How Long Does It Take To Get A Work Permit

How Long Does It Take To Get A Work Visa in the United States?

By Sierra August 10, 2021 (Updated September 17, 2021) 3 min. read

us worker

Most foreign nationals seeking to start a new life abroad are looking for a country they can utilize their prior skills to create a financially comfortable life. Being able to obtain a job can also help an individual financially cover their day-to-day living expenses so obtaining a US work visa is important to most immigrants. There are a number of work visa pathways for those looking to immigrate to the United States whether it's a temporary or permanent move. Here we break down your temporary work visa and employment green card processing times so you can start the process far enough in advance.

US Work Visa Processing Times

US Temporary Work Visas

The average time for a US temporary visa to process is 5-7 months but depends on which work visa you are applying for and how many work visa applications are before yours. Before COVID-19 shutdowns, the USCIS processed work permit applications within 90 days, but a growing backlog.

Related Article: US Immigration Application Backlog: What to Expect

US Employment-Based Green Card

Being the most long-term US visa, you can expect the processing time for permanent residence to be more lengthy than most other visas. According to USCIS, an application for permanent residence (Form I-485) will take anywhere from 6 months to 33 months to process depending on a few factors. There is an annual limit to the number of green cards available to each country. This means, applicants from countries with fewer green card applicants usually have a much shorter waiting time compared to those from countries with a large number of applicants

USCIS Premium Processing

Some applications filed with USCIS can be filed using Premium Processing, a service offered by USCIS that guarantees a response on your application or petition within fifteen (15) calendar days. Petitioners or applicants filing forms have the option of filing their petition with form I-907, Request for Premium Processing Service, which is currently $2,500 USD. The US Government continues to add more applications that can avail of this service going forward. To discuss whether your pending application with USCIS can be upgraded to premium processing, or if you can file your application with premium processing, please reach out to us.

Related Articles: 5 Ways to Speed Up Your USCIS Application

US Work Visa Options

When looking to immigrate to the United States based on your prior work experience, you have various options depending on if you are interested in settling permanently or temporarily. Those work visa and employment-based green cards include:

Temporary Work Permits

H-1B Visa | Skilled Workers
H-2B Visa | Non-Agricultural Workers
L-1 Visa | Business Expansion
J-1 Visa | Cultural Exchange
O-1 Visa | Extraordinary Ability
E-1 Visa | Treaty Traders
E-2 Visa | Treay Investors
TN Visa | Canadian and Mexican Nationals

Permanent Employment-Based Green Card

EB-1 Visa | Priority Workers
EB-2 Visa | Advanced Degree Professionals
EB-3 Visa | Skilled/Unskilled Workers and Professionals
EB-4 Visa | Special Immigrants
EB-5 Visa | Investors

Need An Immigration Lawyer For Your US Work Visa Application?

If so, Contact VisaPlace today. All our cases are handled by competent and experienced immigration professionals who are affiliated with VisaPlace. These professionals consist of lawyers, licensed paralegals, and consultants who work for VisaPlace Legal an award-winning immigration firm that adheres to the highest standards of client service.

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Sierra Avatar

VisaPlace Immigration News Contributor

Sierra

Hi there! I am one of VisaPlace's immigration content writers. If you have any questions regarding this article, please comment below!

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