Temporary Workers Overview


Temporary Worker If you want to work in the U.S. temporarily as a nonimmigrant, under U.S. immigration law, you need a specific visa, based on the type of work you will be doing.  Most temporary worker categories require that the applicant's prospective employer or agent to file a petition which must be approved by the U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS) before you can apply for a visa.  To learn about petitions and more, see Temporary Workers and Employers-Hiring a Foreign National for Short-Term Employment on the USCIS website.

Review more temporary worker how-to-apply information by type of visa:

  • Temporary Workers webpage includes;
    • Foreign nationals with extraordinary ability in Sciences, Arts, Education, Business or Athletics (O visas)
    • International cultural exchange visitors (Q visas)
    • Intra-company transferees (L visas)
    • Nurses coming to health professional shortage areas (H1-C)
    • Performing athletes, artists, entertainers (P visas)
    • Specialty occupations in fields requiring highly specialized knowledge (H-1B)
    • Temporary agricultural workers (H-2A)
    • Temporary workers performing other services or labor of a temporary or seasonal nature (H-2B)
    • Training in a program not primarily for employment (H-3)
  • Foreign Media Workers (I visa)
  • Religious Workers (R visa)
  • Treaty Traders & Treaty Investors (E visa)

Additional temporary worker visa types:

Important temporary worker information:  Review the Internal Revenue Service website information about United States tax requirements for certain foreign citizens engaged in business or trade the U.S., since most will have an obligation to file a U.S. tax return.