Which visa lets me work in Arizona, and where do I start the application?

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Work in Arizona needs the same federal visa as anywhere in the US; the state has no separate permit. The common routes are an employer-sponsored H-1B or L-1, the O-1 for people with an outstanding record, the E-2 for citizens of treaty countries who invest in a business, and TN for Canadians and Mexicans. Every route starts with a sponsor or a qualifying business, then a petition and a consular visa. US Citizenship and Immigration Services describes each temporary work category and who qualifies: the H-1B for specialty occupations (capped and allocated by an annual registration), the L-1 for transfers within a company, the O-1 for extraordinary ability, the E-1/E-2 for treaty traders and investors, and TN under the North American trade agreement. In almost all of them the employer files the petition; you cannot apply alone. Once a petition is approved, the visa itself is issued abroad by a US consulate, and the State Department’s visa site covers interview scheduling, documents and processing times by post. People already in the US on another status may be able to change status without leaving. Permanent residence (a green card) is a separate track, through employment, family or investment, and can run in parallel with a work visa. Immigration law is unforgiving of small mistakes, so for anything beyond reading the categories, use a licensed immigration attorney.

Which visa lets me work in Arizona, and where do I start the application?

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