The visa · United States
United States
There is no U.S. digital‑nomad or remote‑work visa. Remote workers who genuinely need U.S. work permission tend to use entrepreneur or talent routes (E‑2, E‑1, O‑1) or, at the high end, EB‑5. Short visits under the Visa Waiver Program (ESTA) or a B‑2 visitor visa do not permit working from the U.S.; performing services while physically in the country is treated as employment. Understand that tax and Social Security consequences usually follow physical presence.
- Nomad visa · September 2026None as suchRoutes6Bases9
- Atlantic City19 pieces
- New York18 pieces
- Boston14 pieces
- San Francisco12 pieces
- Washington10 pieces
- Chicago9 pieces
- Miami9 pieces
- New Orleans9 pieces
- Los Angeles8 pieces
Remote jobs open to United States
Listings whose hiring region includes this country, newest first · apply on the board's own page
- Senior React Full-stack DeveloperLATAM, Europe, USA, Canada, APAC
- Senior DevOps EngineerLATAM, Europe, USA, Canada, APAC
- Content Reviewer - English US$14/hour
- Senior Golang DeveloperEurope, USA, UK, Canada, Australia, Singapore
- Senior Data EngineerLATAM, Europe, USA, Canada, APAC
- Tech Lead Full-Stack Rails Engineer$170k - $200k
- Face Deduplication CollectionPay per task
- Senior Independent AI Engineer / Architect$120 - $170 /hour
The routes
Researched 6 September 2026 · rules as of September 2026 · as published, not legal advice
Temporary stay
Visa Waiver Program (ESTA)
Visa Waiver Program (INA §217); Electronic System for Travel Authorization
Nationals of VWP countries visiting for business meetings or tourism without working; not suitable for remote work
- Income floor
- none
- Duration
- Up to 90 days per visit; time spent in Canada, Mexico, or adjacent islands after admission counts toward the original 90 days; readmission from contiguous territory is only for the unused balance.
- Cost
- ESTA fee US$40 from 30 September 2025
- Processing
- Electronic authorisation; apply at least 72 hours before travel
- Eligibility
- Passport from a VWP country, e‑passport, approved ESTA, onward/return ticket (with limited exceptions for residents of Canada/Mexico/nearby islands); ineligible if certain travel to Cuba/Iran/Iraq/Libya/Somalia/Sudan/Syria/Yemen; subject to inspection by CBP on arrival.
- Work rights
- Employment is prohibited; performing services while physically in the U.S. is “employment,” so remote work for any employer (foreign or U.S.) is not permitted.
- Dependants
- Not a status for dependants; each traveller needs their own ESTA
- Leads to
- no
- Apply
- Online via esta.cbp.dhs.gov
Documents Valid e‑passport · Approved ESTA · Evidence of return or onward travel · Evidence of funds and ties to home country (on request)
Temporary stay
Visitor (B‑1/B‑2)
B‑1 Temporary Visitor for Business / B‑2 Temporary Visitor for Pleasure
Short stays for tourism, visiting family, or business meetings where no work is performed in the United States
- Income floor
- none
- Duration
- CBP admits case‑by‑case; B‑2 has a regulatory minimum of 6 months; B‑1 up to 1 year; extensions possible in 6‑month increments (not available to VWP entrants).
- Cost
- MRV fee US$185 (visa application)
- Processing
- Interview‑based; timelines vary by consulate; no statutory service time
- Eligibility
- All nationalities not eligible for VWP; must show non‑immigrant intent and ability to fund stay; prior overstays or immigration violations can lead to refusal.
- Work rights
- Employment is prohibited; services performed in the U.S. count as employment even if paid abroad. Remote work is not permitted.
- Dependants
- Each family member applies separately
- Leads to
- no
- Apply
- U.S. embassy/consulate; admission decided by CBP at the port of entry
Documents DS‑160 confirmation · Passport valid 6+ months beyond stay (unless exempt) · Photo · Evidence of ties and funds; itinerary
Investor
Treaty Investor (E‑2)
E‑2 Treaty Investor (INA 101(a)(15)(E)(ii))
Entrepreneurs from treaty countries who invest and actively direct and develop a bona fide U.S. business (including digital businesses)
- Income floor
- No fixed minimum; investment must be “substantial” relative to the enterprise and not marginal
- Duration
- Admission up to 2 years per entry; extensions in 2‑year increments with no statutory maximum while qualifying; visa validity varies by nationality
- Cost
- Consular E‑class MRV fee US$315; if filing in the U.S., Form I‑129 fee (per current schedule) and optional premium processing
- Processing
- Consular processing times vary by post; USCIS change/extension of status available with premium processing (15 business days)
- Eligibility
- Nationality of a treaty country; at least 50% ownership or operational control; funds at risk and irrevocably committed; enterprise real and operating; intent to depart when status ends; admissibility requirements apply.
- Work rights
- Principal may work only for the E‑2 enterprise; spouse may work for any employer or self‑employ; children have no work authorisation
- Dependants
- Spouse and unmarried children under 21; spouse is employment‑authorised incident to status
- Leads to
- no direct route to permanent residence; some later qualify under other immigrant categories
- Apply
- At a U.S. embassy/consulate abroad or via USCIS for change/extension of status in the U.S.
Documents DS‑160 (consular) · DS‑156E for employees (investors may not need it at many posts) · Business plan and financials · Proof of investment/funds source · Corporate documents
Other route
Treaty Trader (E‑1)
E‑1 Treaty Trader (INA 101(a)(15)(E)(i))
Owners/executives/employees of a company trading principally between the treaty country and the U.S.
- Income floor
- none (must show substantial, principal trade)
- Duration
- Admission up to 2 years; renewable in 2‑year increments while qualifying
- Cost
- Consular E‑class MRV fee US$315; USCIS fees if filing in the U.S.
- Processing
- Consular timing varies; USCIS offers premium processing (15 business days) for changes/extensions
- Eligibility
- Treaty nationality; substantial, continuous trade where over 50% of international trade is with the U.S.; executive/managerial or essential‑skills role
- Work rights
- Work limited to the E‑1 enterprise; spouse open market access
- Dependants
- Spouse and children under 21; spouse employment‑authorised incident to status
- Leads to
- no direct route to permanent residence
- Apply
- U.S. embassy/consulate or via USCIS for change/extension of status
Documents DS‑160 · DS‑156E for employees · Evidence of qualifying trade · Corporate evidence
Temporary stay
Extraordinary ability (O‑1)
O‑1A/O‑1B (INA 101(a)(15)(O))
Highly accomplished founders, creatives, technologists and other specialists working on U.S. engagements (often via a U.S. agent for multiple clients)
- Income floor
- none
- Duration
- Initial approval up to 3 years for the event/itinerary; extensions in up to 1‑year increments
- Cost
- USCIS petition fees; optional premium processing (15 business days)
- Processing
- USCIS adjudication (with consultation letter) before consular visa issuance; premium processing available
- Eligibility
- Sustained national or international acclaim (O‑1A: science/education/business/athletics; O‑1B: arts/MPTV) meeting regulatory criteria; U.S. petitioner or qualified U.S. agent; advisory opinion from the relevant peer group/union (where applicable)
- Work rights
- Only for the petitioning employer(s) or through a qualified agent across the listed engagements; not open market
- Dependants
- Spouse/children (O‑3) have no work authorisation
- Leads to
- no direct route; some later qualify for EB‑1
- Apply
- USCIS (petition) then U.S. embassy/consulate for visa if abroad
Documents Form I‑129 with O supplement · Consultation letter · Contracts/itinerary · Evidence meeting O‑1 criteria
Residence
Immigrant investor (EB‑5)
Employment‑Based Fifth Preference (EB‑5) – Reform and Integrity Act 2022
Investors seeking U.S. permanent residence via qualifying investment creating/preserving 10 jobs
- Income floor
- US$1,050,000 standard; US$800,000 in a TEA or infrastructure project (statutory, subject to future CPI adjustments from 1 January 2027)
- Duration
- Conditional permanent residence for 2 years, then removal of conditions (I‑829); standard residence/citizenship timelines thereafter
- Cost
- USCIS filing fees (I‑526E/I‑526 & I‑485/I‑829 as applicable); consular fees if processing abroad
- Processing
- Timelines vary by category, country cap and case; no single statutory service time
- Eligibility
- Lawful capital invested in a new commercial enterprise; job creation; source‑of‑funds tracing; admissibility
- Work rights
- Permanent resident work rights once admitted as a conditional resident
- Dependants
- Spouse and unmarried children under 21 obtain status with the principal
- Leads to
- Yes – permanent residence; eligible for citizenship after meeting residence requirements
- Apply
- USCIS (petition) and DOS (consular), or AOS if eligible
Documents I‑526E/I‑526 petition · Corporate and investment evidence · Source‑of‑funds documentation · Later I‑829 to remove conditions
Without a visa, by passport
The stay you get on arrival, and whether working remotely on it is tolerated
- EU / EEA / SwitzerlandMostly ESTA/VWP: 90 days per visit (exceptions include Bulgaria, Romania, Cyprus, which require B‑1/B‑2 until designated)Remote work while in the U.S. is prohibited; services performed in the U.S. are treated as employment.
- United KingdomESTA/VWP: 90 days per visitRemote work prohibited.
- CanadaVisa‑exempt; usually admitted in B‑1/B‑2 classification, commonly up to 6 months case‑by‑caseRemote work prohibited.
- AustraliaESTA/VWP: 90 days per visitRemote work prohibited.
- JapanESTA/VWP: 90 days per visitRemote work prohibited.
- IsraelESTA/VWP: 90 days per visit (designated 2023)Remote work prohibited.
- BrazilVisa required (B‑1/B‑2)Remote work prohibited on visitor status.
- IndiaVisa required (B‑1/B‑2)Remote work prohibited on visitor status.
- South AfricaVisa required (B‑1/B‑2)Remote work prohibited on visitor status.
- TurkeyVisa required (B‑1/B‑2)Remote work prohibited on visitor status.
Tax
When the country starts counting you as its taxpayer
- Residency trigger
- Resident for income‑tax purposes if meeting the Substantial Presence Test (31+ days in the current year and 183‑day weighted formula over 3 years), or holding a green card; days can be excluded for some categories.
- Special regime
- No special nomad regime. U.S. taxes are driven by source and residence. Wages for services performed while physically in the U.S. are U.S.‑source income and generally taxable; treaty relief may apply in limited cases (typical 183‑day/foreign‑payor/PE tests).
- Social security
- Work performed in the U.S. is generally subject to U.S. Social Security/Medicare (FICA), including when employed by a foreign employer, unless an exemption applies (for example, foreign government/international organization) or a Totalization Agreement assigns coverage abroad (supported by a certificate of coverage).
- Treaties
- The U.S. has a wide network of income‑tax treaties; employment‑income articles typically exempt short U.S. stays only if multiple conditions are met. Totalization Agreements with many countries coordinate Social Security coverage and may exempt posted workers from U.S. FICA with a certificate of coverage.
Practicalities
- Banking
- Banks must verify identity under Customer Identification Program rules; non‑U.S. persons can usually open with a passport and other identifiers. Many banks ask for an SSN/ITIN for interest reporting even if not legally required by the CIP rule.
- Tax number
- Non‑eligible for SSN may obtain an ITIN by filing Form W‑7 with a federal tax return or showing a listed exception (for example, to claim a treaty benefit or to open an interest‑bearing account).
- SIM / mobile
- No federal SIM‑registration law for prepaid purchase. New FCC rules (2023) require stronger customer authentication and notifications for SIM swaps and number port‑outs.
- Health insurance
- No federal individual‑mandate penalty since tax year 2019. Several jurisdictions (for example, DC, CA, MA, NJ, RI) require residents to hold coverage or pay a state penalty; short‑term visitors are generally outside those regimes but should carry private insurance.
- Address registration
- Most non‑citizens must report each U.S. address change to USCIS within 10 days using Form AR‑11 (online tool available).
- Overstays
- Accruing unlawful presence of 180+ days before departure triggers a 3‑year inadmissibility bar; 1+ year triggers a 10‑year bar. VWP entrants cannot extend or change status (except limited ‘satisfactory departure’ up to 30 days in emergencies).
- Border practice
- For VWP, time in Canada/Mexico/adjacent islands counts against the original 90 days; readmission from contiguous territory is only for the unused balance.
United States as a base for remote workers
What remote workers actually use now
The United States has no digital‑nomad visa. Visitors under the VWP/ESTA or on B‑2 status may not work from the U.S.; U.S. law treats services performed while physically in the country as employment. Remote workers who need to be in the U.S. for extended periods tend to choose E‑2 (entrepreneurs), E‑1 (traders) or O‑1 (extraordinary ability) depending on nationality, business model and record. EB‑5 is used by a smaller, capital‑intensive cohort seeking residence.
Admission patterns and ‘border math’
Under the VWP, the 90‑day clock does not reset by brief trips to Canada, Mexico, or adjacent islands; a return is only for the balance of the original 90 days. CBP officers scrutinise frequent, lengthy stays under visitor classifications and may reduce admissions or refuse entry if they suspect de‑facto residence or work. In emergencies, VWP travellers can request up to 30 days of ‘satisfactory departure’.
E‑class practice
E‑2/E‑1 practice varies by post. Consulates follow the FAM and their local checklists (business plans, source‑of‑funds tracing, corporate control, marginality). In the U.S., extensions/changes of status run through USCIS, with premium processing available (decision in 15 business days). Since late 2021, E‑spouses are employment‑authorised incident to status (I‑94 annotated E‑1S/E‑2S/E‑3S).
Tax, Social Security and treaties
Tax residence is by the statutory Substantial Presence Test (or green card). Regardless of where paid, wages for work actually performed in the U.S. are U.S.‑source. Many treaties have an employment‑income article that can exempt short U.S. stays only if multiple conditions are met (commonly: ≤183 days, pay by a non‑U.S. employer, pay not borne by a U.S. permanent establishment). Social Security generally follows where the work is performed; Totalization Agreements can assign coverage to the home system for a time‑limited posting if a certificate of coverage is obtained.
Banking, numbers and everyday admin
Banks must identify customers under the Customer Identification Program; a non‑U.S. passport is acceptable ID, though an ITIN is often requested for interest reporting. Those not eligible for an SSN can apply for an ITIN using Form W‑7 (with a return or an exception letter). Most states do not require address registration, but federal immigration rules require non‑citizens to notify USCIS of a new address within 10 days (AR‑11). The FCC has tightened SIM‑swap and number‑port security; there is no federal rule requiring ID to buy a prepaid SIM.
Researched from travel.state.gov · ecfr.io · help.cbp.gov · help.cbp.gov · travel.state.gov · fam.state.gov · law.cornell.edu · law.cornell.edu · travel.state.gov · irs.gov · the authority