How do I apply for a temporary work visa for the United States?

For most H, L, O and Q temporary work classifications, the prospective U.S. employer or authorized petitioner must first obtain USCIS approval of the appropriate petition. After petition approval, the worker generally completes Form DS-160, pays the visa application fee, schedules the required consular appointment and presents supporting documents.

What is the current application fee for H, L, O and Q work visas?

The current nonimmigrant visa application processing fee for petition-based temporary worker categories is US$205. Other petition, fraud-prevention, border-security or reciprocity fees may apply depending on the visa category and case.

Are H-4 and L-2 visas work visas?

H-4 and L-2 are dependent classifications for qualifying spouses and children of principal H or L nonimmigrants. They are not the principal employment classifications, although employment authorization rules for certain spouses are governed separately by U.S. immigration law.

Can a temporary worker use ESTA or a visitor visa instead of a work visa?

No. The Visa Waiver Program and ordinary B visitor visas do not authorize employment in the United States. A person intending to perform temporary employment must qualify for an appropriate work-authorized classification.

United States Temporary Worker Visa Guide

How to Apply for a USA Work Visa: H-1B, H-2A, H-2B, H-3, H-4, L-1, L-2, O and Q

Updated: 1 September 2026

Most temporary employment in the United States requires a specific nonimmigrant work classification. For many H, L, O and Q categories, the visa process begins with a petition filed with U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS) by the prospective employer or other authorized petitioner. After the petition is approved, the foreign worker generally applies for the corresponding visa at a U.S. embassy or consulate.

ESTA and visitor visas do not authorize U.S. employment. The Visa Waiver Program and B-1/B-2 visitor visas generally cannot be used as substitutes for a temporary worker visa when the traveler will engage in employment in the United States.

Step 1: Choose the Correct Temporary Worker Visa Category

Classification	General purpose	Principal or dependent?
H-1B	Specialty occupation employment and certain other qualifying H-1B employment.	Principal worker
H-2A	Temporary or seasonal agricultural work.	Principal worker
H-2B	Temporary or seasonal nonagricultural work.	Principal worker
H-3	Trainee or qualifying special-education exchange visitor training.	Principal trainee
H-4	Qualifying spouse or unmarried child of certain H visa holders.	Dependent
L-1A / L-1B	Intracompany transferee in a managerial or executive position, or with specialized knowledge.	Principal worker
L-2	Qualifying spouse or unmarried child of an L-1 worker.	Dependent
O-1 / O-2	Individuals of extraordinary ability or achievement and certain essential support personnel.	Principal/support worker
Q-1	Participant in a qualifying international cultural exchange program.	Principal participant

H-4 and L-2 are dependent classifications. They should not be treated as the principal employment visa itself. Whether a dependent spouse may work in the United States depends on the separate employment-authorization rules applicable to that status.

Step 2: Obtain the Required USCIS Petition Approval

For most petition-based temporary worker visas, the prospective U.S. employer or other authorized petitioner must first file the appropriate petition with USCIS. In many cases this is Form I-129, Petition for a Nonimmigrant Worker.

Depending on the classification, additional Department of Labor requirements may apply before or as part of the USCIS petition process. Examples include labor condition or temporary labor certification requirements for specified H categories.

After USCIS approves the petition, the petitioner and/or beneficiary receives the approval information. The worker generally needs the petition receipt number when completing the visa process. Petition approval does not itself guarantee visa issuance.

Blanket L petitions: Eligible applicants applying under an approved blanket L petition follow special procedures and generally present Form I-129S together with the required petition evidence at the visa stage.

Current H-1B Rule: September 2025 Presidential Proclamation

Important for certain H-1B cases filed after 21 September 2025: A Presidential Proclamation currently restricts H-1B visa issuance and entry for certain persons seeking to perform specialty-occupation services based on petitions filed after the proclamation's effective time unless the petition is accompanied or supplemented by a US$100,000 payment, subject to stated exceptions and DHS implementation.

The restriction applies to the scope described in the proclamation and does not apply in the same way to previously issued H-1B visas or petitions filed before its effective time. The proclamation states that the restriction expires 12 months after 21 September 2025 unless extended. Because this rule is temporary and may be extended, modified or allowed to expire, H-1B applicants and employers should verify its status immediately before filing or traveling.

Step 3: Complete the DS-160 Online Visa Application

After the required petition is approved, complete the DS-160 Online Nonimmigrant Visa Application through the Department of State's Consular Electronic Application Center. Each applicant, including a dependent applying for H-4 or L-2, generally submits a separate DS-160.

Enter passport and personal details exactly and accurately.
Select the correct H, L, O or Q visa classification.
Enter petition information and receipt number when requested.
Provide accurate employer, job, travel and background information.
Upload a compliant visa photograph when requested.
Save and print the DS-160 confirmation page after submission.

If material information changes or an error is discovered after submission, follow the current DS-160 and embassy/consulate instructions for correcting the application.

Step 4: Pay the Work Visa Application Fee and Other Applicable Fees

The current non-refundable visa application processing fee for petition-based temporary worker visa categories, including H, L, O and Q, is US$205.

Possible fee	When it may apply
Nonimmigrant visa application fee	US$205 for petition-based temporary worker classifications.
Visa issuance / reciprocity fee	May apply after visa approval depending on the applicant's nationality and visa category.
Fraud Prevention and Detection Fee	Applies in specified L blanket petition cases and certain other cases under applicable law.
Border Security Act fee	May apply to certain L blanket applicants depending on the petitioner's circumstances and current law.
H-1B proclamation payment	US$100,000 for certain H-1B petitions within the scope of the currently effective September 2025 proclamation, subject to exceptions.

Visa-stage fee procedures differ by country. Follow the current payment instructions of the U.S. embassy or consulate where the visa application will be filed.

Step 5: Schedule the Visa Interview

After completing the DS-160 and applicable payment steps, schedule the visa appointment according to the instructions of the U.S. embassy or consulate handling the case.

Under Department of State instructions updated on 15 July 2026, nonimmigrant visa applicants should normally schedule interviews at the U.S. embassy or consulate in their country of nationality or residence. Applicants applying on the basis of residence should be prepared to establish residence there.

Biometric collection, application-center appointments and document-submission procedures vary by location. The former assumption that every applicant must always complete exactly two appointments at a Visa Application Center and embassy or consulate should not be applied universally.

Current interview-waiver rule: Since 1 October 2025, nonimmigrant visa applicants-including those under 14 and over 79-generally require an in-person interview unless they fall within a listed exception. One current exception may cover qualifying H-2A renewals within 12 months of expiration of a prior full-validity H-2A visa, subject to all stated conditions and consular discretion. Other H, L, O and Q applicants should not assume a routine waiver.

Step 6: Prepare Work Visa Supporting Documents

Prepare the core documents required for the visa classification and any additional evidence requested by the consular post.

Passport valid for travel to the United States, generally for at least six months beyond the intended stay unless an applicable agreement provides otherwise.
DS-160 confirmation page.
Visa appointment confirmation, if required by the post.
Visa fee receipt where pre-interview payment is required.
Petition receipt number and USCIS approval evidence.
Employment offer, assignment or employer letter where applicable.
Evidence of professional qualifications relevant to the approved classification.
Previous passports and visas where useful or requested.
Marriage or birth records for H-4 or L-2 dependents, as applicable.
Additional category-specific documents requested by the embassy or consulate.

Blanket L-1 applicants

An applicant using a blanket L petition should follow the consular instructions for Form I-129S and applicable petition evidence, and must pay any required fraud-prevention or other statutory fee applicable to that case.

H-2A and H-2B workers

Applicants should also review the Department of State's rights-and-protections information for temporary workers. U.S. law provides protections relating to recruitment, wages, working conditions and freedom from prohibited fees or coercion.

Step 7: Attend the Temporary Worker Visa Interview

At the interview, a consular officer determines whether the applicant qualifies for the requested visa and whether any ground of inadmissibility applies. Petition approval by USCIS is an important prerequisite for petition-based categories but does not require the Department of State to issue a visa.

The officer may review the petition, intended employment, applicant's qualifications, prior immigration history and any classification-specific requirements. Digital fingerprints are generally collected as part of the visa process, subject to local procedures.

After the interview, the application may be approved, refused or placed into administrative processing. Applicants should follow the instructions provided by the consular section.

2026 Online-Presence Screening and Vetting

The Department of State currently conducts expanded online-presence review for several classifications relevant to this page. H-1B and H-4 applicants are included, and from 30 March 2026 the review was expanded to H-3 applicants, H-4 dependents of H-3 applicants and Q applicants, among other categories.

Applicants in the affected classifications are instructed by the Department of State to set the privacy settings on all social-media profiles to �public� or �open� to facilitate screening and vetting.

Screening rules can change. Applicants should provide truthful, consistent information in the petition, DS-160, supporting records and visa interview.

Step 8: After Visa Approval and Before U.S. Entry

If the visa is issued, check the visa foil for accuracy when the passport is returned. A visa allows the holder to travel to a U.S. port of entry and request admission; it does not guarantee admission.

U.S. Customs and Border Protection determines admissibility and the authorized period of stay. Temporary workers must comply with the terms of their approved classification and authorized employment. A change of employer, worksite, duties or other material circumstances may require an amended or new petition depending on the classification and applicable law.

Entry or visa issuance can also be affected by nationality-based Presidential Proclamations or other temporary restrictions. Check current Department of State guidance immediately before applying and traveling.

USA Temporary Work Visa Application Checklist

Identify the correct H, L, O or Q classification.
Complete any required Department of Labor step.
Have the employer or authorized petitioner obtain USCIS petition approval.
Check whether any current H-1B proclamation requirement applies.
Complete Form DS-160 accurately.
Pay the US$205 visa application fee and any other applicable fee.
Schedule the interview in the country of nationality or residence.
Prepare petition, employment, qualification and dependent documents.
Attend the interview and complete applicable biometrics and screening.
After visa issuance, verify the visa and comply with entry and employment rules.

Official U.S. Government Links

Related USA Work Visa Pages

Important Note

Temporary worker immigration rules, petition requirements, visa fees, interview policies, screening procedures and Presidential Proclamations can change. Employers and applicants should verify the current rules with USCIS, the U.S. Department of Labor where applicable, the Department of State and the U.S. embassy or consulate handling the visa application before filing, paying fees or making travel arrangements.