Business Visas

Business Visitors (B-1/WB Visa)

A business visitor may engage in business activities, including exploring a new business opportunity, so long as no actual labor is performed.  Permissible business activities include negotiating contracts and other activities of a commercial or professional nature.

Treaty Investors or Traders (E-1/E-2 Visa)

Foreign nationals of certain countries seeking to start a new business or conduct business in the area of international trade in the United States may qualify for E-1 or E-2 status.

Specialty Occupation Employees (H-1B Visa)

The H-1B is the most common visa used to employ professional foreign nationals.  While most are familiar with the H-1B visa in the context of high-tech industry personnel, the visa is available for any U.S. company offering a position in any specialty occupation for which a four-year college degree is the minimum requirement.

Intracompany Transferees (L-1 Visa)

The L-1 intracompany transferee visa is a useful vehicle for multinational companies seeking to transfer high-level and essential employees from overseas to provide services in a similar capacity to a related entity in the United States.

TN Professionals (TN Visa)

TN status is available to certain Canadian and Mexican professionals seeking entry to engage in one of the approved occupations, and only if the applicant possesses the relevant educational degree or background and/or work experience for the occupation.

Temporary Workers (H-2A/H-2B Visa)

The H-2A visa is available to certain temporary or seasonal agricultural workers.  The H-2B visa is available to certain temporary nonagricultural workers.

Temporary Trainees (H-3 Visa)

An H-3 trainee is available to individuals seeking to enter the United States at the invitation of an organization or individual for the purpose of receiving training in any field of endeavor, as well as training in a purely industrial establishment.  This visa is not available for any type of graduate medical education or training.

Individuals of Extraordinary Ability or Achievement (O Visa)

The O visa is a useful classification for highly talented or acclaimed foreign nationals, especially artists, athletes, entertainers, high-end chefs and business people lacking professional degrees.

Performing Entertainers and Athletes (P Visa)

The P Visa is generally available to individual athletes, athletic teams, entertainers and entertainment groups that meet the basic standard of international recognition or are coming to the United States to perform pursuant to a reciprocal exchange program or to develop, interpret, represent, coach or teach their particular culturally unique art or discipline.

Religious Workers (R Visa)

The R-1 visa offers an opportunity for people to enter the United States in order to continue or develop a religious vocation, and for religious organizations in the United States to import members from overseas branches, affiliates, or similar entities.