Work visas and residence through employment

Temporary work visas

H-1B, specialty occupations

For jobs that require at least a bachelor's degree in a specific field. Most new H-1Bs are subject to an annual cap and a selection process. The rules and fees for it have changed recently, so check current USCIS guidance.

L-1, intracompany transfers

For managers, executives and employees with specialized knowledge moving from a company abroad to a related U.S. company, after at least one continuous year with the company abroad within the previous three.

O-1, extraordinary ability

For people with sustained national or international recognition in their field.

TN

For Canadian and Mexican professionals in listed occupations under the USMCA.

Permanent residence through employment

Employment-based green cards are divided into preference categories. The first covers people of extraordinary ability, outstanding professors and researchers, and multinational managers and executives. The second covers professionals with advanced degrees or exceptional ability, and includes the national interest waiver, which lets a person petition for themselves without a job offer. The third covers skilled workers, professionals and other workers.

Most second- and third-preference cases begin with labor certification from the Department of Labor: the employer tests the labor market and shows that hiring the foreign worker will not displace qualified U.S. workers. The employer then files an immigrant petition, and the worker applies for residence when a visa is available in their category and country.

For employers

Sponsoring a worker creates obligations: wage requirements, records that must be kept, and notice when the job changes. Every employer, sponsor or not, must also verify each new hire's identity and work authorization on Form I-9. We help hiring teams plan a sponsorship, keep it compliant, and prepare for the change from a temporary visa to residence.