There are several visa options available for immigrants interested in working in New York. The most common types of visas available include the temporary non-immigrant visa, the permanent work visa, the visa for student and exchange visitors, and the temporary visit visa for business. Each of these has several options available for different circumstances.
Temporary non-immigrant visas
These visas are designed for working in the United States under a fixed period. Typically, the potential employer files a petition for this visa with the U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services before the employee enters the United States. The employee, their spouse, and family members still need to apply for their visa before entering. There are several types of visas available depending on the nature of the work involved.
Permanent immigration work visas
There are approximately 140,000 employment-based green cards available for immigrants, their spouses, and their children. Permanent residency can be obtained through labor certification if the immigrant possesses the expertise, eligibility, skill set, and education required. These immigration visas typically require an existing offer of employment from a U.S. employer with proper labor certification. Employers must verify that there are insufficient U.S. workers available with the skill set needed and that the hiring doesn’t take a job away from an American citizen.
Other visas available
The student and exchange visitor visas are designed for vocational students, academic students and those enrolled in a cultural or educational exchange program. These are not considered to be immigrant visas.
The temporary visit for business visas are designed for short-term stays usually lasting from one to six months. These visas may be extended to six months but rarely a year. These short-stay visas are often used for negotiation contracts in person, attending conventions or settling estates.
If you’re an immigrant in New York, you may benefit from learning more about visas that could help you. Successfully applying for a visa can allow you to work or otherwise remain in the United States.