The following chart lists, by COA code, non-immigrants authorized to work in the U.S.
without specific authorization from DHS. The alien's I-94 showing one of the following COAs
has employment authorization unless otherwise noted. The I-94 will not have the DHS employment authorization stamp and the alien will generally not have an EAD.
The visa of the principal alien generally shows the basis for the visa, e.g., “treaty trader” or an employer's name, while the visa of a spouse or child may show an annotation
that the person is a “dependent of the p.a.” (p.a. means principal alien).
For COAs displaying an asterisk (*), the principal alien, spouse, and child all have the same classification code.
In some instances, the husband and wife are principal aliens when the classification
is E-1 and E-2.
When all family members have the same COA, ask the SSN applicant if he or she is the
family member who is the principal alien, spouse, or the child of the principal alien.
For COAs displaying a double asterisk (**) (non-immigrant E-1, E-2, and L-2 classifications), the spouse is also authorized
to work without specific DHS authorization.
When the E-1, E-2, or L-2 spouse applies for an SSN card and does not submit an EAD
as evidence of employment authorization, he or she must submit, in addition to evidence
of lawful alien status, evidence of a marital relationship to the principal E-1, E-2,
or L-1 alien. The evidence of marital relationship between the applicant and the principal
E-1, E-2, or L-1 alien is a marriage document. The marriage document must indicate
the marriage occurred, either: 1) prior to admission to the U.S. as an E-1, E-2, or
L-2 non-immigrant; or, 2) prior to extension or change of status to an E-1, E-2 or
L-2 non-immigrant.
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Class of Admission
|
Description
|
|
A-1*
|
Ambassador, public minister, career diplomat, or consular officer (principal).
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A-2*
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Other foreign government official or employee (principal).
|
|
A-3*
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Attendant, servant, or personal employee of principal A-1, or A-2 (principal).
|
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CW1
|
Transitional worker (principal).
NOTE: Valid Only in the Commonwealth of the Northern Mariana Islands (CNMI). See RM 10210.684B.
|
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E-1*
|
Treaty trader (principal).
|
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E-1**
|
Spouse of principal E-1.
The alien must submit either:
-
•
an EAD (Form I-766) showing “A-17” under Category; or
-
•
evidence other than an EAD that proves the E-1's lawful alien status (e.g., I-94)
and a marriage document as evidence that he or she is the spouse of the principal E-1
alien.
|
|
E-2*
|
Treaty investor (principal)
|
|
E-2**
|
Spouse of principal E-2.
The alien must submit either:
-
•
an EAD (Form I-766) showing “A-17” under Category; or
-
•
evidence other than an EAD that proves the E-2's lawful alien status (e.g., I-94)
and a marriage document as evidence that he or she is spouse of the principal E-2 alien.
|
|
E2C
|
Long-term business investor or foreign investor (principal).
NOTE: Valid Only in the CNMI. See RM 10210.676C.
|
|
E-3*
|
Certain specialty occupation professionals from Australia.
|
|
E-3R
|
Returning E-3 principal alien.
|
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F-1
|
Academic student for on-campus employment and DSO-authorized curricular practical
training. See RM 10211.240.
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F-3
|
Canadian or Mexican national academic student who commutes to school in the U.S. DSO-authorized
for DSO authorized curricular practical training. See RM 10211.255.
|
|
G-1*
|
Resident representative of recognized foreign member government to an international
organization (principal).
|
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G-2*
|
Other temporary representative of recognized foreign member government to an international
organization (principal).
|
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G-3*
|
Representative of unrecognized or nonmember foreign government to an international
organization (principal).
|
|
G-4*
|
Representative of international organization (officer or employee) (principal).
|
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G-5*
|
Attendant, servant, or personal employee of principal G-1, G-2, G-3, or G-4.
|
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H-1B
|
Worker in a specialty occupation.
|
|
H-1B1
|
Temporary worker in a specialty occupation.
|
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H-2A
|
Agricultural worker.
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H-2B
|
Non-agrarian seasonal worker.
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H-3
|
Trainee.
|
|
I*
|
Foreign information media representative (principal).
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J-1
|
Exchange visitor (pursuant to an approved program). See RM 10211.340. An exchange visitor whose DS-2019 shows the category as “student,” “student intern,” or “international visitor” in item 4 of the form must provide a letter from the program sponsor as evidence
of authority to work. Otherwise, presume the employment authorization is part of the
J-1's exchange program.
|
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K-1
|
Fiancé(e) of U.S. citizen.
|
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L-1
|
Intra-company transferee.
|
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L-1A
|
Intra-company Transferee Managers and Executives.
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L-1B
|
Intra-company Transferee Specialized Knowledge.
|
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L-2**
|
Spouse of an intra-company transferee.
The alien must submit either:
-
•
an EAD (Form I-766) showing “A-18” under Category; or
-
•
evidence other than an EAD that proves the L-2's lawful alien status (e.g., I-94)
and a marriage document as evidence that he or she is the spouse of the principal L-1
alien.
|
|
NATO-1 through 6*
|
NATO officer, representative, or personnel (principal).
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NATO-7*
|
Attendant, servant, or personal employee of principal NATO-1 through 6 (principal).
|
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O-1
|
Alien with extraordinary ability in sciences, arts, education, business, or athletics.
|
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O-2
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Alien accompanying O-1.
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P-1
|
Internationally recognized athlete or entertainer in an internationally recognized
group.
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P-2
|
Artist or entertainer in an exchange program.
|
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P-3
|
Artist or entertainer in a culturally unique program.
|
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Q-1
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Cultural exchange visitor.
|
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Q-2
|
Irish Peace Process Cultural and Training Program Visitor.
|
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R-1
|
Religious worker with a nonprofit religious organization.
|
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TC
|
Professional business person, United States-Canada Free Trade Act (FTA).
|
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TN
|
Professional business person from Canada or Mexico, North American Free Trade Agreement
(NAFTA).
|
|
TN-1
|
Professional business person from Canada, North American Free Trade Agreement (NAFTA).
|
|
TN-2
|
Professional business person from Mexico, North American Free Trade Agreement (NAFTA).
|
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Refugee
|
Alien admitted pursuant to section 207 of the Immigration and Nationality Act (INA).
The I-766 shows “A-3” under Category.
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Asylee
|
Asylee under 208 of the INA.
The I-766 shows “A-5” under Category.
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