Many companies need to hire nonimmigrant workers for temporary jobs – jobs that there just aren’t enough Americans to fill. But where do you even begin if you want to lawfully hire immigrants? This guide explains how to get visas for nonimmigrant workers at your company.
Visas for Nonimmigrant Workers: Classifications
Nonimmigrant workers need sponsors – they can’t simply come to the U.S. and start working. That means if you want to hire a nonimmigrant, temporary worker, your company needs to petition the United States government for visas. Many professionals choose to work with a Wisconsin immigration attorney to do so.
There are several types of nonimmigrant visas, which the following table outlines. You must hire a worker who fits into one of these visa categories.
| Nonimmigrant Classification | Description |
| CW-1 | CNMI-only transitional worker |
| E-1 | Treaty traders and qualified employees |
| E-2 and E-2C | Treaty investors and qualified employees, and long-term foreign investors in the CNMI |
| E-3 | Some specialty occupation professionals from Australia |
| H-1B1, H-1B2 and H-1B3 | Free Trade Agreement workers in specialty occupations from Chile and Singapore; specialty occupations related to Department of Defense research and development projects; fashion models of “distinguished merit and ability.” |
| H-1C | Registered nurses who work in an area with a health professional shortage |
| H-2A and H-2B | Temporary or seasonal agricultural workers and temporary non-agricultural workers |
| H-3 | Trainees in fields unrelated to medicine or academics |
| I | Workers in the foreign press, radio, film or other media |
| L-1A and L-1B | Intracompany transferees |
| O-1 and O-2 | People with extraordinary ability in the sciences, education, the arts, business, or athletics, as well as TV production, and the people who support them |
| P-1A and P-1B | Internationally recognized athletes and entertainers, as well as members of internationally recognized entertainment groups |
| P-2 and P-3 | Performers who are participating under a reciprocal exchange program, as well as artists or entertainers who are going to perform, teach or coach under a culturally unique program |
| Q-1 | People participating in an international cultural exchange program |
| R-1 | Religious workers |
| TN | NAFTA temporary professionals who are from Canada or Mexico |
Do You Need to Talk to an Attorney About Getting Visas for Nonimmigrant Workers at Your Company?
Bringing in foreign workers can be a complex process, and it’s one that requires your company to stick to the letter of the law. If you want to get visas for nonimmigrant workers at your company, you can benefit from working with a skilled and knowledgeable attorney. Call our office at 414-383-6700 to schedule a consultation with a professional now.
