U.S Work Visa in Nigeria – How to Apply

u.s work visa in nigeria

How to Apply for a U.S Work Visa in Nigeria

Any Nigerian willing to migrate to the United States for work opportunities, as required under the US Immigration laws, is expected to apply for a visa based on the specific work type that he/she is travelling to engage in. There are certain requirements for most of the work types and these must be satisfied. This article will provide a step by step guide on how you can get your temporary US work visa from Nigeria and ease for you the entire process.

Also Read: What to do When Applying for U.S in Nigeria

Categories of Temporary Workers Eligible for a US Work Visa

There are several categories of work type visa provided for under the US Immigration Law and available for Nigerians to apply. Most of these visa applications require that applicants ensure that there prospective employer files a petition called the Form I-129. This petition is crucial to the work visa application and must be approved by the US Citizenship and Immigration Service(USCIS) without which the applicant will not be able to carry out the visa application.

The categories of visa type under the US work visa include;

Specialty Occupation(H-1B visa)

This form of work visa is required for individuals who wish to travel to the United States temporarily for the purpose of serving in a pre organised professional occupation. This requires that such prospective worker obtains a bachelors degree or its equivalent in the particular field of work for which he or she intends to travel. For the applicant to be able to complete the visa application, the prospective employer is expected to file a document referred to as the labour condition application which must show the details of the employment contract.

Seasonal Agricultural Workers Visa (H-2A Visa)

The H-2A visa is designed for those who wish to travel to the United States to work in the Seasonal agricultural sector. These positions are available for agricultural works where United States citizens are not available to apply. For this visa type, the prospective employer who must be based in US is also expected to file the form I-129 on behalf of the worker. This form can also be filed by any US agricultural producers’ association.

Skilled and Unskilled Workers Visa (H-2B Visa)

This non immigrant visa type is required for workers who intend to travel to the United States to engage in seasonal works for which there are no eligible United States citizen. This type of visa requires that the prospective employer gets a certification from the United States Department of Labour to prove that there are actually no workers qualified to take the job in the United States

Trainee Visa (H-3 Visa)

The trainee work visa type is required for workers who intend to travel to the United States to engage in a particular training required to work in a specific field or occupation usually for a period of up to two years. This is not suitable for those travelling to study or partake in graduate education. This type of visa requires that the trainee does not have such training available in their country of origin.

Intra Company Transferees Visa ( L Visa)

The L visa type includes those required for people travelling to the United States as Intra-company transferees (L-1) and their dependents (L-2). An intra Company Referee is an employee of an international company who is being transferred to another branch of the company or the head office located in the United States on a temporary basis. The L-1 visa requires that the international company obtains an approved petition from the United States Citizenship and Immigration Service (USCIS)

Extra Ordinary Abilities( O Visa)

This class of non immigrant visa is required for foreign nationals or citizens who have extraordinary abilities especially in the field of science, arts, education, sports and business.

Artists, Entertainers and Athletes Visa (P Visa)

The P visa type includes the non immigrant visa types issued to artists, athletes and entertainers who are travelling to the United States to perform as well as those engaged in support functions for those workers.

International Cultural Exchange participants Visa (Q Visa)

The Q visa type includes the visa types required for international cultural exchange participants who are travelling to the United States to engage in training or employment. It is also issued to individuals travelling to share history, traditions and culture of their home country in the United States. The Q visa type requires that the sponsors of the program the individual is attending obtain an approved petition from the United States Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS).

Steps to Applying for a US Work Visa

In order to apply for any of the classes of work visa listed above, there are certain important steps to follow;

Step 1: Determine your Eligibility and Obtain all necessary documents

The first step to applying for your work visa regardless of the type of work you intend to travel to the United States to embark upon is to determine your eligibility. This is the most important step of your visa application.

  1. First you must find out the visa type suitable for you by going through the types listed above. You can also get more information to decide on the suitable work visa type for you by reading the information provided on the Common Non immigrant Visas page.
  2. Whichever the type of visa you are applying for, there are certain conditions that must be met and documents that must be made available before any Nigerian is allowed to visit the United States to work temporarily. These include:

-A valid passport (it is preferable that this is not older than six months) and should have at least two empty pages for the purpose of visas and entry stamps

-Previous passports (if any) to show your travel history

-Two passport photographs taken not longer than six months to the time of your application. One of these should be 5cm by 5cm (2” by 2”). These should meet the US visa passport photograph requirements. You can check for these requirements here.

-Your DS-160 application form (this is a part of your electronic application which should be printed as it will be required of you later in the application process)

– Individuals applying for the L visa type must make available proof of fraud prevention and detection fee payment. This payment is for those applying for L visa on a blanket petition. Ensure you keep and make copies of your payment receipt. Click here to obtain more information on the fraud prevention and detection fee.

– Ensure you obtain and keep a copy of your visa application fees receipt.  Usually for work visas, this is about $190 US dollars which will be paid in naira in any GTB branch.

– Applicants who already hold an H-1B status must ensure they provide their pay slips as well as tax returns for the periods they have been engaged in any occupation within the United States.

– H-1B applicants are also expected to have a document containing the list of their previous and current employers as well as contact details.

– Make available copies of your resume or Curriculum Vitae for reference purposes

Other documents required for a successful US work visa application includes:

  1. An appointment letter confirming a schedule of interview ( this will be explained later on here) Contacts; how you can be contacted during your trip
  2. Proof of your educational or training qualification that makes you suitable for the work you intend to engage in within the United States. Such as degree certificates, university diplomas, training certificates and so on
  • A job history document containing well detailed and appropriately signed letters from your previous and current employees with information on the type of work you have been engaged in and the duration.

Other documents required for dependents of individuals including spouses and children under the age of 21 include;

  • Original copy and photocopies of marriage certificate for spouses
  • Birth certificates( originals and copies) for children under the age of 21 who are unmarried
  • Spouses who already hold an H-1B status must ensure they provide their pay slips as well as tax returns for the periods they have been engaged in any occupation within the United States.
  • H-1B spouses are also expected to have a document containing the list of their previous and current employers as well as contact details.

Important note:

  1. Do not put up a personality that will expose you to being found as a security threat/risk (mind your choice of word and behaviour at the embassy)
  2. Do not be dishonest in filling your application form or during interview
  3. Do not provide falsified documents.

Step 2:  Confirm and Pay your Visa Application fees

After you have determined the appropriate visa type you need, confirmed your eligibility and prepared all necessary documents. You are required to go ahead and pay your visa application fees. This fee is usually non refundable and cannot be transferred from one applicant to the other. Different types of non immigrant visa have different fees attached and must be paid whether your visa is granted or rejected. Usually Nigerians are expected to pay between $190 for most work visa and payment is usually made at any Guaranty Trust bank using local currency.  You can also pay your visa fees online if you have an account with Guaranty Trust bank.

For list of visa application fees for other types of visa under the non immigrant work visa class and more information on how to pay your visa fees online you can click here.

 

Note: It is important to make copies of all your payment receipt for reference purposes. Also exchange rate used is N360 for one dollar until 02/07/2018. Always check for the current exchange rate at the time of your application.

Step 3: Complete your Non Immigrant visa application form online

After you have determined your eligibility to travel to the US, made available all required documents and paid your fees, the next step is to complete your visa application form. Usually, every US work visa applicant is expected to complete the Non immigrant application form also called DS-160. This must be completed correctly and submitted online before you can be allowed to proceed to the interview stage at the United States Consular or Embassy. Typically, the DS-160 form consist of a barcode number which you must look out for, this will help you schedule an interview during your visa processing period.

It is important that you follow all instructions on filling the form carefully, enter correctly all information and do not falsify or hide information as this could jeopardise your eligibility to travel. Follow this link to find the guidelines to completing your DS-160 visa application.

Step 4: Schedule Your Interview Appointment

The nest step after completing and submitting your visa application form is to schedule your visa appointment. Follow this link to schedule your appointment.

Note: In order to schedule an appointment successfully, US work visa applicants will be required to provide:

  1. Passport number
  2. Barcode number from your DS-160 confirmation page (this is usually a ten digit code, ensure you fill it correctly.
  3. Receipt number from your visa application fees payment receipt from Guaranty Trust bank.

Step 5: Visit the Embassy or Consulate for your interview

After you have scheduled your appointment, the next crucial step is to visit the consulate for your interview, Ensure you arrive at the embassy on time and with all necessary supporting documents.  You will need the following;

  1. A printed copy of your DS-160 confirmation page
  2. Your appointment letter
  3. Your passport photograph not older six moths
  4. Your passports including the old and new ones.

You can click here to check for other documents you may be required to come along with for your interview

Step 6:  Follow up and Track your Application status, then wait.

This is the last stage of your application process. You must ensure that you keep an eye and follow up on your application process. You can follow this link to track your DS-160 and visa application status. You will need to provide your interview location as well as your DS-160 barcode number

Once your documents are approved and your visa is granted, you will receive your visa through the location you must have signified as your document drop-off location while scheduling your appointment.

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