Temporary Workers (H,L,O,P, & R)

H-1B Professional Workers

An H-1B Professional Worker is a foreign national coming temporarily to perform services in a “specialty occupation.”  A “specialty occupation” is one that requires the application of a body of specialized knowledge to fully perform the occupation.  The intending foreign national generally must possess a college education (Bachelor’s Degree) or its equivalent in work experience.

L-1 Intra-Company Transferees

An L-1 Intra-Company Transferee is a foreign national coming temporarily to perform services in a managerial or executive capacity or to perform services which entail specialized knowledge, for the same corporation or firm, or for the branch, subsidiary or affiliate of the employer.  

The employer must have employed the foreign national abroad for one continuous year within the three year period immediately preceding the filing of the petition, in an executive, managerial or specialized capacity.

R-1 Religious Workers

R-1 Religious Workers are foreign nationals who, for at least 2 years, have been a member of a religious denomination having a bona fide nonprofit, religious organization in the U.S., coming temporarily to work solely:

• as a minister of that denomination;
• in a professional capacity in a religious vocation or occupation for that organization; or
• in a religious vocation or, occupation for that organization or its nonprofit affiliate.

O-1 & P-2 Individuals of Extraordinary Ability

Individuals of Extraordinary Ability are foreign nationals who have demonstrated extraordinary ability in the sciences, arts, education, business, or athletics.  Such individuals may qualify under the O-1 Nonimmigrant Category.

Those entertainers and athletes who cannot qualify under the extraordinary ability standard for the O-1 category may qualify under the P-2 Nonimmigrant Category if under a reciprocal exchange program between an organization in the U.S. and an organization in another country.