Nonimmigrant Visas

Temporary Workers and Trainees (H) Visas

As of November 2007, the Petition Information Management System (PIMS) is the sole source of confirmation that a petition for a visa has been approved. A Notice of Approval (I-797) or completed I-129 Petition for a Nonimmigrant Worker is no longer sufficient on its own to issue a visa, but applicants should still bring copies of these forms with them to their interview. In order to avoid any delays in the processing of your visa, please provide the receipt number of the approved I-129 or I-797 to us at least two business days prior to your visa interview. You may do this by faxing a copy of the I-797 Notice of Approval to +852 2147-3586, or by emailing the receipt number and the name of the petitioner and beneficiary to hongkongpims@state.gov. Please note that this email address is not for inquiry. If you have any questions about visa matter, please use our Visa Inquiry Form.

What is an H visa?

If you have a job offer for temporary work in the United States, you may require an H visa in order to work there legally. H visas are for people in specially occupations (usually requiring a bachelor's degree), agricultural workers, some non-agricultural workers, and certain trainees. Nonimmigrants who will be employed in the United States (except certain information media representatives and treaty traders/investors) must first have a petition filed on their behalf by their future employer. U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS) assigns work visa classifications to approved petitions. The H classification is the most common.

How can I apply for an H visa in Hong Kong? What must I bring to my interview?

Click here for application instructions. As of November 2007, the Petition Information Management System (PIMS) is the sole source of confirmation that a petition for a work visa has been approved. A Notice of Approval (I-797) or completed I-129 Petition for a Nonimmigrant Worker is no longer sufficient on its own to issue a visa, but applicants should still bring copies of these forms with them to their interview. In order to avoid any delays in the processing of your visa, please provide the receipt number of the approved I-129 or I-797 to us at least two business days prior to your visa interview. You may do this by faxing a copy of the I-797 Notice of Approval to +852 2147-3586, or by emailing the receipt number and the name of the petitioner and beneficiary to hongkongpims@state.gov. Please note that this email address is not for inquiry. If you have any questions about visa matter, please use our Visa Inquiry Form.

For the categories of H-2A, H2B and H-3, applicants should also be prepared to demonstrate that they have a residence abroad and no intent to abandon it. Because an approved petition does not relieve an applicant of the burden of establishing his or her eligibility for the H visa, the interviewing officer may in some cases arrange a second interview where the applicant will be asked to demonstrate more thoroughly the ongoing nature of the qualifications and circumstances that led to the approval of the petition.

Dependents of H visa holders who wish to join a principal alien must bring the original Notice of Approval (I-797) for themselves or for the principal alien, proof that the principal alien has already entered the United States and evidence of their dependent relationship, i.e., official marriage and/or birth certificates.

The Consulate may process your visa application up to 90 days in advance of your beginning of employment status as noted on your Approval Notice (Form I-797). However, when making your travel plans, please note that due to federal regulations, you can only use the visa to apply for entry to the U.S. starting ten days prior to the beginning of the approved status period noted on your I-797.

How long is a visa valid?

The maximum validity of an H visa is multiple entries for the duration of the petition approval as accorded by USCIS. The validities may be restricted in some cases, based on reciprocity with the governments of certain countries. For example, Chinese nationals can only receive H visas valid for two entries over three months per the reciprocity offered by PRC government to U.S. citizens. However, even in these cases the alien may remain in the United States until the petition expires.

How much does a H visa cost?

An application fee of US$131 or HK$1040 (Please click here for updated fee information) must be paid in advance at any branch of Dah Sing Bank. If the application for an H visa is approved, the applicant must in some cases pay a visa issuance fee.

See also: Visiting the U.S.
See also: Tips for U.S. Visas - Temporary Workers (by the Bureau of Consular Affairs, U.S. Department of State - Visa section)

 

Additional Information

• Petition Based Visas (H, L, O, P, Q and R)

 

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Last modified: May 29, 2009