All applicants for H, L, O, P, and Q visas must submit their applications to USCIS in their own name and obtain approval. After the approval of the petition and the I-129 form, applicants can apply for a work visa at the embassy/consulate. So, what materials are required to apply for a U.S. work visa?
List of materials required for a U.S. work visa:
To apply for H, L, O, P, or Q visas, a $190 application fee must be paid, and the following materials must be submitted:
(1) Non-immigrant visa electronic application form (DS-160).
(2) A valid passport for travel to the United States, which must be valid for at least six months beyond the intended stay in the U.S.
(3) One 2-inch x 2-inch (5.1 cm x 5.1 cm) photo taken within the last six months.
(4) If you are applying for an L-1 visa under a blanket petition, you must also pay the fraud detection fee.
(5) The relevant petition number, which can be found on the I-129 petition. To verify the petition, the embassy requires the applicant to provide the I-129 petition number and the I-797 petition; please bring these two documents to the interview.
If the visa is issued, a visa reciprocity fee may also be required, depending on the applicant's nationality.
If you are applying for a visa for the first time, please bring the following materials to save time during the interview:
(1) Documents proving employment qualifications, including university diplomas/degrees.
(2) Original letters of introduction from current or former employers, detailing your position, projects you have worked on, and duration of employment.
(3) If you are currently working under H-1B status, please submit your current pay stubs and all years of federal income tax returns (IRS Form 1040 and W-2 forms) for the duration of your employment in the U.S. The materials to bring include:
- Pay stubs issued by your current or former employer.
- The name and valid contact number of the HR manager at your current or former employer.
(4) Your resume.
Processing time for U.S. work visa applications:
The embassy/consulate will not process H, L, O, P, or Q visa applications earlier than 90 days before the start date indicated on the applicant's I-797 form. However, according to U.S. federal law, visa holders may not enter the United States earlier than 10 days before the start date indicated on the I-797 form. Please pay attention to this matter to arrange your travel plans.
