US Work Visa: How to Get a US Work Visa, and Common Mistakes to Avoid

If you want to move abroad for work, the United States of America should be your number one target.

The country is currently seeking foreign workers to fill all available job opportunities in various sectors.

And, many of these job opportunities come with a free US work visa – that means, you will get free visa sponsorship.

I don’t need to remind you that the pay is very good; you should already know that by now. In terms of salary, the USA is the second-highest paying country in the world.

As of today, the United States of America has the highest number of foreign workers in the world, and they are still looking for more.

There are over 169 million workers in the United States, and more than 32 million of them are immigrants.

That is over 19% of the whole US workforce. The country welcomes foreign workers every year, and it even needs more.

If you want to work in the United States, getting the right US work visa is the first step.

Without an American work visa, you can’t be allowed to work in the country, unless on special occasions.

Whether you’re a skilled professional, someone without a skill (you can be trained on the job), or someone in search of seasonal employment, you can qualify to get a US work permit and work in the country.

As a Visa and Immigration Firm, we are willing to help you secure one of these jobs in the USA with visa sponsorship, which will grant you US work authorisation.

If you are interested, here is all you need to know, from information about the US work visa, US work visa types, US work permit requirements, costs of securing a US work visa, and names of companies that sponsor the US work visa.

Plus, how to apply for a USA work visa and possible challenges you will face when applying for an American work visa.

As a foreigner, to work in the USA, you need a US work visa or work authorization. Below is what the US work visa is all about.

What is the US Work Visa all about, and who needs it?

“A US work visa is an official document or stamp issued by a U.S. embassy or consulate that allows a foreign national to work legally in the United States for a temporary or permanent period, depending on the visa type.”

I know many of us are familiar with what a work visa is; however, many people confuse a US work visa with a US work permit or US work authorisation.

The truth is, even though these terms sound similar, they don’t mean the same thing, and you should know the difference.

A US work visa is what you apply for and get before coming to the United States for work purposes. Simply call it a travel pass that you will use to enter the US for work.

But having a visa doesn’t always mean you can start working when you come to the USA – No.

You can have a valid US work visa and still not be allowed to work when you enter the US for work purposes.

Once you’re in the U.S., you might also need to get a work permit, which is an official card called an Employment Authorisation Document (EAD).

With a US work permit, you will have the legal right to work. People like asylum seekers, DACA recipients, or spouses of some visa holders need a US work permit (before they can work in the US).

Then there’s US work authorization, which simply means that you’re legally allowed to work in the US.

You can have US work authorization through a visa, a green card, or other programs like DACA or TPS.

To put it simply:

A US work visa lets you enter the U.S. for the purpose of working.
A US work permit lets you work if your visa doesn’t automatically allow it.
A US Work authorization means you have legal permission to work in the U.S., no matter how you got it.

If you still don’t get it, here is another way to see them:

A US work permit (EAD) allows someone who is already in the U.S. (on another visa type) to work legally in the country.
However, a US work visa is for people who are outside the U.S. and who want to enter the country for employment.

You only apply for a US work permit after you enter the U.S. under conditions (like asylum, DACA, or OPT).

US work visa types (Updated list)

Interestingly, there are many US work visa types that you can apply for and get US work authorization.

Each of the US work visa types serves different career paths and industries.

Here are the most common ones:

Visa Type	Description	Duration
H-1B	This US work visa is for skilled workers in speciality occupations like IT, engineering, or finance. It requires sponsorship.	3 years (extendable to 6)
L-1	For intracompany transfers from a foreign branch to a U.S. office.	1–3 years (extendable)
O-1	This US work visa is for individuals with extraordinary abilities in arts, science, or business.	3 years (renewable)
TN Visa	For Canadian and Mexican professionals under NAFTA/USMCA.	Up to 3 years
E-2 Visa	For investors from treaty countries who open a business in the U.S.	Varies
J-1 Visa	For cultural exchange, interns, and researchers.	Up to 18 months
H-2A/H-2B	For seasonal agricultural or non-agricultural workers.	Seasonal
Green Card through Employment	Permanent work visa for skilled workers.	Indefinite

If you’re not sure which type you should apply for, you can contact us at Avireed Visa and Immigration, and we will guide you based on your needs.

Or, you can consult a U.S. immigration lawyer. Finally, you can also go to the USCIS website here and see the one you need.

For someone who is not in the US already, you need to apply for a US work visa (from your country).

When your application is approved, you can then enter the US to work.

Now, this is another area where we can be of help to you. As a Visa and Immigration Firm, we can help you handle your US visa application process – from the beginning till you get approval.

If you are applying by yourself (which you can, the process is very simple), then you need to get the visa requirements and submit them to the US immigration authorities for approval.

US work visa requirements

Remember, we said at the beginning that each of the US work visa types has its own requirements?

Keep that in mind here. It works this way: if you’re applying for an H-1B visa, you’ll provide all the requirements that apply to the H-1B category.

The same goes for other visa types like the E-2 Visa – you must provide all the requirements and meet all the conditions specific to that visa.

However, some general requirements apply across several visa categories.

One of those is:

1. Evidence of a job offer from a U.S. Employer

In many cases, but not all, you’ll provide evidence that you’ve been offered a job in the United States.

This usually comes in the form of an official offer letter from a U.S.-based employer.

Before giving you the letter, your employer will submit a petition to U.S. immigration authorities.

Whether or not this requirement applies to you depends on the specific visa you are applying for.

2. An approved petition (Form I-129)

Your employer must file a petition called Form I-129 with the U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS).

The petition will state that your skills are needed for the role and that there are no qualified U.S. citizens or permanent residents available to fill the position.

You can only apply for a visa after this petition is approved. Without it, your application won’t move forward.

3. You need a labour certification (for Some Visas)

If you are going for a US work visa like the H-1B, you will need a Labour Condition Application (LCA) approved by the U.S. Department of Labour.

This helps protect your wages and working conditions.

4. Your international passport is also needed

Of course, you need your international passport to apply for a visa.

In this case, your passport must be valid for at least six months beyond your intended stay in the U.S.

If it’s expiring soon, renew it before you apply for a visa.

5. You will need the visa application form (Form DS-160)

The U.S. visa application form is called the DS-160, and you can fill it out online.

6. Evidence of your visa application fee

For most US work visas, the application fee is around $190.

7. Receipt of petition approval (Form I-797)

Once your employer’s petition is approved, you’ll receive a notice called Form I-797.

This is proof that USCIS has approved the petition and that you can now apply for the visa.

8. Other supporting documents

What you will bring as supporting documents depends on your situation.

It can be:

Your passport
DS-160 confirmation page
Visa fee receipt
Form I-797 (petition approval notice)
A passport-sized photo
Your job offer letter
Or any other documents specific to your visa type

9. You must have a clean background and be medically fit

You will need a police clearance certificate and evidence of your medical records.

If you’ve ever had legal or immigration issues before, this will affect your chances.

10. Proof you’ll Return (for Temporary Visas)

If you’re applying for a temporary (non-immigrant) work visa, you will be asked to prove that you plan to return to your home country when your visa expires.

You can use things like family ties, a job waiting back home, or property ownership as proof.

If you are already in the US on a visa that allows its holders to work and wish to work, you can apply for an American work permit, not a work visa.

Remember, we shared the difference between the two, and we mentioned that if you are already in the US, that is when you will apply for a US work permit.

Upon approval of your application, you will be able to work legally in the USA.

US work permit requirements

To apply for a US work permit, you must:

Be in the U.S. under an eligible visa (e.g., asylum, TPS, F1 OPT, etc.)
Fill out Form I-765
Pay a fee of $410 (this year’s estimate)
Submit biometric data
Provide supporting documents (passport, visa copy, I-94, etc.)

Once approved, you’ll receive an EAD card valid for 1–2 years.

For anyone applying from outside the USA. Here is how to get a US work visa.

How to apply for USA work visa

To apply for a United States work visa, you need to first:

Get a Job Offer from a licensed employer: We talked about this earlier. To get most US work visa types, you need a job offer from a U.S. employer.
Your employer will file a petition on your behalf: When you get the job offer, your employer will file Form I-129 with USCIS.
Receive Form I-797: If it’s approved, your employer will get an approval notice from USCIS.
Apply at a U.S. Embassy: With the approval of your employer’s petition, you can then proceed to fill out Form DS-160 and schedule a visa interview.
Attend Interview: During your visa interview, submit all your documents, including your passport, job offer, I-797, etc. The job offer letter makes it easier for your visa to be approved.
Visa Approval: If approved, your visa will be stamped, and you can enter the U.S.

You cannot apply for most work visas without a sponsor, except for investor-based visas or OPT cases.

Work Visa USA Cost

The cost of a work visa USA depends on the type you need.

Here’s a breakdown:

H-1B visa: $460 (Form I-129) + employer legal fees ($2,000–$4,000)
L-1 visa: $460 + $500 fraud fee + employer fees
O-1 visa: $460
DS-160 fee (visa application): $185
Premium Processing (optional): $2,805 (for faster processing)

Always confirm current prices on the USCIS fee calculator before you start your application.

What is the best time to apply for an American work visa?

If you genuinely want to move to the US for work, now is the right time to apply for work.

The US is welcoming both skilled and unskilled workers from all over the world, and you can be among them.

Whether you’re from Delhi, Lagos, or Nairobi, our agents can help you get started on working in the US.

From getting your US work visa to handling your flight and accommodation upon arrival, we will guide you throughout the process.

What is a US Work Visa: Its Types, Requirements for a US Work Visa, How to Get a US Work Visa, and Common Mistakes to Avoid