Non-Immigrant Visas
Temporary Worker Visas
If you want to work in the U.S. temporarily, you need a specific visa, based on the type of work you will be doing. Specific visa categories are set aside for performers (including entertainers and artists), seasonal workers, skilled workers, athletes, scientists, and intercompany transferees.
All temporary worker categories require that the Department of Homeland Security's U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS) first approve a petition. You must have this approved petition before you can apply for your visa. It is important to note that your prospective employer in the U.S., not you, must file the petition. Prospective employers should file the petition as soon as possible (but not more than 6 months before the proposed employment will begin) to provide adequate time for petition and subsequent visa processing.
After approving a petition, USCIS will send you a Notice of Approval (Form I-797.) This form is required before a visa can be issued, and you should bring it to your visa interview. Please do not send it to the consular section by post, fax or e-mail. Any documents sent directly to the embassy will be destroyed.
According to U.S. immigration law, applicants for temporary worker visas must prove that they are eligible for a visa. Most temporary workers must show they will return to Senegal at the end of their trip and that they will not engage in prohibited activities during their trip. You should be prepared to discuss your reasons for travel, previous international trips, and your social, economic, professional and financial ties to Senegal. Submitting all required documents does not automatically make you eligible for a non-immigrant visa. Consular officers can consider visa eligibility only during your visa interview. Therefore, you should bring to the interview any additional information which may help to establish your eligibility, such as employment letters, previous passports, and documents establishing that you are qualified for the job you will be performing in the U.S.
Frequently Asked Questions
What activities are permitted on a temporary worker visa? Temporary workers are allowed to work in the United States according to the terms of the petition filed by the employer. Therefore, different workers will be authorized to perform different types of work for different lengths of time. Temporary workers who violate the terms of employment in their petition may lose their ability to remain in the United States and may be found ineligible for future visas.
What activities are not allowed on a temporary worker visa? Again, this will vary according to the terms of each petition.
How long will my temporary worker visa be valid? The period of visa validity will depend upon the terms of the petition and the Notice of Approval (Form I-797).
May I wear a scarf in my visa photograph? If you normally wear a head covering for religious or cultural reasons, you do not need to remove it for a visa photograph, provided the photograph meets all other photo requirements and clearly identifies you.
