Temporary Workers

Temporary Worker If you want to work in the U.S. temporarily as a nonimmigrant, under U.S. immigration law, you need a specific visa based on the type of work you will be doing. Most temporary worker categories require that the applicant's prospective employer or agent to file a petition which must be approved by the U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS) before you can apply for a visa. To learn about petitions and more, see Temporary Workers and Employers-Hiring a Foreign National for Short-Term Employment on the USCIS website.

More information by temporary worker visa type:

  • Temporary Workers webpage includes;
    • Foreign nationals with extraordinary ability in Sciences, Arts, Education, Business or Athletics (O visas)
    • International cultural exchange visitors (Q visas)
    • Intra-company transferees (L visas)
    • Performing athletes, artists, entertainers (P visas)
    • Specialty occupations in fields requiring highly specialized knowledge (H-1B)
    • Temporary agricultural workers (H-2A)
    • Temporary workers performing other services or labor of a temporary or seasonal nature (H-2B)
    • Training in a program not primarily for employment (H-3)
  • Crewmembers (D visa)
  • Foreign Media, Press, and Radio (I visa)
  • Religious Workers (R visa)
  • Treaty Traders & Treaty Investors (E visa)

Additional temporary worker visa types:

Important temporary worker information:  Review the Internal Revenue Service website information about United States tax requirements for certain foreign citizens engaged in business or trade in the U.S., since most will have an obligation to file a U.S. tax return.