Types of Visas
Domestic Employee (Maid)
A personal or domestic employee is someone who accompanies or follows to join an employer who is seeking admission into, or is already in the United States. For employees whose employer holds a valid B, E, F, H, I, J, L, M, O, P or Q nonimmigrant visa, they must obtain a B-1 nonimmigrant visa. Employees accompanying or following to join an employer who is a diplomat or traveling on official business would receive either an A-3 (for US-specific official travel) or G-5 (for United Nations travel) nonimmigrant visa.
Applicants should request an interview at the U.S. Embassy or U.S. Consulate with jurisdiction over their area of legal residence. For example, those applying in Qatar should be Qatari citizens or hold legal Qatari residence permits and be able to demonstrate strong economic, familial and/or social ties to the country. In order to apply for the visa, employees and their employers must meet the following qualifications:
The employee has a residence abroad that he or she has no intention of abandoning.
The employee can demonstrate at least one year’s experience as a personal or domestic employee, and
The employee has been employed abroad by the employer as a personal or domestic employee for at least one year prior to the date of the employer’s admission to the United States or
If the employee-employer relationship existed immediately prior to the time of visa application, the employer can demonstrate that he or she has regularly employed (either year-round or seasonally) personal or domestic employees over a period of several years preceding the domestic employee’s visa application for a nonimmigrant visa.
During the visa interview, employees will be expected to discuss their work history and current terms of employment. The employee’s sponsor should appear for the interview as well and should expect to discuss the terms of employment, in the United States and Qatar, with the adjudicating Consular Officer. Each employee must provide a contract that meets U.S. labor laws, is signed by the employee and employer and establishes the following:
- The employee is guaranteed the prevailing wages for their position (ex: maid, driver, etc.) in the particular city in the United States where they will be posted, along with free room and board.
- The employer will be the only provider of employment to the employee.
The employer must pay the domestic employee’s initial travel expenses to the United States, and subsequently to the employer’s onward assignment, or to the employee’s country of normal residence at the termination of the assignment.
The employee will work only 40 hours per week with 2 days off for the weekend.
The employee will work only for his/her employer.
The employee will have freedom of movement and will not be restricted to remain with the employer on weekends and holidays.
The employee’s passport will remain with the employee and will not be held by the employer.
The employee must acknowledge that they have received the hotline telephone number used to report the abuse of domestic help in the U.S. (1-888-373-7888) and that they know how to call for emergency services in the U.S. (9-1-1).
The current prevailing wage in Washington, D.C. is $9.47/hour, New York City $6.51/hour, Miami $7.20/hour, Chicago $7.20/hour, and Los Angeles $7.66/hour.
For information on the prevailing wage in the area of the United States where you will be visiting or resident, please go to: http://www.flcdatacenter.com.
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General Visa Information
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