Working legally in the United States is possible and not that complicated. Every year the US government issues different types of skilled and unskilled work visas.
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To work legally in the United States you need to obtain a non-immigrant work visa, which means that your stay is temporary, or an immigrant work visa for a permanent residence stay. In this post I explain what work visas exist and how to apply for the H2 work visa, as well as the B1B2 visitor visa.
Any of these work visas requires the employer to file a petition with the United States Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS) and have it approved. In addition, there are different types of work visas. Below is a list of types of nonimmigrant work visas :
- H-1B Specialty Occupation : Requires a higher education degree such as fashion models, people working in research and development, or on Department of Defense projects.
- H-1B Free Trade Agreement Professional : For persons with a specialty occupation that requires a post-secondary degree with at least 4 years of study in that specialization.
- H-2A Seasonal Agricultural Worker : Limited to certain citizens or nationalities for agricultural seasons.
- H-2B Temporary Non-Agricultural Worker : This is for non-agricultural workers, high qualifications are not required.
- H-3 Special Education Trainee or Visitor : To receive training.
- L Intracompany Transferee : This is for employees of a company in another country who perform a job with knowledge that requires employment in the United States for the same company.
- O Individuals with extraordinary ability : People who stand out in science, arts, education, business, athletics, etc.
- P-1 Member of an entertainment group or athletic team.
- P-2 Artist (individual or group) : To perform in an exchange organization between the United States and another country.
- P-3 Artist (person or group) : To perform, teach or direct in a traditional, ethnic, cultural, folkloric, musical or theatrical program.
- Q-1 Participant in a cultural exchange program.
H2 Work Visas for Guatemalans or Working Holiday
If you do not have a specialization in a specific field to apply for a visa in the other categories listed, you can apply for the H2 Visa for non-professional workers or workers without a professional degree. The US government grants thousands of these visas each year.
The H2 visa is subdivided into H-2A for agricultural workers and H-2B for non-agricultural workers. These visas are available only for some Latin American countries, fortunately Guatemala is one of the countries accepted for both visas.
Requirements for a Guatemala Work Visa
The main requirement to process the H-2A visa or the H-2B visa is to be a citizen of Guatemala or one of the following countries :
- Argentina
- Brazil
- Chili
- Colombia
- Costa Rica
- Ecuador
- The Savior
- Guatemala
- Honduras
- Mexico
- Nicaragua
- Panama
- Paraguay (H-2A only)
- Peru
- Uruguay
The next requirement is to have a job offer. To obtain a job offer, you can enter the website of the United States Department of Labor and search for a job of your choice, whether agricultural or non-agricultural, by clicking on the following button
To apply for a job or request information, you can call the phone number or send an email in the “Recruitment information” section.
Another way to get a job offer is through an employment agency that is established in your country. They help manage the recruitment. But be careful because there are many scammers posing as recruiters. The agency Adnil Services hires hospitality workers and is trustworthy, check their website.
Once the recruiter has made you a job offer, USCIS must approve Form I-129 and provide you with an employment letter. Your employer will guide you through the steps. Once approved, you must apply for an H-2A or H-2B visa using Form DS-160.
You must upload a digital photo as per the specified requirements while filling out Form DS-160. Print your confirmation sheet and keep it safe because you will present it on the day of the interview.
Pay for the visa at the bank of your choice. To do this, you must register on this page to download the payment form. Confirm the payment and make the appointment online.
Please come to your appointment with the following documents:
- Confirmation of Form DS-160
- Proof of payment for visa
- Employment letter issued by the employer
H-2 visas are issued for a period of one year and two one-year extensions are possible. However, you must apply for the extension before the previous one expires and you can stay in the country during the extension process.
Visa B1B2 Guatemala
The B1B2 visa is a visitor visa, also known as a tourist visa. It falls into the non-immigrant category, as it is for temporary stays.
First, you must fill out Form DS-160 with your personal information. You must upload a digital photo while filling out the form. Print and save the confirmation sheet.
Register on this page to print the deposit slip to pay for the visa. Once you have paid, confirm the payment and make your appointment for the visa. On the day of your appointment you must have the following documents:
- Form DS-160 Confirmation Sheet
- Visa payment receipt
- Valid passport
On the same day of your appointment, you will be informed whether your visa has been approved and you will receive it by mail afterwards.