There are over a dozen temporary business/employment visas which are available to individuals seeking to enter into, engage in or carry on business in the United States. some of the more popular temporary visas are:B-1 Temporary visitor visa for business. This status permits a business person to conduct a wide range of business activities in the United States. In order to obtain a B-1, a business person must demonstrate that they will leave the United States once the work is completed and that they are performing the services for a non-US employer.

These business visitors must be compensated from sources outside of the United States and they must be entering to perform an acceptable B-1 duty. Some of these duties include, consulting with business associates, attorneys or accountants, participating in a professional or business convention, and negotiating contracts or seeking investments opportunities. Entering to make a purchase for export is acceptable also. The B-1 visitor may also buy personal property in the United States.

H-1 Temporary Visa for Professional workers. This section details requirements for H-1 satus for professionals in a speciality occupation. In order to qualify, you must leave the United States once the work is completed. You must qualify as a professional and the professional must acquire a US licence if one is requried by the State in which the employment is located.

The employer must demonstrate a need for a high level employee. The petition must contain a Labour Condition Application approved by the US Department of Labour by demonstrating that US workers will not be affected. The processing time can be 6-10 weeks once the completed application is submitted.

O-1 Temporary Visa for workers with extraordinary ability. This is aimed at people at the very top of their field in scinecne, arts, education, business or athletics, or who have domonstrated an extraordinary record of achievement in the film or TV industry.

L-1 Visa for intra-company transferees. The L-1 category is designed to enable US companies with a foreign parent subsidiary or affiliate to transfer managers, executives or employees with specialized knowledge from outside the United States to similar positions within US operations.

Although there are no specific educatinal requirements, eligible aliens must have worked for the foreign entity for at least one year within the three years prior to their applicatin for entry.

L-1 Managers and Executives may be in the United States for as long as seven years. Specialized knowledge employees may only stay in the United States for a maximum of five years. Processing time is 4-6 weeks.

J-1 Status for trainees, students, scholars and others. This status allows for trainees, students, scholars and others to participate in exchange programs that have been approved by the US Information Agency.

This category can be a useful mechanism for employers with structured training programs to obtain entry into the United States for employees whose career abroad will be enhanced by the training. An exchange program must provide for an exchange of culture between a visitor and a sponsor and the training must relate to the visitor's career development abroad.

The business may arrange for a J-1 Visa for its foreign trainee either by becoming designated as a program sponsor itself or arranging for a third party to sponsor the trainee. Processing time is two to six months.

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