Nomad Life
Although the U.S. does not yet have a digital nomad visa, there are a variety of work visas enabling foreign nationals to work remotely in the U.S.
This is a guest post from our friends at Legalpad!
Have you ever wished you could grab food from a trendy Manhattan cafe during your lunch break? What about indulging in Austin’s music scene or taking a dip in California’s Lake Tahoe after you finish up work for the day? No matter which of the 50 states you fancy, the U.S. is a remote worker’s dream. The only problem? U.S. immigration tends to be stricter and complicated than immigration in other popular digital nomad destinations. Let’s go into everything you need to know about working remotely from the U.S., including the best U.S work visas for digital nomads.
Many countries allow visitors to work remotely on a tourist visa, but the U.S. is not one of those countries. To work for any company (American or foreign) while physically present in the U.S., you need proper work authorization, such as:
It may be tempting to work for your employer while traveling in the U.S. on ESTA or a B visitor visa, but it is not worth the risk. Immigration violations can result in being barred from entry into the U.S. for a decade, deportation, and/or future visas and green card denials.
The U.S. does not currently have a visa specifically for digital nomads. You can sign up for Legalpad’s newsletter to stay informed about any changes to U.S. immigration policy.
Although there is not a U.S. visa specifically for digital nomads or remote workers, the U.S. has a variety of work visas, each with very different requirements.
To qualify for any of these visas, you must have a U.S. company willing to sponsor you.
The most common way to get a sponsor is to secure a job offer at an existing U.S. company. Many people also get a sponsor by requesting that their foreign employer transfer them to the company’s U.S. entity. Others start their own U.S. company.
Sometimes called the “genius visa,” the O-1A isn’t for everyone, but if you meet three (or more) of the eight O-1A criteria, you qualify!
Why do remote workers love the O-1?
If you’ve been working for your company for at least a year in a qualifying role, you may qualify to transfer to your company’s U.S. office on the L-1 visa.
Why do remote workers love the L-1?
If you’ve heard of any U.S. visa, you’ve probably heard of the H-1B. It’s available to people who have a Bachelor’s degree (or many years of professional experience) related to a “specialty occupation” and a U.S. job offer in that occupation.
Why do remote workers love the H-1B?
You qualify if you are a Canadian or Mexican citizen with a U.S. job offer in a TN-approved occupation.
Why do remote workers love the TN visa?
The E-3 is almost identical to the H-1B, but it is available to citizens of Australia.
Why do remote workers love the E-3?
The E-2 visa is possibly the most overlooked U.S. work visa. It allows nationals from certain treaty countries to invest in a U.S. company and work for it in the U.S. as an employee.
Why do remote workers love the E-2?
Not sure about which visa is the right one for you? Connect the U.S. immigration team at Legalpad.
Excerpt: Although the U.S. does not yet have a digital nomad visa, there are a variety of work visas that enable foreign nationals to work remotely in the U.S.