A US work visa lasts as long as the category allows. An H-1B starts at up to 3 years and can be extended to a total of 6, an L-1A manager can stay up to 7 years, O-1 and TN workers start with up to 3 years and can extend, and H-2B seasonal workers are capped at 3 years in total. The time you can stay is set by your approved petition and admission, not just the visa stamp.
That last point is the one that confuses most people. The stamp in your passport and the time you're allowed to work aren't the same thing. What decides how long you can work is the period USCIS approves and the admission you're given.
Here are the limits USCIS publishes for the main temporary work categories, checked in October 2026. Immigration rules change often, so confirm your own case with an immigration attorney before you plan around a date.
Work visa limits at a glance
| Category | Who it's for | Initial stay | Extensions and maximum |
|---|---|---|---|
| H-1B | Specialty occupation workers | Up to 3 years | Up to 3 more years, 6 years in total |
| L-1A | Intracompany transferee executives and managers | Up to 3 years (1 year to open a new office) | Increments of up to 2 years, maximum 7 years |
| O-1 | People with extraordinary ability or achievement | Up to 3 years | Increments of up to 1 year to finish the event or activity |
| TN | Canadian and Mexican professionals under USMCA | Up to 3 years | Extension of stay through your employer on Form I-129 |
| H-2B | Temporary non-agricultural workers | Up to the period on the labor certification | Increments of up to 1 year, maximum 3 years |
H-1B: 3 years, then 3 more
USCIS says an H-1B worker may generally be admitted for up to 3 years, and that initial period may generally be extended by up to 3 more, for a total of 6 years. If you own more than 50% of the company petitioning for you, or hold majority voting rights, your initial petition and first extension are each limited to up to 18 months. USCIS also notes that some workers can extend beyond the sixth year under 8 CFR 214.2(h)(13)(iii)(E), for example as the beneficiary of certain approved immigrant petitions.
Getting in is the harder part. There's an annual cap of 65,000 new H-1B statuses or visas, plus 20,000 for people with a master's degree or higher from a US institution, and since 2020 cap petitions need a selected electronic registration first.
There's also a live legal question in 2026. A presidential proclamation of 19 September 2025 required an additional $100,000 payment for certain H-1B petitions filed from 21 September 2025 for people outside the US without a valid H-1B visa. On 8 June 2026 a federal court in Massachusetts vacated the agency guidance implementing that payment, and DHS has asked the First Circuit to stay that order pending appeal. Check the USCIS H-1B page for the current position before any filing; the figure is as of October 2026.
L-1A: up to 7 years for managers
For L-1A executives and managers, USCIS allows a maximum initial stay of three years, or one year if you're coming to set up a new office. Extensions can be granted in increments of up to two years, until you reach the maximum of seven years. Spouses and unmarried children under 21 can come in L-2 status, generally for the same period.
O-1 and TN: 3 years to start
O-1 workers get an initial stay of up to three years, then extensions in increments of up to one year to finish the event or activity the petition was based on. You can also be admitted up to 10 days before the petition's validity period starts and 10 days after it ends, but you're only allowed to work during the validity period itself.
TN professionals from Canada and Mexico are admitted for an initial period of up to 3 years. To stay longer without leaving, you need an extension of stay, which your employer can request on Form I-129 if you're in the US.
H-2B: the 3-year ceiling and the 60-day rule
H-2B is built for seasonal or temporary needs. USCIS can grant it for the period on the temporary labor certification, extend it in increments of up to 1 year, and cap the total at 3 years. After 3 years you must leave and stay outside the US for an uninterrupted 60 days before you can be readmitted in H-2B status.
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The cap is tight as well. Congress has set it at 66,000 a year, split into 33,000 for each half of the fiscal year, and USCIS says it had enough petitions for the first half of fiscal year 2027 by 4 September 2026.
Planning around your dates
Here's the insight that saves careers: the clock that matters is your authorized stay, so plan extensions months ahead and keep your employer's HR team in the loop. They'll need to check your right to work again, which this guide to Form I-9 verification explains. If you're comparing the US with a remote-work route abroad, this explainer on how digital nomad visas work shows how different those schemes are.
Verdict
Know your category's ceiling before you accept a job: 6 years for H-1B, 7 for L-1A managers, 3 in total for H-2B, with O-1 and TN tied to the work and your extensions. Track the end date on your approval, not the stamp in your passport, and start any extension early. With H-1B rules moving in the courts in 2026, check the USCIS page again the week you file.
Frequently asked questions
How long does an H-1B visa last?
USCIS says H-1B workers may generally be admitted for up to 3 years, extendable by up to 3 more years, for a total of 6 years.
How long can you stay on an L-1 visa?
For L-1A executives and managers, USCIS allows an initial stay of up to three years, or one year for a new office, with extensions of up to two years at a time to a maximum of seven years.
How long does a TN visa last?
TN professionals are admitted for an initial period of up to 3 years. Staying longer requires an extension of stay, which a US employer can request on Form I-129.
What is the maximum stay on an H-2B visa?
Three years. After that, USCIS says you must stay outside the US for an uninterrupted 60 days before seeking readmission in H-2B status.
Is the visa stamp the same as how long I can stay?
No. The period you can work is set by your approved petition and your admission. USCIS says O-1 workers, for example, can be admitted for the petition's validity period plus up to 10 days either side, but can only work during the validity period.
