How to get a work visa in United States as a Ghanaian citizen

The H-1B is the most well-known US work visa for professionals in specialty occupations. It requires a bachelor's degree or equivalent and a sponsoring employer willing to file a petition on your behalf. As of September 2025, USCIS imposes an additional $100,000 fee for certain large employers, bringing total costs well above the base $2,500 filing fee. Premium processing is available for $2,805 and reduces the wait from several months to 15 calendar days.

The O-1 visa is for individuals with extraordinary ability or achievement in sciences, arts, education, business, or athletics. Unlike the H-1B, the O-1 has no annual cap, no lottery, and no degree requirement. This makes it an increasingly popular alternative for professionals who can demonstrate they are among the top tier in their field, including software engineers, entrepreneurs, researchers, and creative professionals.

Employment-based (EB) green cards provide permanent residence in the United States through your employer or, in some cases, through self-petition. There are three main categories relevant to skilled workers: EB-1 for priority workers (extraordinary ability, outstanding researchers, multinational managers), EB-2 for professionals with advanced degrees or exceptional ability, and EB-3 for skilled workers with bachelor's degrees or at least two years of experience.

The L-1 visa enables multinational companies to transfer key employees from foreign offices to the United States. There are two sub-categories: L-1A for managers and executives (valid up to seven years) and L-1B for workers with specialized knowledge (valid up to five years). Unlike the H-1B, the L-1 has no annual cap, no lottery, and no prevailing wage requirement — the salary simply needs to be reasonable for the role.