Visa Types
Employment
Anyone going to the United States with the intention of working there temporarily must obtain a nonimmigrant work visa. Persons entering the United States on a visitor visa, a business visa, or under the Visa Waiver Program (VWP) are not permitted to work.
Unlike some countries, the United States government does not issue work visas for casual employment. In general, work visas are based on a specific offer of employment.
The most common categories of nonimmigrant work visas are listed below.
Temporary Work Visa (H)
Required by an alien who is to perform a prearranged professional or highly skilled job for a temporary period, or to fill a temporary position for which there is a shortage of U.S. workers, or receive training from an employer. For more information, please see the web site of the Department of State.
The employer in the United States begins the H visa process by filing a Form I-129 Petition for Nonimmigrant Worker with the U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Service.
Documents Required for H:
- Original Form I-797 Notice of Action indicating USCIS approval of the I-129 petition
- Copy of the submitted I-129 petition
- Proof of academic and professional qualifications and experience
Intra-company Transferee Visa (L-1)
Required by an alien who is being transferred by his current employer to a specific executive or technical job with the same firm, or subsidiary thereof, in the United States. The employee must have already worked for the organization outside the United States for at least 12 continuous months in the previous three years. For more information, please see the web site of the Department of State.
The employer in the United States begins the L visa process by filing a Form I-129 Petition for Nonimmigrant Worker with the U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Service.
Documents Required for L:
- Original Form I-797 Notice of Action indicating USCIS approval of the I-129 petition
- Copy of the submitted I-129 petition
- Letter from employer outside the United States indicating the employee's position and date of hire
Treaty Trader/Investor Visas (E -1 and E-2)
The United States maintains a treaty of commerce and navigation with Slovenia, therefore Slovene citizens may apply for E-1 or E-2 visas if their purpose of travel to the U.S. is one of the following:
- to carry on substantial trade, including trade in services or technology, principally between the United States and the treaty country; or
- to develop and direct the operations of an enterprise in which the applicant has invested; or
- to invest a substantial amount of capital.
For more information about Treaty Trader/Investor's Visas, click here.
Please note that we can give no assurances in advance regarding the issuance of visas. Therefore, please do not make final travel plans or purchase nonrefundable tickets until a visa has been issued.