Why Apply for a US Work Visa?

• 11.5 million work visas issued in FY 2024
• Earn an average salary of $65,000 to $70,000
• 10 million Job openings across 30+ sectors
• Lowered taxes compared to Canada
• Gain access to a global job market

To work legally in the US, you must apply for a valid US work visa. Some benefits of working in the US include high salaries, medical coverage, global networking opportunities, and other employee benefits. 

 

Types of USA Work Visas

The US offers different types of work visas, both temporary and non-immigrant visas, and permanent or immigrant visa categories. The temporary work visas issued by the US allow individuals to reside and work in the country for a specific period, while the immigrant work visas allow individuals to permanently work and immigrate to the US based on their skills, qualifications, and job offers. To apply for a non-immigrant work visa, you must secure a valid job offer in the US.
The table has a complete overview of the different types of US work visas:

US work visa	Required for immigrants in Canada	Required for Canadian citizens
H-1B	Yes	No (Canadian citizens can enter the country with the H-1B Approval Notice (I-797) and have an USCIS-approved temporary worker petition (Form I-129)
TN (NAFTA)	No (The TN visa is particularly for Canadian and Mexican citizens)	Yes
L-1 visa	No, not all immigrants require a L-1 visa to work in the US	Yes
O-1 visa	Yes	No (Canadian citizens can enter the country and work with O-1 status depending on the O-1 stamp)

 

Requirements for a US Work Visa

The requirements to apply for a US work visa may differ based on the applicant's status. However, given below are the requirements to apply for a US work visa for both immigrants in Canada and Canadian citizens:

US Work Visa Requirements for Immigrants in Canada

Immigrants in Canada who want to work in the US must apply for a valid US work visa, including temporary work visas such as the TN visa and immigrant visas such as EB visas.

The US work visa requirements for immigrants in Canada are as follows:

• A valid and original passport
• A valid work visa application form
• An employment offer from a registered United States Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS) employer
• Academic qualifications (evidence of education)
• Proof of prior work experience
• Employer petition filed with the USCIS

 

US Work Visa Requirements for Canadian Citizens

Canadian citizens usually require a work visa to work in the US; however, there are certain visa exemptions. Canadian citizens can enter the US for business or tourism without a visa but cannot work during this period. The TN visa (Trade NAFTA visa) is one of the most common US work visas for Canadian citizens. 

Canadian citizens must fulfill the below-listed requirements to apply for a US work visa:

• Must be a Canadian citizen
• Have a valid employment offer from a US employer
• Proof of educational qualifications
• Proof of work experience

 

How to apply for a USA Work Visa for Immigrants in Canada?

To apply for a US work visa, you must first acquire a valid employment offer from a US employer, who will then file a petition with the USCIS on your behalf.

You can refer to the below steps to apply for a US work visa from Canada:

Step 1: Obtain a valid job offer in the US

Step 2: The US employer files a petition with USCIS

Step 3: Upon approval of the petition, you can apply for the work visa

Step 4: Complete DS-160 Form for non-immigrant visas & DS-260 Form for immigrant visas

Step 5: Complete the visa fee payment

Step 6: Schedule and attend a visa interview at the nearest US consulate

Step 7: Await the visa status

 

How to apply for a US Work permit for Canadian citizens?

Canadian citizens applying for a US work permit an employment offer from a registered US employer, who will file a petition with the USCIS. You can apply for a work visa at the local US consulate or get admission at a port of entry.

You can follow the below steps to apply for a US work permit as a Canadian citizen:

Step 1: Obtain a job offer in the US

Step 2: Select the work visa that best fits your requirement

Step 3: Arrange the visa requirements

Step 4: Apply for the work visa

Step 5: Complete the visa fee payment

Step 6: Schedule and attend a visa interview at the nearest US consulate

Step 7: Await the visa status
 

US Work Visa Cost

The cost of a US work visa ranges from $160 to $825, and it may vary depending on the type of visa.

The table below has details of the different US work visas, along with the visa costs:

US Work visa	Processing fees
H-1B visa	$460
L-1 visa	$825
TN visa	$160
O-1 visa	$190

 

USA Work Visa Processing Time

The average processing time for a US work visa may take 15 days to 9 months, depending on the visa you have applied for. The processing time may vary depending on factors such as the total volume of applications, visa type, completeness of the application, and authenticity of the documents submitted.

US Work visa	Processing Time
H-1B visa	3-9 months
L-1 visa	2-6 months
TN visa	15 days
O-1 visa	2-3 months

 

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