Work Permits for the USA

The Green Card is the official document issued by the US Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS) to foreign nationals granting them permanent residency in America. This allows the holder to live and work in the United States.

Obtaining a Green Card for the USA

Generally, there are three parts to the process when applying through employment: obtaining labour certification, filing an immigrant petition, and finally, submitting the permanent residence application.

Expats can live in the US under a non-immigrant visa while their immigrant visa is being processed. Alternatively, they can wait in their home country until final approval, at which point they would emigrate. The waiting period will depend on the skill level each person is classified under. Before expats can apply for a Green Card, a US company must petition on their behalf.

A Green Card can also be obtained through family members who are US citizens or legal permanent residents (Green Card holders).

Further reading

►US Citizenship and Immigration Services: Green Card

Employment-based non-immigrant visas for the USA

Non-immigrant visas allow applicants to reside in the US while processing their Green Card. There are numerous types of visas in this category. Here are the most commonly used.

H-1 Visa               

H-1 visas are for skilled international professionals who want to live and work in America on a long-term basis. As these are non-immigrant visas, they are often quicker to obtain than a Green Card. In order to qualify for this visa, expats must have a US company sponsor their application or petition on their behalf. 

L Visa

Available for international companies that wish to expand operations into the United States or have an existing branch in the US that they want to transfer an employee to. This visa is one of the most popular.

It can lead to permanent residency and is relatively easy to obtain with the proper documentation and presentation. Expats would need to be transferred from a company's offices in their home country to a branch in the US.

E-5 visa

This requires a direct financial investment into a new or existing business. The minimum funds required for the investment vary depending on the geographic area where the applicant plans to set up their business operations. The expat's new company can then sponsor their Green Card application.

Useful links

►US Citizenship and Immigration Services: Temporary Non-Immigrant Workers

►US Department of State: Temporary Worker Visas

*Visa regulations are subject to change at short notice, and expats should contact their respective embassy or consulate for the latest details.