Visas

US

Introduction

Gaining a work permit in the USA is notoriously difficult and often subject to a quote annual. Whilst you can try your luck with the Green card lottery (more information go here: http://www.usagc.org/index.aspx?afk=#{afk} , the two main ways to get in for work are using a visitor’s visa with a supplementary work visa or apply for a temporary working visa.

Do I need a visa?

Almost certainly! Even if your eligible to work using a travel visa, you will still need to apply – there are very few exceptions.

Really useful sites

Main visa types

There are two main choices to think about which are listed below which assume that you don’t want to apply for permanent residence. If you do, this is classified as an immigration requirement and you will need to go through a separate process. If you are interested, please take a look here travel.state.gov

A travel visa with a B1 permit

This is very restrictive but your job may be applicable. You can apply for a B1 if you think your swap will cover the following:

Attending a scientific, educational, professional or business convention, conference or seminar
Giving a lecture
Doing independent research at a scientific or educational institution
Participating in a voluntary service program
Participating in a sporting event

more information use this link:www.unitedstatesvisas.gov

A temporary work visa

There are quite a few options here but visa are typically provided for specific purposes and they are always changing. Take a look here for more information: www.travel.state.gov

The main two to investigate are H-1B (Specialty Occupations) and H-2B Visas (Temporary Workers). List below is a summary of the key points for each Visa.

H-1B (Specialty Occupations)

The H-1B visa category applies to foreign nationals employed in specialty occupations that involve theoretical and practical application of highly specialized knowledge and which require a bachelor's degree or its equivalent in work experience. A college degree alone does not qualify a foreign national as a specialty worker; the job must require a degree related to the foreign national's particular field and the college degree that the foreign national earned must be a normal requirement for comparable jobs in the industry and with the prospective employer.

An employer must file a labour condition application with the Department of Labor before the employer can apply for an H-1B visa with the U.S Citizenship and Immigration Services. The prospective employer must post a notice of filing the application in two conspicuous locations at the employment site for a period of at least ten business days. If an employer meets the requirements for an extension, the H-1B visa holder is allowed a maximum six-year stay in the United States. A seventh year is available under certain circumstances. The H-1B cap for the fiscal year, which extends from October 1st, of each year to October 1st, of the next year, is usually reached early in the filing period which begins each April 1st, six months prior to the fiscal year start. Absent congressional action to increase the cap on the number of H-1Bs permitted for the fiscal year, applications for new H-1Bs cannot be filed April 1st for start dates of October 1st, of the next fiscal year. However, certain H-1B applications are cap exempt. These cap exempt H-1Bs include H-1Bs who work for universities governmental nonprofit research organizations, or their affiliates. H-1B renewals are also cap exempt. A foreign national who holds an H-1B visa can work for a new employer as soon as the new employer files a "nonfrivolous" application with the U.S.Citizenship and Immigration Services.

H-2B Visas (Temporary Workers)

H-2B visas are issued to foreign nationals who are to work temporarily in jobs for which employers can prove a shortage of qualified American workers. A major limitation of the H-2B visa is that the position essentially must be temporary. An employer cannot use an H-2 B visa to place a foreign national in a permanent job that is currently vacant. The employer must prove that the need for the H-2B foreign national comes from a unique, intermittent, or seasonal need and that the need will end within a certain period of time which will not exceed the visa's expiration date. An H-2B worker is permitted to enter the United States for an initial period of one year.

for more infomation select from the links below:
A. Introduction A quick overview about applying for visas and work permits
B. Documentation what you will need for your application
C. Visas by swap destination a look at the main visa types

Visas by destination: Australia; New Zealand; Canada; South Africa; UK; US; China; Singapore; UAE; Europe (General Advice)