How to Get a U.S. Work Visa for a Tech Career

By Emily, Correspondent  |  Monday, 24 February 2025, 07:06 Hrs


How to Get a U.S. Work Visa for a Tech Career

Looking into working at a tech company in the United States? In this article, we’ve got some of the best immigrant-friendly tech companies listed to help you in your job search. Plus, find instructions on how to get a U.S. work visa, and potentially, a U.S. Green Card, below.

Nonimmigrant-Friendly U.S. Tech Companies and U.S. Visa Options for Foreign Tech Employees

The first step in the process of obtaining legal work authorization in the United States is getting a job offer from a U.S. tech company. Some of the top tech companies that hire nonimmigrants are:

  • Microsoft
  • Amazon
  • Google
  • Apple
  • Meta (Facebook, Instagram, & WhatsApp)
  • Accenture
  • IBM
  • Oracle
  • Deloitte
  • Intel
  • EY
  • Deloitte
  • Cognizant
  • Cisco
  • Uber

If a company hires you, the employer must file Form I-129, Petition for Nonimmigrant Worker, with United States Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS) on your behalf. This form is used to verify that you’ve obtained a job in the U.S.

If Form I-129 is approved, then the foreign developer would need to apply for a nonimmigrant visa using Form DS-160, Online Nonimmigrant Visa Application. DS-160 verifies your eligibility for a nonimmigrant visa.

Your nonimmigrant visa options will likely be either:

  • The H-1B visa category for individuals in “specialty occupations.”
  • The L-1 visa categories (L-1A or L-1B) for individuals transferring to a new location within the same or a sister company.

I Have a Family Member in the United States. Can I Get a Green Card?

Well, yes! If you have a close family member who is a U.S. citizen, you may be eligible to bypass the nonimmigrant visa application process through the Immediate Relative (IR) immigrant visa categories.

Additionally, if you are currently married to a U.S. citizen or enter a marriage with a U.S. citizen, you could also be eligible for a Green Card. But it is important to note that marriages may notbe entered into for the sole purpose of seeking a marriage Green Card. You will need to provide evidence of the genuine nature of the marriage to USCIS.

Learn more about your U.S. visa options as a foreign-born tech employee by navigating to the comprehensive guides linked in this article.

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