Temporary Worker Visas
For purposes of employment, visas may be divided into two general categories: those that permit employment and those that do not. Temporary work visas, that is, visas offering a limited stay of employment in this country, come in various types and apply to various occupations. Some may be pursued by the foreign employee him- or herself, and some are obtained through a petition by an employer on behalf of the potential employee.
Congress created the immigration laws with certain principles in mind. Primary among these were that aliens in the workforce not displace U.S. workers, and that the use of alien workers not facilitate a decline in wages or working conditions. Visa processing is typically quicker for highly skilled workers than for those with less education and skills.
Work Visas and Requirements
The visa most commonly thought of as the temporary work visa is the "H" type, which has several classifications:
- The "H-1A" applies to registered nurses and responds to a shortage of persons in this field.
- The H-1B covers specialty occupations, sometimes called "professional" occupations. To qualify for an H-1B, an alien must possess highly specialized knowledge. A baseline requirement for this showing is a bachelor's, or 4-year college, degree. In addition to the alien's qualifications, the position itself must require a bachelor's degree. In other words, it's a two-sided analysis -- the alien must possess highly specialized knowledge, and the position must demand application of that knowledge.
- The H-2 visa applies to jobs in agriculture, and other areas for which there are insufficient U.S. workers.
All H visas require an offer of employment from an U.S. employer, and proof that the wage to be paid is comparable to other positions in that occupation. In addition to these requirements, the H-2 visa necessitates a showing (by the employer) that there were no qualified U.S. workers available and willing to fill the position.
Page 1 of 3
Next Page
