Professionals from the UK who want to work in the United States may have at least a few potential U.S. visa options, especially with an employer that’s willing and able to sponsor them.

One of the most common routes for Brits involves first working for a multinational company in the UK that has a presence in the U.S., because they often have the resources to sponsor their managerial, executive or “specialized-knowledge” workers using the L-1 intracompany transferee visa.

Alternatively, many employers who have hired a foreign worker after they’ve graduated from a U.S. university will enter them into the H-1B lottery, which gives those in so-called ‘specialty occupations’ up to six years (and sometimes even more, in certain circumstances) in the U.S. There’s also the J-1 visa for interns and trainees who can be suitable for those at the beginning of their careers.

In fact, many U.S visas for young professionals will require the involvement of an employer willing and able to petition for them (though not all!), which can be a stumbling block when it comes to securing a visa. But if you can overcome that obstacle, below is a (non-exhaustive) list of potential options. It’s generally sensible to discuss them with an immigration lawyer to see which of them, if any, may be a good fit for you.

1. L-1 Visa: Intracompany Transfer

• The L-1 visa is for employees of international companies who are being transferred to a U.S. office, subsidiary, or affiliate.
• For Brits, this is the most common way to experience life in the U.S. as a professional. In fact, according to recent data, only India sends more L-1 transferees to the U.S.
• The L-1 visa has two subcategories:
  • L-1A: For executives and managers, who are going to work in the U.S. in an executive or managerial role.
  • L-1B: For employees going to the U.S. to work in a specialized-knowledge role
• The L-1A visa can be valid for up to 7 years, while the L-1B is valid for up to 5 years.
• Pros: It’s a ‘dual intent’ visa—meaning you can hold the intent to immigrate to the U.S. permanently while also maintaining your nonimmigrant status. The L-1A is also a common springboard to a green card (usually through the EB-1(c) category, which is kind of like the green card equivalent of the L-1). And if you’re married, your spouse can join you on an L-2 visa and work for whoever they want for as long as you’re on your L-1 visa.
• Cons: You’re stuck dancing with the one that brought ya. In other words, you’re tied to your employer.

2. H-1B Visa: Specialty Occupations

• This is another popular work visas for professionals, because it can allow you to live and work in the U.S for up to 6 years (and even more, in certain circumstances).
• This visa is for individuals in ‘specialty occupations’ that require a bachelor’s degree or higher (or equivalent experience – typically 12 years) in a specific field.
• You need a U.S. employer to sponsor you for this visa, too. (That U.S. employer can actually be a company that you set up and own yourself! That’s not easy – but being an entrepreneur rarely is.)
• There is an annual cap on the number of H-1B visas issued each year, which means a lottery system is in place due to consistently high demand.
• Pros: It’s relatively easy for an employer to enter you into the lottery (even if the fee is rising from $10 to $215 as of next year). It’s also a ‘dual intent’ visa, meaning you can hold the intent to immigrate to the U.S. permanently while also maintaining your nonimmigrant status.
• Cons: You’re tied to the employer serving as your petitioner. Your spouse, if you have one, also can’t work on an H-4 dependent visa except in certain circumstances.

3. J-1 Visa: Exchange Visitor

• The J-1 visa is for exchange visitors participating in approved programmes, which can include internships, training, research, and teaching.
• Programs in the Intern and Trainee categories are popular ways to gain work experience in the U.S.
• You’ll be allowed to stay for as long as the programme lasts.
• Pros: Great way to get a taste of American life, such as through an internship; your spouse can also work on a J-2 visa if they obtain a valid Employment Authorization Document (EAD).
• Cons: Some J-1 visa holders are subject to a two-year residency requirement, which means you’d have to come back to the UK for a bit unless you can secure a waiver.

Note to ‘Digital Nomads’: Don’t Work in the U.S. Without Authorisation

You cannot (lawfully) ‘work’ for your UK (or other) employer from the U.S. on an ESTA or visitor visa. The U.S. does not currently recognise the idea of ‘digital nomadism’. Of course, there are certain activities that are generally OK to do as a visitor, such as:

• Consulting with business associates
• Traveling for a scientific, educational, professional or business convention, or a conference on specific dates
• Settling an estate
• Negotiating a contract
• Participating in short-term training.

But once you cross over into the realm of ‘productive work’—one unofficial definition of this is: ‘are you doing something a U.S. worker would generally be paid to do?’—you’re asking for trouble.

Green Cards for Professionals

The options above are ‘nonimmigrant’ visas which allow you to be in the U.S. on a temporary basis only. Of course, if you want to be in the U.S. in the longer term, you’ll be looking at immigrant visa or green card options.

U.S. immigration law categorises employment-based options as follows:

Conclusion

As you can see, there’s a few ways that a young professional might be able to experience work in the U.S. The challenge is usually finding an employer willing to sponsor you.

That said, thousands of Brits manage it every year:

• 4,876 L-1 visas were issued to nationals of Great Britain & Northern Ireland in Fiscal Year 2023, along with 3,352 L-2 visas for dependent spouses/children.
• 1,540 H-1B visas were issued to Brits in 2023.

So if you’re in the UK and find yourself working for a big company that has a U.S. office (or multiple U.S. offices), you might want to ask the higher-ups if there’s any potential for a stint abroad.