Types of U.S. Immigration/ Immigrant Visas:Business,Professional,Entertainer,Skilled,Unskilled Migrant/ Foreign Worker.

STOP PRESS: Temporary non-migrant immigration visas for 6 months to 6 years are available to the professionally qualified: Business People, Doctors, Nurses, Engineers, Scientists, Computer Programmers, Accountants, Lawyers, Web Designers, Database Programmers etc. And those people, teams or groups with extraordinary skills or talents: Entertainers, Artists and Atheletes. And surprisingly business people who wish to explore opportunities can stay for 6 months and skilled and unskilled people who work in an industry where there is a labor shortfall can be awarded a work visa if they have an employer who will make an application as their sponser.

Once you are in America for what ever reason making a valuable contribution to the American culture and economy then you will need a wide variety of legal forms and documents. For example if you are either selling or buying a car you will need a Bill of Sale and if you are setting-up a business of any sort you will need certain state permissions accompanied by legal documents. A fantastic resource exists for every type of situation at a link shown at the end of this article that gives legal professional advice, information and legal forms that work in a court unlike primative free copies that are often out-of-date.

A foreigner who is employed by a foreign company can visit the U.S. for a maximum stay of six months; the actual duration is determined by the immigration offical at the port of entry, for the purpose of exploring business opportunities. This may encompass attending business meetings or even doing market research using a B1-Non-Immigrant Business Visa. But the person is not allowed to receive a wage or a salary or payments in any form.

This type of Visa is appropriate for highly qualified and experienced individuals  who are deemed to work in a speciality occupation that may be in one of the following catergories:Medical, Scientific, Financial, Computer, Construction, Law, Design and Education. The employer is responsible for submitting the initial application for an H-1B Visa which allows a person to be temporarily employed for a maximum stay of 3 years however a renewal application can be made by the employer for an extension. If the employer or company wishes to sponser the person who has been granted a H-1B visa he can make an application for a Green Card allowing permanent employment.

The H-2B Visa can be used by people who work in an area of employment where the U.S. has a shortage of people who wish to do those jobs in the national workforce. Applicants can be either skilled or unskilled individuals who have a documented employment history that illustrates their abilities and is not related to the agricultural industry,i.e. farming.

The temporarary work P-1 Visa can be issued to either a talented individual or an entire team or entertainment group and the P-Visa classification makes provision for the husband or wife and unmarried children to accompany the main visa holder in the role of supporting the person for the entire U.S. visit or period of stay. The visa also makes provision for the same employment  classifications for people to perform, coach or teach. It may be noted that documentary evidence of the applicants employment history will be required as proof of the profession or activity being followed.

The O1- type of visa is reserved for those who have extraordinary abilities in the fields of: Business, Educations, Performing Arts, Arts, Television, Movies, Science and national or international athletics.The O1-Visa holder can be accompanied with a supporting companion with whom the person has had an established and long relationship by applying for an O2-Visa. The husband or wife and unmarried children can also accompany the talented and gifted O1-Visa holder by gaining an O3-Visa. The applicant has to show proof of having extraordinary abilities by showing documantary evidence that may be in the form of the following examples: nominations, awards,medals, publications and referances.

The R-1 and R-2 temporary visas are for people who have been a member of a recognised religeous organisation for at least two years and who work either as members of the clergy or those who play a key role within the organisation. The R-1 visa is issued for a specified duration of employment in the United States. The R-2 visa is for the main visa holder to be accompanied by a husband or wife and there unmarried children or relatives.

The TN temporary employment visa is harmonised with the North American Free Trade Agreement,NAFTA and it is used by professional individuals who are citizens of a NAFTA country. The husband or wife and children may accompany the professionally qualified main applicant by applying for and gaining a TD-Visa with which they are prohibited from gaining employment in the U.S..