Visa guide · United States
Relocating to United States: visa categories and tax landscape
H-1B, O-1, L-1, EB-1/EB-2/EB-3 — one of the most complex immigration systems globally, with deep employer dependence.
The United States relocation landscape
The United States operates one of the most fragmented and employer-dependent immigration systems among major destinations. Most non-immigrant work pathways (H-1B, L-1, O-1, TN, E-3) require employer sponsorship and are time-bounded; permanent residency (green card via EB-1/EB-2/EB-3) is a separate, slower process layered on top.
The H-1B annual lottery system materially affects entry timing for many international professionals; alternative routes (O-1 for extraordinary ability, L-1 for intra-company transfers, TN for Canadians/Mexicans under USMCA) avoid the lottery but have their own criteria.
Visa categories worth knowing
The main residence-permit categories used by relocators. Listed in editorial-priority order, not exhaustive.
Mainstream non-immigrant visa for specialty occupations. Subject to an annual lottery; capacity is structurally below demand. Three-year initial period extendable to six.
For individuals with extraordinary ability or achievement in sciences, arts, education, business, or athletics. Documentation-heavy but lottery-free.
For executives, managers, or specialized-knowledge employees being transferred from a foreign office to a US office of the same employer.
Country-specific routes for Canadian/Mexican (TN under USMCA) and Australian (E-3) professionals in qualifying occupations. Bypass H-1B lottery.
Permanent-residency categories. EB-1 (extraordinary ability, multinational executive) is the fastest; EB-2 (advanced degree, exceptional ability) and EB-3 (skilled worker) are slower with country-specific backlogs.
Student visa with post-graduation work authorization (OPT, extendable for STEM graduates). Common stepping-stone to H-1B sponsorship.
Tax landscape for inbound residents
What the tax picture looks like for someone moving to United States, alongside any special expat regimes.
The US is one of two countries globally (with Eritrea) that taxes citizens and permanent residents on worldwide income regardless of where they live. For relocators, this asymmetry matters significantly — even moving abroad later does not end US tax filing obligations.
The US has no special inbound-expat tax regime. Federal income tax is progressive; state taxes layer on top and vary widely (Texas, Florida, Washington have no state income tax; California, New York are high).
Practical considerations
- Healthcare is employer-provided for most workers; budget for premiums, deductibles, and out-of-pocket maxima even with insurance. ACA marketplace plans cover gaps but are not equivalent to European public systems.
- Social Security and Medicare contributions are part of payroll deductions; totalization agreements with several countries can affect cross-border accruals.
United States cities on Mundevo
Cost-of-living and salary breakdowns we maintain for cities in this country.
Related terms
Before you act
Verify with the consulate. Search for "United States consulate" plus your current country of residence; the consulate site is the authoritative source on current categories, thresholds, and required documents.
Get a tax read. Tax residency, special regimes, and home-country exposure interact in ways no editorial guide can address for your specific situation. A consultation with a tax advisor familiar with United States before you move pays for itself many times over.
Build the cost picture. Run the salary and cost calculations for the specific city in United States you're considering — visa eligibility is only one of the three pillars (visa, cost, tax) that decide whether a move makes sense.