US immigration laws, though known for being a little complicated, actually offer several opportunities for USA immigration, because there are many types of non-Immigrant US visas or temporary US options available.

In terms of securing a short-term American visa, if your country is not a member of the US visa waiver scheme you must either apply for a B1 Business Visa or submit a B2 Travel Visa application. A longer period of stay, to live or work in the country, requires applying for an L1Visa, H1-B Visa or another type of non-Immigrant visa.

For anyone involved in business or investment, an E1 or E2 Visa should be applied for. These are valid for up to five years and offer the holder the opportunity to apply for a US Green Card.

If you are considering a more permanent stay, USA immigration also allows for family members to sponsor each other. If you are looking for employment opportunities, anyone with certain “extraordinary” abilities in their field, who can show an ability to contribute to American society, may apply for EB-1 and EB-2 visas.

Finally, permanent immigration to the US, via the Green Card, takes several years to fully comply with and usually begins with temporary applications.

For non-US firms and potential investors in the USA, B1 and B2 visas and E1, E2 and E3 visas are the ones to apply for. B1 and B2 visas or visitor visas, are only valid for a planned business trip, but not for gainful employment or running a business. Foreign nationals of treaty countries, who carry on a substantial volume of international trade with the USA, may be granted an E1 visa. Foreign nationals of qualifying treaty countries who have made a substantial investment in the USA may also qualify for an E2 visa. The E-3 visa, however, is specifically designed for Australian nationals who wish to enter the USA to perform services in a “specialty occupation.”

For a foreign individual who wishes to gain residency and work authorisation in the USA, sponsorship by an employer, investment, sponsorship by a close relative already residing in the country, the annual Diversity Visa Lottery Programme and asylum and refugee status, are the five main possibilities.

For exchange visitors, a visa gained under the J-1 Exchange Visitor Programme permits a foreign individual to train, work and travel within the USA.

Work Permits
Currently there are over 60 different types of US work permits available to both skilled and non-skilled workers immigrating to the country. Among the most common work permit categories are US Business Visitors (B1), which allows a foreign national to temporarily enter the USA in order to conduct a variety of business-based activities, but not to engage in actual gainful employment. US H1-B Visas allow an employer in the United States to recruit foreign workers in specialty occupations for a period of up to six years. The US L1 Visa functions similarly to a UK work permit application, which allows a UK based company to transfer a specific worker to a branch office in the US.

US E1 Treaty Trader Visas are designed to make trade easy between America and certain countries and allow candidates to immigrate to the country, based on trade carried on with the USA. US E2 Treaty Investor Visas are similar to the E1 and allow qualifying candidates to migrate to the USA, based on investments made in US based businesses. US EB3 Visas are designed for applicants who can be categorised as professionals, “skilled workers” or “other workers”.

If your country is not on the list of eligible recipients of the Green Card Lottery programme, you can still qualify if either one of your parents was born in any of the approved countries.

To date 80% of green card lottery visas have been issued to European and African nationals, but no single country can have more than 7% of the total issued.

To qualify for the US immigration programme, you must be a graduate of the foreign equivalent of the 12-year US primary and secondary education programmes. Completing the elementary and secondary education in one’s native land does not necessarily mean meeting the educational requirements of the immigration programme, since each country has different educational standards.

Among the citizens of countries eligible to obtain a lottery visa, educational attainment is not the only requirement. Work experience can override the educational requirements for anyone who has been employed in certain professions for two or more years. To date, workers covered by the immigration programme include accountants, computer scientists, medical personnel, physicians, teachers, engineers, cartoonists, multimedia specialists, machinists, chemists, microbiologists, biologists, musicians and veterinarians.

J-1 applicants must be between 18 and 26 years of age, high-school graduates, who are proficient in the English language and have no plans to permanently settle in the USA.

A J-1 visa, for the purpose of internship, requires a degree or professional certificate from a tertiary educational institution and a minimum of one year’s work experience or in cases of college undergraduates, a minimum of five years work experience. Interns may only remain in the USA for a maximum of 18 months. The residence period for trainees in agriculture, hotel and tourism industries is limited to a shorter duration, 12months.

The J-1 is also available to au pairs. The US visa programme allows au pairs, young people who live with host families while providing child care services, to stay in the USA for 12 months, which can be extended by one more year. Au pairs, under the US visa programme, are required to spend at least six semester hours at an accredited US school.

Any expenses incurred by au pairs in the course of travelling to and from the USA must be shouldered by their host families, who must also provide them with suitable accommodation. Au pairs should not be asked to work for more than 45hours per week and they are entitled to 1.5 days of rest every week.

US immigration law defines a specialty occupation as a profession requiring theoretical and practical application of specialised knowledge such as architecture, engineering and medicine. The H1B requires a 4-year university degree relevant to the target job or a 3-year course plus three years of relevant job experience.

Candidates who fall short of the above educational requirements can still qualify for the H1B if they have 12 years of relevant work experience.

The H1B visa also allows dependents to move to the USA, along with the principal holder. It grants a minimum residency of three years, subject to a two-year extension and one further year. The maximum residency period is subject to some exceptions, one-year extension after the maximum residency period if the labour certification is pending for at least 365 days and a three-year extension after the maximum residency period if the government approves an I-140 Immigrant Petition.

H1B employees can file monetary claims against their sponsors if they are dismissed prior to the expiration of their contract. Sponsoring employers are required to reimburse the relocation or travel expenses incurred by H1B holders as a result of premature termination of their employment contract.

For taxation purposes, H1B employees are categorised as either Resident Aliens or Non Resident Aliens. A method called the “substantial presence test” is used to determine the tax residency of H1B workers.

However, before anyone can set foot in the country and live the American dream, they must first obtain an American visa. To be able to live in the United States, the applicant must present documents indicating an ability to live and survive in the country. Certain assessment tests are available online and they can help to get an idea of what it will be like to live in the United States.

Those with relatives already living in the country have a better chance of obtaining American visas, but it does not always hold true. Certain other documents are still required to ensure that the applicant will be able to live, without being a drain on society. If you believe you meet the criteria for a visa try the assessment tests online and see if you are. If not, you can check out what you need to do to get an American visa.

Another helpful tip is to consult an emigration officer or visit the United States Embassy in your native country, in order to discuss the matter further.

There are three types of EB1 visa:

1. Extraordinary Ability (EB1-1)
The EB1-1 visa is granted to foreign talents who can demonstrate their exceptional skills. Those who have won a prestigious national or international award; for example a Nobel Prize or Academy Award, are likely to be granted an EB1-1 visa. Other justifications of exceptional talent include publication of one’s research in a prestigious periodical, art exhibitions, participation in peer reviews, playing lead roles in motion pictures or a breakthrough discovery in a scientific field.

2. Outstanding Professor or Researcher (EB1-2)
This type of US immigration visa is granted to teachers and researchers who have earned notable achievements in the academic field. Scholarly writings, breakthrough discoveries or receipts of prestigious awards are some of the achievements that can justify an EB1-2 visa.

3. Multinational Executive or Manager (EB1-3)
EB1-3 is a U.S. immigration visa granted to multinational executives who have been working with their sponsoring employer for a minimum of one year in the previous three, just prior to the date of visa application. The sponsoring employer must have been doing business in the USA for at least one year.

An EB1-3 visa holder is particularly responsible for managing the company unit or division where the offer of employment lies. Managers under EB1-3 sponsorship should also have the capacity to supervise managerial staff and hire and dismiss employees.

Every year, the Green Card Lottery issues some 50,000 diversity visas to non-American citizens living in countries outside the USA, which have low rates of immigration. The lucky applicants will be randomly chosen and must be able to meet specific requirements. For example, they must either have completed a high school education or its equivalent or, in the last five years, have had two years work experience, which requires the same amount of training or work experience. For married couples, it is advised that they apply separately, as this gives them a better chance of being selected.

Since applications for the Green Card Lottery do not require sponsors, they also do not require special services, such as the legal services of an immigration lawyer or of a migration agent. USA immigration recommends reviewing the details of submitted documents accurately; for instance the format of the digital portrait must meet specific requirements.

Workpermit.com can help applicants ensure that their documentation is well organised and a qualified US lawyer is available to help interested applicants regarding legal matters, etc.

To help immigrants settle, community groups are spread throughout the country, and places of worship are everywhere, to suit every religious belief.

Once a USA visa holder is granted permanent resident status, he has the right to permanently live and work anywhere in the country, apply to become a citizen of the USA, when eligible, request visas for husband, wife or unmarried children, receive supplemental income, social security and medical benefits if eligible, own property in the USA, apply for a driver’s license in the state in which he or she is resident, leave and return to the US under certain conditions, attend public school, join the U.S. Armed Forces in certain branches and own a firearm unless there are local restrictions.

To become a USA immigrant, a foreign individual needs to secure a visa. For short-term visa services, you should apply for the B1 business visa and B2 travel visa. For longer periods and to work and live in the US, an L1 visa and H1B visa should be applied for. Foreign individuals, who wish to establish their own business in the country, need to have either an E1 or E2 visa.

Longer term USA immigration requires EB-1, EB-2, EB-3, EB-4 and EB-5 visas, which are all designed to permit qualifying individuals to apply for permanent residency in the country through employment opportunities. There are several other routes for this category, based on family ties and the American Green Card Lottery.