Nonimmigrant Visa Unit
H Visas (Temporary Workers and Trainees)
What is an H visa?
An H visa is for certain people who wish to live and work temporarily in the United States. Aliens who perform a prearranged professional or highly skilled job, fill a temporary position for which there is a shortage of U.S. workers, or receive training from an employer require H visas. To begin the application process, the future employer must file a Form I-129 (Petition for a Nonimmigrant Worker) in the United States with U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS) of the Department of Homeland Security. If approved, the USCIS will mail the petitioner a Form I-797 (Notice of Action). The beneficiary may then apply for an H visa at the United States Embassy in Bogotá.
H-1B Visa (Specialty Occupation)
An individual who is traveling to the United States to perform services in a highly skilled job requires an H-1B visa. In order to qualify, the alien requires a minimum of a bachelor’s degree (or the equivalent work experience) in the field for which employment authorization is being sought. A typical H-1B situation might include an arrangement for a foreign professor to become a member of the faculty of a U.S. university or a foreign architect hired by a U.S. firm to design or supervise the construction of a new building complex.
H-2A Visa (Temporary Agricultural Worker)
An individual traveling to the United States to perform agricultural work of a temporary or seasonal nature and for which there is a shortage of U.S. workers requires an H-2A visa.
H-2B Visa (Temporary Nonagricultural Worker)
An individual traveling to the United States to perform nonagricultural work of a temporary or seasonal nature for which there is a shortage of U.S. workers requires an H-2B visa. A typical H-2B situation might involve an employer who has a contract to perform certain work by a prearranged date, who has been unable to locate all the workers required on the domestic labor market and who, therefore, seeks to import qualified foreign workers until that date in order to fulfill the contract. Once the contract has been fulfilled, the employer’s need for the services of the foreign worker will cease to exist.
H-3 Visa (Trainee)
An individual traveling to the United States for training for which he or she will receive compensation requires an H-3 visa. The training can be from an employer in any field of endeavor except graduate education and training or graduate medical training. The training cannot be used to provide productive employment and cannot be available in the individual’s home country. U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services of the Department of Homeland Security will not approve H-3 petitions filed by an institution of learning.
H-4 Visa (Spouse and Children of an H Principal Alien)
Spouses and children under the age of 21 can receive H-4 visas to travel with or follow-to-join the principal alien in the United States.
For a more complete explanation of these and other permissible H activities, please see 9 FAM 41.53.
How do I apply for an H visa?
Follow the below steps in order to apply for an H visa at the Embassy:
- Purchase a personal identification number. If you are in the United States, skip this step and go to step 2.
- Contact our Visa Information Center to schedule an appointment with the consular officer.
- Pay the nonrefundable visa application fee.
- Appear at the Nonimmigrant Visa Unit on the date/time of your visa interview appointment.
What documents are required in order to apply for an H visa?
Every H visa applicant must provide the following documents:
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A valid passport with at least six months’ validity remaining. Note that we are unable to process visas for applicants whose passports contain any type of powder. Also, we cannot accept damaged passports.
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A completed and signed Form DS-156 (Nonimmigrant Visa Application). You may obtain Form DS-156 at any authorized Banco Helm office, or you may download the form from our website. If you download it from our website, make sure to print both pages of the form on one letter-size (8.5 inches by 11 inches) sheet of paper, front and back. You must take the completed form to Banco Helm when you pay the nonrefundable visa application fee.
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For applicants who are at least 14 years of age but under 80, a completed and signed form DS-157 (Supplemental Nonimmigrant Visa Application). You may obtain form DS-157 at any authorized Banco Helm offices, or you may download the form from our website.
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An original Form I-797 approved by U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services of the Department of Homeland Security.
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A photocopy of the approved Form I-129 (Petition for a Nonimmigrant Worker).
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A photograph. Glue the photograph to the front of the Form DS-156 in the photograph space.
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A Colombian national identity card (cédula de identidad personal) for citizens of Colombia 18 years of age and older, a Colombia residency card for residents of Colombia 18 years of age and older, or an identification card for citizens and residents of Colombia under 18). If you just turned 18 and have not yet received your cedula or residency card, you must present the receipt issued by the Registraduría as well as the corresponding annotation on the passport.
What other documents may be required for H visa applicants?
Applicants for an H visa should be prepared to provide the following additional documents at the visa interview:
- Evidence of your current employment, such as pay stubs, an employment letter, or work contract, and evidence of your educational background, such as a copy of your diploma.
Important Note: As a result of strict security procedures, some applications may require longer processing times. The application process cannot be accelerated, so you should not make final travel plans or purchase nonrefundable tickets until/unless you receive your visa. Visa applicants should never assume that their application will be approved.