How Long Does It Take for a Work Permit to Get Approved in the US?
Discover the average processing time for work permit approval in the US and the factors that can impact the approval timeline.
Thousands of foreign workers move to America each year with a temporary US Work Visa.
The United States has the world’s largest economy, millions of job vacancies and welcomes newcomers from around the globe, so it is not surprising that thousands of people apply for a US Work Visa each year.
A common question asked by foreign workers is: How long does it take to get approved for a temporary US Work Visa?
This guide will seek to answer that question and provide you with other helpful information.
Table of Contents
What Is a Temporary US Work Visa?
A temporary non-immigrant US Work Visa allows a foreign worker to:
- Live in the US for a limited amount of time for a specified purpose
- Work in the USA legally, usually for a particular employer
- Bring his or her family to live in the USA with the relevant US visa
Most of the temporary US Work Visas have an option to be renewed if the foreign worker satisfies the eligibility requirements.
In the event that a foreign worker cannot renew his or her temporary US Work Visa, he or she must receive a different immigration status or depart the United States before the temporary US Work Visa expires.
What Are the Different Types of US Work Visas?
There are several different types of temporary non-immigrant US Work Visas designed for various categories of foreign workers including the:
- E-1 Treaty Trader Visa
- E-2 Treaty Investor Visa
- H-1B Visa for Foreign Workers with Certain Specialty Occupations or Fashion Models
- I-Visa for International Media
- L-Visa for Intracompany Transferees
- O-Visa for Foreign Workers with Extraordinary Achievement or Ability
- P-Visa for:
- Foreign Athletes Recognized Internationally
- Members of Foreign Performers or Entertainment Groups Recognized Internationally
- Foreign Performers or Groups Performing Under a Mutual Exchange Program
- Foreign Entertainers or Artists Who Are Part of a Program that Is Culturally Unique
- R-1 Visa for Foreign Temporary Religious Workers
How Long Does It Take to Get Approved for a US Work Visa?
The amount of time that it takes to get approved for a temporary US Work Visa varies, depending on the visa, but it generally takes approximately:
- 8-12 months for the E-1 Visa (Treaty Traders)
- 8-12 months for the E-2 Visa (Treaty Investors)
- 6-8 months for the H-1B Visa (Specialty Occupations)
- 6-12 months for the L-Visa (Intracompany Transferees)
- 3-6 months for the O-Visa (Extraordinary Achievement or Ability)
- 3-6 months for the P-Visa (Athletes, Entertainers and Artists)
- 8-9 months for the R-Visa (Religious Workers)
Conclusion
Foreign workers in a variety of occupations are finding many opportunities working in the USA with a temporary US Work Visa.
In addition to temporary non-immigrant US Work Visas, there are also employment-based Immigrant Visas and Green Cards available to thousands of foreign workers each year.
Knowing which type of US visa you are eligible to apply for is the first step of the process to live and work in the USA as a foreign worker.
USAFIS offers a US Visa Assessment which will inform you about the US visa(s) that best match your profile.
You can also receive guidance in gathering your documents that will be required during the US visa application procedure.
To find out which US visa is right for you, click here!
Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ’s)
Are there jobs in the US available to foreign workers?
Yes, employers in the United States are hiring foreign workers who are permitted to legally work in the USA with a temporary US Work Visa or a Permanent Resident Green Card. There are millions of US job vacancies in construction, education, engineering, finance, healthcare, information technology, manufacturing and other business sectors.
What are some of the temporary US Work Visa types?
One of the most popular temporary US work visas is the H-1B Work Visa for skilled foreign workers with specialty occupations or fashion models, which is valid for up to 3 years, can be renewed for up to 3 years and has the option to apply for a US Permanent Resident Green Card. The L-1 Visa is granted to certain intracompany transferees who are relocating from a company office located outside of the United States to work at or open an office in the USA, it is generally valid for up to 3 years, and can be renewed for up to 2 years at a time for a maximum stay in the US of 7 years. The O-1 Work Visa is designed for foreign workers with extraordinary achievement in the film and television industry, or extraordinary ability in the arts, athletics, business, education, or the sciences, and it is granted for up to 3 years and can be renewed if the foreign worker meets the criteria. There are also temporary US work visas for treaty traders, treaty investors, entertainers, international media, religious workers and other kinds of foreign workers.
How long does it take to get approved for a temporary US Work Visa?
In general, it takes between 3 and 12 months for an eligible foreign worker to get approved for a temporary US Work Visa, depending on the visa type and other factors.
What is the difference between a temporary US Work Visa and an employment-based Green Card?
A temporary US Work Visa is granted to a foreign worker for a particular purpose and a specific amount of time (for example, up to 3 years). An employment-based (EB) Green Card is issued to a foreign worker so he or she can live and work in the USA for an unlimited period of time as a lawful permanent resident (LPR) of the United States. Green Card holders also have the option to apply for US citizenship after living in the USA for 5 years and meeting other criteria.
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