Nonimmigrant Visas

Temporary Work Visas, H, L Visas

There are several categories of temporary worker visas. We have listed some of them below. All applicants for such visas must have a petition approved by the United States Citizenship and Immigration Service (USCIS) before applying for the visa.

A petition is the process by which the Department of Homeland Security (DHS) determines that you meet the basic qualifications for a particular visa. For example, it is through the petition process that the DHS determines you have the educational background or its equivalent to qualify as an H1-B "skilled worker."

The following petitions cannot be filed with the Consulate; they must be filed in the U.S. For more information on petitions for temporary workers, please see the USCIS website.

• H1-B persons in a specialty occupation
• H2-B temporary or seasonal nonagricultural workers
• H3 trainees other than medical or academic; also applies to practical training in the education of handicapped children
• H4 Dependants of H visa holders
• L1 Intracompany transferees
• L2 Dependants of L1 visa holders
• O1, O2 Visas for Persons of Extraordinary Ability
• P3 Visas for Artists or Entertainers in a Culturally Unique Program
  

If you are applying for an H1-B or L1 visa, you need to present:

• All the required documents for any nonimmigrant visa
• I-797 -- the original notice of approval
• The complete petition submitted by your prospective employer including the Labor Condition Application (LCA – not applicable to L1 applicants) and the I-129
• The originals of your university diplomas, mark sheets and any certificates you may have. (Secondary school information is not required)
• Your work experience letters from your previous employers
• One set of photocopy of all the above documents
• Letter from petitioning employer confirming employer's intent to hire the applicant
• L visa applicants must provide a letter from their employer stating how long they have worked for the company
• Pay stubs from current or most recent place of employment

The Consulate will not accept documents received directly from the company by mail or fax. If confidentiality is of concern, the applicant should bring the documents to his or her interview at the Consulate.