Temporary Workers
Temporary Worker visas are for persons who want to enter the United States for employment lasting a fixed period of time, and are not considered permanent or indefinite.
If you want to work in the U.S. temporarily, under U.S. immigration law, you need a specific visa based on the purpose of your travel and type of work.
Review the USCIS website or the Department of State’s Temporary Worker visa website for more detailed information on temporary worker visa categories.
Visas for Temporary Workers
- H-1B: Person in Specialty Occupation To work in a specialty occupation. Requires a higher education degree or its equivalent. Includes fashion models of distinguished merit and ability and government-to-government research and development, or co-production projects administered by the Department of Defense.
- H-2A: Temporary Agricultural Worker For temporary or seasonal agricultural work. Limited to citizens or nationals of designated countries, with limited exceptions, if determined to be in the United States interest.
- H-2B: Temporary Non-agricultural Worker For temporary or seasonal non-agricultural work. Limited to citizens or nationals of designated countries, with limited exceptions, if determined to be in the United States interest.
- H-3: Trainee or Special Education visitor To receive training, other than graduate medical or academic, that is not available in the trainee’s home country or practical training programs in the education of children with mental, physical, or emotional disabilities.
Legal Rights and Protections
H-1B, H-2A, and H-2B visa applicants should read the Legal Rights and Protections pamphlet to learn about your rights in the United States and protection available to you. Review this important document before applying for your visa.
Foreign Nationals with Extraordinary Ability in Sciences, Arts, Education, Business, or Athletics
O: Individual with Extraordinary Ability or Achievement
For persons with extraordinary ability or achievement in the sciences, arts, education, business, athletics, or extraordinary recognized achievements in the motion picture and television fields, demonstrated by sustained national or international acclaim, to work in their field of expertise. Includes persons providing essential services in support of the above individual.
- O1: Alien with Extraordinary Ability in Sciences, Arts, Education, Business or Athletics
- O2: Alien Accompanying and Assisting in the Artistic or Athletic Performance by O1
Note: Applicants applying for an O visa need to contact the Consular Section to schedule an appointment. Please email consularbamako@state.gov .
P: Performing Entertainers, Athletes, Artists
- P-1: Individual or Team Athlete, or Member of an Entertainment Group To perform at a specific athletic competition as an athlete, or to perform at an event as a member of an entertainment group. Requires an internationally recognized level of sustained performance. Includes persons providing essential services in support of the above individual.
- P-2: Artist or Entertainer (Individual or Group) For performance under a reciprocal exchange program between an organization in the United States and an organization in another country. Includes persons providing essential services in support of the above individual.
- P-3: Artist or Entertainer (Individual or Group) To perform, teach or coach under a program that is culturally unique or a traditional ethnic, folk, cultural, musical, theatrical, or artistic performance or presentation. Includes persons providing essential services in support of the above individual.
Note: Groups containing five or more applicants need to contact the Consular Section to schedule a group appointment. Please email consularbamako@state.gov .
Intracompany Transferee
- L: Intracompany Transferee To work at a branch, parent, affiliate, or subsidiary of the current employer in a managerial or executive capacity, or in a position requiring specialized knowledge. Individual must have been employed by the same employer abroad continuously for 1 year within the three preceding years.