Work in the USA from the UK

There is no working holiday visa for British adults in the USA, so to work in USA from UK you normally need an employer-backed or investment-based visa. The main options are the H-1B for graduate-level “specialty occupations” (selected by lottery, now weighted towards higher wage levels, and with a US$100,000 payment for many new petitions for workers outside the US), the L-1 for transfers within a multinational company, the E-2 treaty investor visa (available to British nationals), the O-1 for people with extraordinary ability, and J-1 exchange programmes for interns, trainees and students. ESTA and B1/B2 visitor visas do not allow work. GIEC Global UK helps UK professionals understand these routes and prepare, and this guide explains each one in plain English.

Can British citizens work in the USA?

Yes, but only with the right visa. Many people searching “work in USA for British citizens” assume ESTA or a B1/B2 visa allows some work. It does not: business visitors can attend meetings and conferences, but cannot be employed by a US company or provide hands-on services to US clients. Unauthorised work can lead to removal and a long bar on future travel. Our visit USA page explains what visitors can do.

Which route fits your profile?

Most people who want to work in USA from UK fit one of these patterns:

Your situation	Route to explore first
Employed by a company with US offices for a year or more	L-1 transfer
Own or plan to buy or start a business, with capital to invest	E-2 treaty investor
Award-winning, widely published or high-profile in your field	O-1, or EB-1/EB-2 NIW green card
Student or recent graduate wanting experience	J-1 internship or trainee programme
Graduate-level job offer from a US employer	H-1B (lottery) or cap-exempt H-1B
Nurse or other in-demand professional	Employer-sponsored green card (EB-3) or EB-2

H-1B: the main skilled worker visa

The H-1B is for jobs that need at least a bachelor’s degree in a specific field, such as software engineering, data science, finance, engineering, architecture and many healthcare and academic roles. Key points:

• The cap: 65,000 visas a year, plus 20,000 for people with a US master’s degree or higher. Universities, some non-profit research organisations and government research bodies are cap-exempt.
• Registration and selection: employers register candidates in March. From the FY2027 season (registration in March 2026), selection is weighted by the wage level offered, so higher-paid roles have better chances.
• The US$100,000 payment: a September 2025 proclamation requires a US$100,000 payment for many new H-1B petitions for workers outside the US. Change-of-status cases filed inside the US, such as F-1 students moving to H-1B, are generally exempt. Check current guidance, as this area has been subject to legal challenges and updates.
• Duration: up to three years, extendable to six, with longer extensions possible for people in the green card process.

Because of the cap and costs, many UK professionals find an employer-sponsored H-1B difficult unless they already study or work in the US or join a cap-exempt employer. That is why studying a US master’s is a common path; see study in the USA.

L-1: transfer within your company

If you work for a multinational company with offices in the UK and the US, the L-1 lets you transfer. You need at least one continuous year of employment with the related company outside the US in the last three years.

• L-1A: managers and executives, up to seven years in total; a common route to a green card.
• L-1B: employees with specialised knowledge of the company’s products, processes or systems, up to five years.

Large companies may use a “blanket” L petition that lets employees apply directly at the US Embassy in London.

E-2: for British investors and business owners

The United Kingdom is a treaty country for the E-2 visa, so British nationals can apply to develop and direct a US business in which they have invested, or are actively investing, a substantial amount of capital. There is no fixed minimum, but the investment must be proportionate to the business, at risk, and enough to make the business viable. Key employees of an E-2 company who share its nationality can also qualify. E-2 visas are issued for set periods and can be renewed while the business continues to qualify. Applications from the UK are made through the US Embassy in London, which has a dedicated E visa process.

O-1: for exceptional talent

The O-1 is for people with extraordinary ability, shown by awards, publications, high salary, critical roles, press coverage, judging the work of others, or similar evidence. It suits leading researchers, founders, artists, performers and senior professionals. It has no annual cap and can be renewed, but the evidence bar is high and needs careful preparation.

J-1: internships, training and exchanges

J-1 exchange programmes are run by designated sponsor organisations. They include internships for students and recent graduates, professional training programmes, research scholar and professor programmes, teacher exchanges, summer camp roles and summer work and travel for university students. J-1 is often the most realistic first step for younger UK applicants. Some J-1 holders must return home for two years before they can get certain other visas, depending on their programme and funding.

Green cards: permanent work rights

Permanent residence through employment comes in several categories:

• EB-1: extraordinary ability, outstanding researchers and multinational managers.
• EB-2: advanced degree holders or exceptional ability, including the National Interest Waiver, which does not need a job offer.
• EB-3: skilled workers and professionals sponsored by an employer, usually after labour certification (PERM).
• EB-5: investors making a qualifying investment that creates US jobs.

Note that people born in Great Britain are not currently eligible for the Diversity Visa (green card) lottery, though people born in Northern Ireland are. For long-term options, see our migrate to the USA page.

Healthcare professionals: nurses and doctors

UK nurses often move to the USA through employer-sponsored green cards rather than temporary visas, because registered nurses are usually not treated as an H-1B specialty occupation. The path involves passing the NCLEX-RN, getting a state licence and a VisaScreen certificate, and finding a hospital or agency sponsor. Timelines depend heavily on green card visa availability. UK-trained doctors usually need ECFMG certification and USMLE exams, then enter residency on a J-1 (sponsored by ECFMG) or H-1B. Both routes take careful planning over one to several years, so start early.

Typical steps to work in the USA from the UK

1. Identify the right category based on your job, employer, qualifications and plans.
2. Secure the employer, investment or sponsor: a job offer for H-1B, a transfer for L-1, a business plan and investment for E-2, or a J-1 sponsor.
3. The employer files a petition with USCIS (H-1B, L-1, O-1), usually through a US immigration attorney. E-2 and blanket L-1 applications go straight to the embassy.
4. Complete the DS-160 and pay the visa fee.
5. Attend your interview at the US Embassy in London or the Consulate General in Belfast.
6. Receive your visa, travel, and keep your status valid by following its conditions.

Costs to plan for

Cost	Who usually pays	Notes
Petition and filing fees (USCIS)	Employer	Vary by visa type and employer size
H-1B US$100,000 payment	Employer	For many new petitions for workers outside the US
Visa application (MRV) fee	Applicant	Varies by category; E and L have their own fees
Visa integrity fee	Applicant	US$250, charged on issuance
US attorney fees	Employer or applicant	Depends on case complexity

How long does it take?

Timelines vary widely. J-1 programmes can take two to four months once you have a host organisation. L-1 and O-1 petitions can be decided in weeks with premium processing, followed by a consular interview. The H-1B follows a yearly cycle: registration in March, petitions from April, and employment usually starting from 1 October. E-2 cases depend on how quickly the business is set up and the embassy’s appointment availability. Green cards can take from about a year to many years, depending on category and visa bulletin dates.

Tax, social security and healthcare

US residents pay federal income tax and, in most states, state income tax. The UK and US have a tax treaty and a social security (totalisation) agreement, which can prevent double contributions for some workers. Healthcare is usually provided through employer insurance plans, so check cover for you and your family before accepting a job offer. Salaries are quoted per year before tax, and benefits packages vary much more than in the UK.

Common mistakes and risks

• Working, even remotely for a US client while in the US, on ESTA or a B1/B2 visa.
• Choosing the H-1B when an L-1, E-2 or O-1 would fit better.
• Underestimating evidence requirements for O-1 or E-2 cases.
• Paying agents who promise US jobs with visa sponsorship. Genuine US employers do not sell jobs.
• Not planning for family: H-4, L-2 and E-2 dependants have different work rights.

Finding a US employer willing to sponsor

If you want to work in USA from UK through an employer, focus on organisations that already sponsor international staff. Large technology, finance, consulting, pharmaceutical and engineering firms sponsor regularly, and US universities and research hospitals are cap-exempt for the H-1B, which removes the lottery. Public data on past H-1B and green card filings shows which employers sponsor which roles. Networking through UK alumni groups, professional bodies and your current employer’s US contacts is often more effective than applying cold to job boards.

Choosing USA immigration consultants

US immigration petitions are legal matters. Only US-licensed attorneys and accredited representatives of recognised organisations can give legal advice on US immigration law. Many people search for the best immigration consultants for the USA or a visa consultant in London; the right partner should be honest about what they can and cannot do. Ask:

• Who will prepare and sign petitions, and are they a US-licensed attorney?
• What exactly will you do, and what will an attorney do?
• What are the full costs, including employer fees?
• Do you promise jobs or guaranteed visas? (Walk away if so.)

How GIEC Global UK helps

We help UK professionals, graduates and business owners understand which US routes realistically fit their profile, compare the USA with other countries, prepare CVs and evidence portfolios, complete DS-160 forms accurately and prepare for consular interviews. Petitions to USCIS and US legal advice must be handled by a US-licensed attorney, and we will tell you clearly when you need one. We never sell jobs and cannot guarantee any decision. Learn more about us or book a consultation.

Comparing other destinations

If US routes look difficult for your profile, other English-speaking countries may offer faster options. Compare work in Canada, work in Australia and work in Ireland, or browse all work abroad guides. Americans who want to work in the UK can read our work in the UK guide.

Sources and review

Reviewed on 31 October 2026 against USCIS pages on H-1B, L-1, O-1 and employment-based immigration, the Department of State’s treaty country list and visa fee pages, the US Embassy London’s E visa guidance, the September 2025 H-1B proclamation and the H-1B weighted selection rule. US immigration policy changes often, so confirm current rules with official sources and a US-licensed attorney. This page is general information, not legal advice.