Becoming a U.S. Worker
The United States is a great place to work. It offers competitive wages in an incredibly high range of fields from agriculture to arts & entertainment to its burgeoning high-tech industry. And every year, hundreds of thousands of people are welcomed to the U.S. to join its workforce. To be one of those people, you must first determine which area of work you fit into as there are special requirements, applications, and procedures for the many categories of visas that the U.S. distributes to foreign workers. Strict adherence to these procedures is imperative to a successful career in the United States.

Work Only Temporarily in the U.S
If your intention is to work only temporarily in the U.S., there are 21 different visas for temporary workers. They are known as nonimmigrant visas. Temporary work visas are given to those in varying professions including nurses, international athletes, representatives of foreign press and other foreign media personnel, scientists, artists, seasonal agricultural workers, and highly-skilled technology workers. These visas often have a time limit and to get one, your prospective employer must petition on your behalf. Also, as is the case with the H-1B temporary work visa, there is a cap on how many the U.S. will distribute, so considerable foresight and planning is required to obtain one.

Working and Residing in the U.S. Indefinitely
If you plan on working and residing in the U.S. indefinitely, then you will need a permanent (immigrant) work visa. There are five categories of permanent work visas, the EB-1 through EB-5. EB-1 is reserved for highly-qualified and recognized professionals in the fields of art, science, business education, and athletics. EB-2 is reserved for professionals holding advanced degrees or for exceptional artists and scientists. EB-3 is reserved for professionals and skilled workers. EB-4 is reserved for , among others, religious workers, employees of U.S. foreign service posts, retired employees of international businesses. EB-5 is reserved for foreigners who intend to invest large sums of money into the U.S. economy. For and EB-2 and EB-3 visa, you might need to already have a job offer in place before you can get these kinds of visas. Your potential employer will have to petition USCIS and be granted a Labor Certification on your behalf.

Student and Exchange Visas
Also in the category of U.S. work visas are student and exchange visas. These visas are reserved for those who intend to come to the U.S. to study in either an academic ("F" visas) or a vocational ("M" visas) institution and their families. The U.S. also allows for exchange programs. These fall under the "J" visa category. Information and paperwork can be found on the USCIS website, as well as advice for how to proceed given your unique situation. If, again, your intention is to live and work in the U.S., you can also apply for a "green card" or permanent legal residency. Having a green card will render the need for any kind of visa unnecessary. If you have family or a job offer in the U.S., they can petition USCIS on your behalf. There are more ways to get a green card and, again, all relevant information can be found on the USCIS website.