Browse by purpose
Work & business visas
Temporary (nonimmigrant) classifications that permit employment or business activity in the United States. Employment-based green cards are listed under Immigrate.
Employer-sponsored work visa for degree-level specialty jobs; capped at 65,000 + 20,000 a year.
- Max stay
- 6 years
- Annual cap
- 85,000
- Sponsor
- Employer
- Dual intent
- Yes
Executives and managers transferring to a related U.S. company; up to 7 years.
- Max stay
- 7 years
- Annual cap
- None
- Sponsor
- Employer
- Dual intent
- Yes
Top performers in science, business, education or athletics; 3 years, renewable.
- Max stay
- 3 years + 1-yr extensions
- Annual cap
- None
- Sponsor
- Employer or agent
- Dual intent
- Permitted
Canadian and Mexican professionals in USMCA-listed occupations; 3-year periods, renewable without a set limit.
- Max stay
- 3 years, renewable
- Annual cap
- None
- Sponsor
- Employer
- Dual intent
- No
Green card for advanced-degree professionals and exceptional ability; NIW allows self-petition.
- Max stay
- Permanent
- Annual cap
- 28.6% of EB
- Sponsor
- Employer or self (NIW)
Treaty-country investors and key staff in a U.S. business; 2-year admissions, extendable with no set limit.
- Max stay
- 2 years, renewable
- Annual cap
- None
- Sponsor
- Self or treaty business
- Dual intent
- No
Green card for extraordinary ability, top researchers and multinational managers; no PERM needed.
- Max stay
- Permanent
- Annual cap
- 28.6% of EB
- Sponsor
- Self (EB-1A) or employer
Employer-sponsored green card for skilled, professional and other workers; PERM required.
- Max stay
- Permanent
- Annual cap
- 28.6% of EB
- Sponsor
- Employer
Short business trips: meetings, conferences, negotiations. No U.S. employment.
- Max stay
- Up to 6 months
- Annual cap
- None
- Sponsor
- None (self)
- Dual intent
- No
Temporary non-farm work visa for seasonal or peak-load jobs; 66,000 a year plus any supplemental visas.
- Max stay
- 3 years max
- Annual cap
- 66,000
- Sponsor
- Employer
- Dual intent
- No
Specialized-knowledge employees moving to a related U.S. company; up to 5 years.
- Max stay
- 5 years
- Annual cap
- None
- Sponsor
- Employer
- Dual intent
- Yes
Work visa for Australian professionals in degree-level jobs; 10,500 a year, 2-year renewable stays.
- Max stay
- 2 years, renewable
- Annual cap
- 10,500
- Sponsor
- Employer
- Dual intent
- No
Seasonal and temporary farm work visa; no annual cap, DOL certification required, 3-year maximum stay.
- Max stay
- 3 years max
- Annual cap
- None
- Sponsor
- Employer
- Dual intent
- No
Distinguished artists and acclaimed film/TV professionals; 3 years, renewable.
- Max stay
- 3 years + 1-yr extensions
- Annual cap
- None
- Sponsor
- Employer or agent
- Dual intent
- Permitted
CNMI-only worker program; FY 2027 cap 7,000; 1-year petitions; program ends Dec 31, 2029.
- Max stay
- 1 year, renewable
- Annual cap
- 7,000 (FY 2027)
- Sponsor
- Employer
- Dual intent
- Yes
Ship and airline crew landing temporarily in the U.S.; depart within 29 days (180 for lightering).
- Max stay
- 29 days
- Annual cap
- None
- Sponsor
- None
- Dual intent
- No
Treaty-country traders and key staff; 2-year admissions, extendable with no set limit.
- Max stay
- 2 years, renewable
- Annual cap
- None
- Sponsor
- Treaty business
- Dual intent
- No
Legacy CNMI-only investor status; no new applicants since 2013; ends automatically Dec 31, 2029.
- Max stay
- 2 years, until 12/31/2029
- Annual cap
- Closed
- Sponsor
- Self
- Dual intent
- Yes
Treaty work visa for Chilean and Singaporean professionals; 1,400 and 5,400 a year, renewable yearly.
- Max stay
- 1 year, renewable
- Annual cap
- 1,400 / 5,400
- Sponsor
- Employer
- Dual intent
- No
Training visa for programs unavailable at home, plus special-education exchange (50 a year); up to 2 years.
- Max stay
- 2 years
- Annual cap
- 50 (special ed only)
- Sponsor
- Employer
- Dual intent
- No
Foreign press, radio, film and online media staff and freelancers; admitted for the duration of employment.
- Max stay
- Duration of employment
- Annual cap
- None
- Sponsor
- Foreign media employer
- Dual intent
- No
Essential crew accompanying an O-1 artist, athlete or film/TV production; up to 3 years.
- Max stay
- Up to 3 years
- Annual cap
- None
- Sponsor
- Employer or agent
- Dual intent
- No
Internationally recognized athletes and teams; individuals up to 5 years, renewable to 10.
- Max stay
- 5 years (10 max)
- Annual cap
- None
- Sponsor
- Employer or agent
- Dual intent
- Permitted
Members of internationally recognized bands, troupes and circuses; 1 year, renewable.
- Max stay
- 1 year + 1-yr extensions
- Annual cap
- None
- Sponsor
- Employer or agent
- Dual intent
- Permitted
Artists under union-negotiated reciprocal exchanges (e.g. U.S.–Canada); 1 year, renewable.
- Max stay
- 1 year + 1-yr extensions
- Annual cap
- None
- Sponsor
- Sponsor or employer
- Dual intent
- Permitted
Performers and teachers of traditional or culturally unique art forms; 1 year, renewable.
- Max stay
- 1 year + 1-yr extensions
- Annual cap
- None
- Sponsor
- Employer, sponsor or agent
- Dual intent
- Permitted
Paid cultural-exchange work or training sharing one’s home culture with the U.S. public; up to 15 months.
- Max stay
- 15 months
- Annual cap
- None
- Sponsor
- Employer
- Dual intent
- No
Ministers and religious workers for U.S. nonprofit religious organizations; 30-month periods, 5-year maximum.
- Max stay
- 5 years max
- Annual cap
- None
- Sponsor
- Religious organization
- Dual intent
- Permitted