The most common temporary employment-based visas fall into several categories:
H-1B: Foreign professionals in “specialty occupations” such as IT professionals, engineers, healthcare workers, financial analysts, and more
H-2B: Temporary seasonal non-agricultural workers
H-2A: Agricultural workers coming from designated countries
L-1A & L-1B Intra-company transferee visa: Foreign workers who are employed abroad at companies related to a US employer, when the US employer needs their services
O Visas – extraordinary ability
P Visas – athletes, artists, and entertainers performing in a group with national or international recognition
H3 – Training Visa
The H-1B visa is typically issued for three years and may be extended by an additional three years. The annual limit for the H-1B is 65,000 visas, plus an additional 20,000 for foreign professionals with a US master’s degree or higher degree. The H-2B visa has a validity of up to one year, with the possibility to renew it twice for a maximum stay of three years. Typically, the annual limit for H-2B visas is 66,000. The H-2A visa is issued for an approved period of employment and can be renewed several times for a total stay that does not exceed three years. There is no annual limit to the number of H-2A visas issued. L-1A & L-1B visas are initially issued for a period up to three years. These visas may be extended by up to four additional years for L-1A and up to two additional years for L-1B. This category has no annual limit on the number of visas issued.