Headline

5 US Work Visa Options For Foreign Workers Amid Rising H-1B Rejections

Published

6 months ago

February 28, 2025

With increasing difficulties in securing an H-1B visa, foreign professionals are turning to alternative work visa options to legally work in the United States (US).

Rising rejection rates and the lottery-based cap system have made the H-1B visa less accessible for skilled workers. Currently, only 85,000 visas are issued annually, including 20,000 reserved for applicants with advanced U.S. degrees.

Due to high demand, many highly qualified candidates miss out simply because of probability constraints, according to Forbes.

As a result, professionals are increasingly looking into other visa categories such as L-1, H-2A, O, and P visas, which provide different pathways to employment in the U.S.

Alternative US work visa options

L-1 visa
The L-1 visa allows multinational companies to transfer executives, managers, or employees with specialized knowledge to their U.S. offices, making it a viable option for those already employed in global corporations. Unlike the H-1B, this visa has no annual cap and offers a dual-intent pathway to a Green Card. However, it requires at least one year of prior employment with the same company outside the U.S. and does not allow for transfers between different employers.

H-2A visa
Similarly, the H-2A visa plays a crucial role in supporting the agricultural sector by permitting foreign workers to take on seasonal jobs in farming, livestock, and nurseries. This visa is particularly advantageous because it has no annual cap, allowing for more flexibility in hiring. However, it is strictly limited to agricultural jobs and does not provide a direct path to permanent residency.

P visa
For those in the arts and sports industries, the P visa offers a valuable alternative. Designed for internationally recognised athletes, entertainers, and artists, this visa enables them to perform in the U.S. under various subcategories. While it allows for extended stays based on contract duration, applicants must provide proof of international recognition and obtain employer sponsorship.

H-3 visa
The H-3 visa caters to individuals seeking training in specialized fields such as aviation, medical research, and finance. While easier to obtain than the H-1B, its scope is limited strictly to training purposes, with no allowance for full-time employment outside the training program. Nonetheless, it provides valuable professional exposure to the U.S. job market.

Religious professionals also have a dedicated category under the R visa, which allows individuals to work for religious organizations in the U.S. This visa has no numerical cap and provides a potential route to a Green Card. However, applicants must be sponsored by a religious organization, and their role must involve religious duties.

Q-1 visa
Another option, the Q-1 visa, supports cultural exchange programs, facilitating international professionals’ participation in cross-cultural training and education. Although it provides an avenue for cultural exchange, it is limited to designated programs and does not offer long-term employment prospects in the U.S.

Headline

Again, Russia Claims Another Village In Ukraine’s Region

Published

7 hours ago

August 25, 2025

Editor

The Russian army Monday claimed to have captured another village in Ukraine’s Dnipropetrovsk region, moving deeper into Ukrainian territory as peace efforts stall.

Russian forces are slowly but steadily gaining ground in costly battles for largely devastated areas in eastern and central Ukraine, normally with few inhabitants or intact buildings left.

Russia’s defence ministry said its forces had seized the settlement of Zaporizke in the region, which Russian troops recently advanced into for the first time in the three-and-a-half-year offensive.

Kyiv denies that Russian troops have gained a foothold in the Dnipropetrovsk region, an important industrial hub.

After another push by US President Donald Trump to broker a Ukraine-Russia summit, hopes for peace dimmed when Russia last week ruled out any immediate meeting between presidents Vladimir Putin and Volodymyr Zelensky.

The central region of Dnipropetrovsk has previously been largely spared from fighting that has ravaged swathes of eastern and southern Ukraine, until Russia said its forces broke through in July.

Dnipropetrovsk is not one of the five Ukrainian regions — Donetsk, Kherson, Lugansk, Zaporizhzhia and Crimea — that Moscow has publicly claimed as Russian territory.

Ukraine said Russia had launched over 100 drones Monday, killing a 37-year old civilian driver and wounding two people in the northeastern Sumy region.

Moscow said Kyiv had launched about two dozen drones targeting western Russia

Headline

US Comedian Reggie Carroll Shot Dead In Mississippi

Published

7 hours ago

August 25, 2025

Editor

A United States comedian, Reginald “Reggie” Carroll, has been shot dead in Southaven, Mississippi.

The 52-year-old Carroll, widely known as the Knockout King of Comedy, was reportedly killed on Wednesday, August 20, 2025, after sustaining multiple gunshot wounds.

The Southaven Police Department confirmed the incident in a Facebook statement on Saturday.

“Southaven officers located one male victim suffering from gunshot wounds.

“The officers and medical personnel provided life saving techniques but the individual succumbed to his injuries,” the statement partly read.

The victim was later identified as Carroll, a Baltimore native.

Police said one suspect was arrested and charged with his murder.

“One male is in custody and has been charged with the murder of Reginald Carroll.

“Our thoughts are with the family of Mr. Carroll.

“Thank you to the community for their patience and understanding,” the department added.

The police further assured that there was no ongoing threat to residents, describing the case as “an isolated shooting.”

Carroll, who built his career in stand-up comedy, gained national recognition touring with Katt Williams and headlining his own showcase, Knockout Kings of Comedy.

He also featured in the 2000 edition of Showtime at the Apollo, appeared on the UPN sitcom The Parkers alongside Mo’Nique and Countess Vaughn, and starred in the 2022 television film Rent & Go.

In 2023, he produced the stand-up special Knockout Kings of Comedy.

The Southaven Police Department disclosed that an investigation into his death is ongoing.

Headline

US Defends New Social Media Vetting For Nigerian Visa Applicants

Published

7 hours ago

August 25, 2025

Editor

The U.S. Mission in Nigeria on Monday reaffirmed that the safety and security of the United States remain the cornerstone of its visa application and decision-making process.

The US said this following its directive last week that mandates Nigerians to disclose all social media usernames and handles used over the past five years as part of the visa application process.

US Mission said Nigerian visa applicants must provide a comprehensive list of their social media profiles on the DS-160 visa application form, and warned that omitting the information could lead to visa denials.

Reacting to the development, the Federal Government said US citizens intending to visit Nigeria will be subjected to the same measures.

“The best we can do is to carry out reciprocal action. Some people from the US might want to apply for a visa, and we will adopt the same measures,” spokesman of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, Kimiebi Ebienfa, said last Monday.

However, in a statement released Monday on X, the US Mission said prospective visa applicants undergo careful vetting to maintain a safe and welcoming environment in the US.

It said, “The safety and security of the United States is at the heart of every #USVisa application and decision process.

“That’s why prospective applicants undergo careful screening to ensure a safe and welcoming environment for all.”

The Mission added, “These measures help protect American citizens and communities while supporting secure and responsible travel.”