Visa for moving to the USAThe optimal visa setup for your emigration
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If you're moving to the US, you'll need more than just a flight and a shipping container. Without the right US visa, you won't have the basis for your stay, work, customs clearance, and planning security. DACHSER & KOLB provides you with comprehensive information – from green cards and US work visas to family and investor visas.
When is ESTA no longer sufficient?
For permanent emigration to the USA with a change of residence, starting a new job, and moving household goods, the following applies:
✓ ESTA (Electronic System for Travel Authorization)/Visa Waiver is only intended for short, temporary stays (vacation/business), as is B1/B2.
✓ Moving with long-term prospects always requires a US visa or a Green Card.
Differences in the US visa system – immigrant vs. nonimmigrant
Immigrant Visa – Green Card as a goal
✓ Family-based: spouses, children, parents of US citizens
✓ Employment-based (EB-1–EB-3): highly skilled professionals, executives, specialists
✓ Diversity Visa (Green Card Lottery): annual quota, depending on country of origin
Nonimmigrant Visa – Working and Long-Term Stays as a Goal
✓ H-1B – US work visa for skilled workers: For academic professions/special occupations with a university degree or equivalent experience
✓ L-1 – Intra-company transfer: For managers, executives, and specialists who are transferring within a corporate group to a US entity
✓ E-1 / E-2 – Trade and investor visas: For business models involving significant trade or investment between the home country and the USA
✓ O-1 – Visa for extraordinary abilities: For individuals with proven outstanding achievements (science, art, sports, business)
Related topics
- Moving to the USA → Get a quote now!
- US customs regulations → Find out more now
- Emigrating to the USA? → All the important information
- Bringing your pet with you? → Import regulations
6 steps to obtaining the right visa for moving to the USA
- 1.
Sharpen the target image and time horizon
- Do you want to live permanently in the USA or is it a temporary assignment lasting several years?
- What role do family, household goods, job, property, schools, and long-term retirement provisions play?
- 2.
Define visa type
- Family case, employment case, investment case, or study case?
- Depending on the scenario, the set of meaningful visa categories quickly narrows.
- 3.
Onboarding sponsors and stakeholders
- Employers (for work visas), partners/relatives (for family visas), or investors/corporate structures (for E/EB categories).
- Early involvement of immigration lawyers is standard practice—the subject is too complex for a "do it yourself" approach.
- 4.
Prepare application documents
- Forms, supporting documents, financial records, employment contracts, proof of qualifications, expert opinions if applicable.
- Clear documentation—any inaccuracy will prolong the process.
- 5.
Interview & Approval
- Appointment at the relevant US embassy/consulate in your home country or country of residence.
- After approval: Visa issuance and preparation for entry (flight, I-94, start date, onboarding with employer, etc.).
- 6.
Visa timing with relocation & customs
Ideal scenario:
- Visa approved ✓
- Arrival date confirmed ✓
- Container/air freight scheduled so that your belongings arrive shortly after your arrival ✓
Which US visa do you need for your long-term stay?
Personal reasons
Family-based, employment-based green card, lottery
Job offer in the USA
H-1B (academic professionals), O-1 (skills), L-1, Green Card
Entrepreneurs & Investors
E-2 Investor, E-1 Trader, EB-5 Investor Model
Studies
F-1 Student Visa USA; J-1 (Exchange = temporary)
Common mistakes when applying for a visa to move to the US – and how to avoid them
- Wanting to "emigrate" with ESTA or a tourist visa
- Underestimating the time required for the green card or work visa process
- Choosing a visa category that does not match your actual living and working situation
- Sending household goods containers even though your visa status is still uncertain
- Lack of coordination between visa, customs, employer, and moving service provider
How DACHSER & KOLB supports you with visa setup for your move to the USA
Coordination and timing
Coordination of visa timing, entry date, and transport times
Consulting
Advice on synchronizing status, customs concept, and household goods strategy
Collaboration
Close cooperation with your immigration lawyers, HR departments, and relocation partners
Planning & Implementation
Planning and implementation of the entire move setup: packaging, transport, customs coordination, on-site delivery
Visas & Customs – Why your status is relevant for your household goods
Your visa or residence status is a critical parameter for the preferential or duty-free import of removal goods into the USA:
- The authorities expect your status to match the scope of your move.
- Anyone arriving with a container, furniture, and complete home furnishings should not have visitor or tourist status only.
- In many cases, there are preferential customs regulations for used household goods that have been in your possession for a long time and are not being resold—but these only apply if you have the appropriate long-term or immigrant status.
You can find more detailed information about customs regulations when moving to the US and how DACHSER & KOLB can assist you with customs clearance here.
Legal notice
This page provides clear guidance on the topic of visas for moving to the USA and is optimized for comprehensibility and practicality. It does not replace individual legal advice. Only the current information from the following sources is binding:
- U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS)
- U.S. Department of State
FAQ – The most frequently asked questions about visas for moving to the USA
What visa do I need to move permanently to the USA?＋
To move to the USA permanently, you will usually need an immigrant visa followed by a Green Card, for example through family reunification, an employment-based visa (EB categories), or the Diversity Visa Lottery.
Is ESTA or a B1/B2 visa sufficient if I want to emigrate to the USA?＋
Neither ESTA nor a B1/B2 visitor visa is sufficient for emigration involving a change of residence, starting a new job, and moving household goods, as these are only intended for short-term, non-permanent stays.
What visa do I need for a temporary job in the USA?＋
Depending on your profile, the most suitable work visas for a temporary job in the USA are H-1B for skilled workers, L-1 for intra-company transfers, O-1 for individuals with exceptional abilities, or E visas for traders and investors.
Which visa makes sense if I want to emigrate through my US partner or family?＋
If you are married to a U.S. citizen or have close relatives with U.S. citizenship, a family-based green card via a corresponding immigration visa is usually the appropriate route.
What visa do I need if I want to study first and then work in the US later?＋
If you want to study first and then work in the US later, you will typically start with an F-1 student visa and then switch to a longer-term status after graduation via a work visa such as H-1B or another suitable work visa.
Is there a special visa for entrepreneurs and investors in the USA?＋
For entrepreneurs and investors in the US, depending on their nationality and investment amount, the E-2 investor visa, the E-1 trade visa, and, for larger projects, the EB-5 investor green card are particularly relevant.
What visa do I need if I only want to work in the US for a few months?＋
If you only want to work in the USA for a few months, you will usually need a temporary work visa such as H-1B, L-1, O-1, or a special short-term visa for your profession. A visitor visa alone is not sufficient.
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