🇺🇸 United States · Work Visa
Work permit categories, eligibility, sponsorship, application steps, and processing times.
Work visas are petitioned through USCIS (the employer usually files Form I-129) and issued by the Department of State at a US consulate. Common categories include H-1B (specialty occupation), L-1 (intracompany transfer) and O-1 (extraordinary ability).
- Most employment-based visas require an employer petition approved by USCIS before the consular visa interview.
- The H-1B category is subject to an annual numerical cap and a registration/lottery process.
- Some categories (e.g. H-1B, PERM green cards) require a Department of Labor certification step.
Official authorities
- USCIS
Adjudicates immigration petitions and work authorization.
- U.S. Department of State — Visas
Visa categories and consular processing.
Official-information aggregation, not legal advice. Always verify on the authority's own site.
Government portals
- The White House — Official residence and office of the US President — executive orders, policy briefings, press releases
- U.S. Department of State — US passport and visa services, travel warnings, embassy information worldwide
- Internal Revenue Service (IRS) — Federal tax filing, refund status, ITIN/EIN applications, and Free File program
- USCIS — Green card, H-1B and work visas, naturalization, immigration benefits, and case status