to cover the expenses of their travel to the USA in the DS-160 form. After completing the online application form, you must upload your digital biometric photo that meets the requested criteria to the system. Finally, you must create the barcoded DS-160 form approval page and print it out.
What are the Required Documents for a US Work Visa?
The documents that need to be prepared to obtain a US work visa are listed below.
- Current passport
- Original US I-129 form
- DS-160 application form approval printout
- Appointment confirmation email printout
- Documents regarding professional qualifications
- Working status documents
- Evidence of family and economic ties to Türkiye
- Old passport and US visas, if any
- Biometric photo
- Turkish ID card
How to Make an Appointment at the US Consulate?
For US work visa procedures, you must make a visa appointment at the US Embassy in Ankara or the Consulate General in Istanbul. The visa appointment is made online at usvisa-info.com using the receipt number on the I-129 form.
How to Conduct a US Work Visa Interview?
The US work visa interview is held at the US Consulate on the appointment date. Applicants personally go to the foreign mission, submit the application file containing their documents, provide fingerprint registration and attend the visa interview.
The questions listed below may be asked during the visa interview.
- Why do you want to work in the USA?
- What is the name of the sponsoring company in the USA?
- Could you please describe your total work experience?
- How did you hear about the company in the US?
- What projects is your sponsor working on?
- Have you lived in another country before?
- What do you plan to do after your visa expires?
- Do you have friends or family living in the USA?
- Which US city will you work in?
- Can you tell me something about your profession?
At the end of the interview, the applicant is informed whether or not the visa application has been approved. After the work visa applications have been approved, passport tracking can be done at https://ceac.state.gov . The time it takes to receive the passport varies depending on the workload of the Consulate where the visa application was made.
How Much Does a US Work Visa Cost?
As of 2024, the current application fee for a US temporary work visa (H, L, O, P, Q, R visa classes) is $245. This amount increases if sworn translation service, travel health insurance and consultancy are purchased during the visa application process.
US visa fee payments are made by cash or credit card after completing the online application form and before proceeding with the appointment process.
What Visa Should I Get to Work Permanently in the USA?
To work permanently in the United States, an employer-sponsored immigrant visa must be obtained.
Also known as an immigrant work visa, it is given to people who find work in the United States and want to settle in the country permanently. In addition to being granted a green card, which is a permanent residence permit in the United States, immigrant work visa holders are also given the opportunity to study in the United States, buy property, get a driver’s license, and enter and exit the country freely.