H-1B Visa
Specialty Occupation Worker 

 Only U.S.-based companies may apply for this visa, on behalf of foreign nationals in most professional occupations, including engineers, computer scientists, financial analysts and others with a Bachelors Degree or its equivalent in work experience. 

The maximum length of stay in the U.S. is six years, during which time the visa-holder must get a new visa if s/he changes employers.

Timeframe
6-8 weeks to receive approval after submission to the Department of Labor.
For more information, click here.

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L-1 Visa
Intra-Company Transferee

This visa is for executives, owners, managers or employees with "specialized knowledge" who have worked for at least one year out of the past three years for an overseas company. 

The overseas company must have – or must form – a U.S. affiliate company, which submits the petition for this visa. 

The maximum stay in the U.S. is 5-7 years, but L-1A visa holders (managers and executives) are usually eligible within one year for a "green card".

Timeframe
4-6 weeks for INS approval, or 1 week for consular visa issuance if the company has an "L-1 Blanket" approval.
For more information, click here.

J-1 Visa
Exchange Visitors

This visa is for foreign nationals who have been accepted as participants in a broad range of work and/or study programs approved by the U.S. Information Agency. 

Business and industrial trainees may be issued J-1 visas for a maximum of 18 months.

Timeframe
2-6 weeks.
For more information, click here.

O-1 Visa
Person of "Extraordinary Ability"

To qualify for this visa, the applicant must meet at least three of several possible criteria enumerated by the INS (e.g., has made contributions or shown leadership within the field as documented in letters by colleagues or past/present employers, won honors or awards, published articles, etc.). 

The O-1 visa leads readily to a "green card."

Timeframe
3-6 weeks after submission to INS.
For more information, click here.

TN Visa
Canadian or Mexican Professional Worker

This visa is only for Canadian citizens whose occupations appear on Schedule 2 of the North American Free Trade Agreement. 

The employer must submit a supporting letter, along with the credentials specified in Schedule 2 for the occupation. 

The visa is initially valid for one year, but can be renewed indefinitely.

Timeframe
2-5 days including case preparation, depending on port of entry.
For more information, click here.

E-2 and E-1 Visa
Foreign Investor and Trader

This visa is for nationals from specified countries (including most of Europe, Scandinavia, Japan, Korea, Taiwan, some of the Americas, etc.) whose companies have made a "substantial" investment in the U.S. (E-2 Visa), or are regularly trading with the U.S. (E-1 Visa). 

The individual E visa-holders must be among the company’s principal investors, managers or specialized employees. 

Companies with E visa status range from small start-ups to large multinational corporations, but the investments should eventually create at least one job for a U.S. worker. 

E visas can be extended indefinitely (as long as the investment or trading activity continues), and U.S. tax considerations cause some individuals to prefer the E visa over the green card.

Timeframe
Varies by city and country: 
4-6 weeks after submission to the INS.
For more information, click here.