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Work and residence permits in the US

How to work in the US: the federal visa system, H-1B and its cap, the L-1, O-1 and E-2 routes, and the employment-based green card with its PERM step.

LG
The LawyerGo Team
· 7 min read
Work and residence permits in the US

US immigration is federal and famously complex, with employment routes split between temporary visas and permanent residence.

Temporary work visas

Common options include the H-1B for specialty occupations — subject to an annual cap and lottery that is the system’s biggest bottleneck — the L-1 for intra-company transfers, the O-1 for extraordinary ability, and the E-2 treaty-investor visa for nationals of treaty countries.

The green card

Permanent residence usually runs through the employment-based (EB) categories, often requiring PERM labor certification to test the US labour market first. Annual and per-country limits can create long waits.

Timing is everything

Caps, lotteries and quotas mean the calendar drives strategy as much as eligibility does.

For employers and individuals

Choosing the right visa and timing the filing is a specialist task. A verified US colleague can map the route and manage the petition.

Caps and rules change frequently — confirm with admitted US counsel.

LG
The LawyerGo Team
Editorial

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