OTHER U.S. EMPLOYMENT-BASED VISAS At Burgos Law
Not every job fits the H-1B or PERM mold. If you’re a U.S. employer—or an international professional—looking for an alternative route, Burgos Law can help you navigate the options below:
Visa Best For Initial Stay:
- H-3 Trainee Hands-on training in almost any fieldUp to 2 yearsBuilds skills you can use abroad
- R-1 Religious Worker Ministers & religious staffUp to 30 months (renewable to 5 yrs total)Work for bona-fide U.S. non-profit religious orgs
- EB-4 Religious Worker Permanent residence for ministersN/A (immigrant visa)Direct path to a green card
- TN Professional Canadian & Mexican professionalsUp to 3 years, unlimited renewalsNo annual cap or lottery
H-3 TRAINEE Visa
Who it’s for: Foreign nationals coming to the U.S. for structured, employer-sponsored training that isn’t available in their home country. Fields can include science, finance, engineering, tech, agriculture, and more. myburgoslaw.com
Why companies like it
Lets U.S. headquarters train global staff face-to-face
Flexible—can substitute for a J-1 trainee program
Common hurdles
Detailed training plan is a must
Trainee can’t fill a regular production job
USCIS often issues RFEs (requests for evidence) if the plan looks thin
R-1 RELIGIOUS WORKER Visa
Who it’s for: Ministers and other religious workers employed by a U.S. non-profit religious organization (or its tax-exempt affiliate).
Basic requirements
Worker must have been a member of the denomination for 2 years
Job must be at least 20 hours/week
Organization must prove non-profit religious status
Family benefit: Spouse and children under 21 can join in R-2 status (no work authorization)
EB-4 IMMIGRANT VISA FOR Religious Workers
Want a green card instead of a temporary visa? U.S. religious organizations can sponsor ministers (and certain other religious workers) under the EB-4 category if the worker has two years of continuous, qualifying religious employment.
TN VISA FOR Canadians & Mexicans
Who it’s for: Citizens of Canada or Mexico working in one of 60+ listed NAFTA/USMCA professions (e.g., accountants, engineers, scientists, teachers).
Why choose TN
No lottery and usually same-day decisions at the border (Canadians) or consulate (Mexicans)
Renewable indefinitely in three-year blocks
Spouse/children get TD status (study allowed, no work)
How Burgos Law Helps
Compliant Programs
Airtight Plans
Filing and Processing
FAQs
Is an H-3 trainee allowed to do any productive work?
Only if it’s incidental to training; the bulk of the stay must be devoted to learning, not filling a regular job.
How long does it take to get an R-1 approval?
Standard processing is several months, but premium processing (15 days) is available for most R-1 petitions.
Can an R-1 switch to an EB-4 green card later?
Yes—time spent working in R-1 status can count toward the two-year employment requirement for EB-4.
Do TN professionals need a prevailing-wage determination?
No. The TN category doesn’t require a wage filing, but you must still show the offered salary matches industry standards.
What happens if a training plan is too vague in an H-3 case?
USCIS will likely issue an RFE—and may deny the petition—so detailed objectives, timelines, and mentor credentials are critical.
READY TO EXPLORE Your Options?
Let’s schedule a strategy session and chart the smoothest path for your workforce needs—or your professional move to the United States.