Yes, many non-U.S. citizens on a valid work visa can get an FHA loan. FHA does not require citizenship or a green card. It requires lawful residence in the U.S., a valid Social Security number, and work authorization. An FHA work visa home loan is underwritten like any other FHA purchase mortgage, with extra attention to your immigration documents and how long you are likely to stay.
The details decide outcomes: which documents you hold, how your visa expiration reads to an underwriter, how a thin U.S. credit file is handled, and which lender overlays apply. Duane Buziak, a mortgage broker who specializes in FHA financing, explains each of those below, along with a worked monthly payment on a Henrico County home.
Quick Answer: Which Work Visa Holders Can Use an FHA Loan
Quick answer: FHA does not require U.S. citizenship. A non-permanent resident can qualify with lawful U.S. residence, a valid Social Security number, and work authorization, as described in HUD Handbook 4000.1 (non-U.S. citizen borrower section). The home must be your primary residence. Confirm the current text at hud.gov before you apply, because HUD updates its guidance.
Work visa holders commonly seen in FHA files include H-1B (specialty occupation), L-1 (intracompany transferees), O-1 (extraordinary ability), TN (USMCA professionals), and E-3 (Australian specialty workers). Which category you hold matters less than whether your documentation is valid, unexpired, and consistent with your employment. A lender reviewing an H-1B file and a TN file asks largely the same questions: Are you lawfully here? Are you authorized to work? Is the income stable and likely to continue?
A few terms come up constantly:
- Lawful residency: your legal right to live in the U.S., shown through your visa status and entry records.
- EAD (Employment Authorization Document): a card issued by USCIS proving you may work in the U.S. Some visa holders have one, while others, such as H-1B workers, are authorized to work through their employer-specific status instead.
- I-94: your arrival and departure record, which shows your status and how long you are authorized to stay.
The occupancy rule
FHA loans are for primary residences only. You must intend to move in, generally within 60 days of closing, and live there as your main home. Investment properties and second homes are not eligible. If you are on a visa and might relocate for work within a year or two, that is worth discussing candidly, since the occupancy certification is a signed commitment. A later job transfer is not a violation if your intent at closing was genuine. FHA loan occupancy requirements are worth reviewing in full before you sign.
Documents and Visa Expiration: What Underwriters Check
Expect to provide a longer document list than a U.S. citizen would. A typical checklist:
- Valid passport
- Visa stamp or approval notice (such as the I-797)
- Most recent I-94 record
- EAD card, if you hold one
- Social Security card (a valid SSN is required, not an ITIN)
- Pay stubs covering the most recent 30 days
- W-2s for the past two years
- Federal tax returns for the past two years, where applicable
- Bank statements showing the source of your down payment
How visa expiration is read
HUD guidance directs the mortgage company to determine whether the borrower is likely to continue residing in the U.S. It does not set a fixed number of months that must remain on a visa. In practice, a visa expiring soon but backed by a history of renewals and ongoing employer sponsorship usually looks stronger than one with no such track record. Because handbook language is revised periodically, ask Duane to confirm the current wording for your situation instead of relying on summaries, including this one.
The most common mistake is assuming a visa ending within 12 months means automatic denial. It is a documentation question. A letter from your employer confirming your role, your continued employment, and its intent to file for renewal or extension can answer the underwriter’s concern directly. Prior approved extensions strengthen the file further.
Why visa type alone does not decide approval
Another misconception is that a given visa category either “works” or “doesn’t.” HUD sets the baseline, but individual mortgage companies add their own restrictions, called overlays. One company may want at least a year left on the visa, while another reviews the same file on renewal history and employer support. That variation is why access to many lenders matters more than the visa label. Duane Buziak works as a broker with access to 500+ wholesale lenders, so a file that one overlay rejects can be placed with a lender whose guidelines fit it. If you have already been turned down, these strategies for finding an FHA loan broker after a denial can help.
Credit History and Income for Newcomers to the U.S.
FHA credit minimums come from HUD Handbook 4000.1 (check hud.gov for the current text):
- 580 or higher: eligible for the minimum 3.5% down payment.
- 500 to 579: eligible with at least 10% down.
Individual lenders frequently set higher floors than HUD, often 620 or more, and that is an overlay, not an FHA rule. If one company turns you away at a 600 score, the loan is not necessarily out of reach. Our guide to finding a mortgage broker for FHA loans with bad credit covers this in more depth.
Thin or no U.S. credit
Many visa holders arrive with no U.S. credit score. FHA guidelines allow nontraditional credit: documented payment history on rent, utilities, renter’s or auto insurance, and phone service, typically covering 12 months. Foreign credit reports generally cannot substitute for a U.S. score, so do not count on a strong home-country record carrying the application. Starting a U.S. credit card or other tradeline early still helps, even if it will not season in time for your first purchase.
Income and work history
Underwriters typically look for a two-year employment history. That does not mean two years in the U.S. or two years with your current employer. Time abroad in the same field, or a recent change of employer within the same line of work, can often be explained with a written statement and supporting documents such as offer letters and prior pay records. Standard debt-to-income limits apply as with any FHA borrower. If you earn regular extra pay, see how to use overtime income to qualify for an FHA home loan. Foreign income that is not reflected in U.S. tax filings is generally difficult to use, so U.S. payroll income is what carries most files.
Checking your credit without a hard inquiry
Duane Buziak uses NoTouch Credit Pull, a soft pull with no hard inquiry, so you can see where you stand before anything touches your score. For someone building a first U.S. file, that matters: you learn whether you need nontraditional credit documentation or a few months of seasoning before you commit to a full application.
FHA Loan Limits and MIP Costs for Visa Holders
2026 FHA loan limits
Per HUD Mortgagee Letter 2025-23, the 2026 FHA limits for a one-unit home are:
- Floor (lower-cost areas): $541,287
- Ceiling (highest-cost areas): $1,249,125
Your county’s exact limit falls between those numbers. Look up your county on HUD’s FHA mortgage limits page at hud.gov before you shop, since limits are reset annually and I have not listed county-specific figures here. For more on how the numbers work, read our explainer on FHA loan limits vs. conforming loan limits.
Mortgage insurance premiums
Every FHA loan carries two kinds of mortgage insurance. The upfront mortgage insurance premium (UFMIP) is 1.75% of the base loan amount (HUD Mortgagee Letter 2015-01) and is usually financed into the loan. The annual MIP is charged monthly and varies by loan term, loan amount, and loan-to-value (LTV). Under HUD Mortgagee Letter 2023-05, the common tier, a 30-year loan with LTV above 95% and a base loan up to $726,200, carries an annual MIP of 0.55%. The full range across all tiers is 0.15% to 0.75%, listed in Handbook 4000.1, Appendix 1.0. That 0.55% applies only to the tier described, not to every FHA loan.
These figures reflect HUD’s published schedule as of 2026. HUD changes premiums by Mortgagee Letter, so recheck hud.gov before locking a payment estimate.
Down payment and sourcing funds
The minimum down payment is 3.5% with a 580+ score. Gift funds are allowed from approved donors, generally family members, with a signed gift letter and a paper trail. Every dollar must be documented and sourced. That is the sticking point for buyers moving money from abroad: expect to show the originating account, the transfer record, and the receiving account. Large deposits with no trail get questioned, so begin the transfers early and keep every statement.
Worked Example: Monthly Cost on a Henrico County Home
Here is an illustration, not a quote. Suppose you buy a $400,000 home in Henrico County, Virginia, with 3.5% down, and assume a 30-year fixed rate of 6.25%. That rate is purely illustrative as of October 2026 and will differ from what you are offered.
- Down payment (3.5%): $14,000
- Base loan: $386,000
- UFMIP (1.75%, financed): $6,755, for a total loan of $392,755
- Principal and interest: about $2,418 per month
- Annual MIP (0.55% tier): roughly $177 per month in the first year, estimated on the base loan
- Property tax: Henrico’s rate is $0.85 per $100 of assessed value (Henrico County real estate assessments, henrico.us/services/real-estate-assessments/). On an assumed $400,000 assessment, that is $3,400 a year, or about $283 per month
- Homeowners insurance: assumed at $1,500 a year, about $125 per month
The total estimated monthly payment is about $3,004. Actual assessed value may differ from the purchase price, so confirm the rate and assessment with the county before relying on this number.
For cash to close, assume closing costs and prepaid items of about 3% of the price, or $12,000. Add the $14,000 down payment and you get roughly $26,000. Seller credits can offset part of that, since FHA permits seller concessions up to 6% of the price. When credits cover the closing costs, that is what Duane calls no-out-of-pocket closing options, and it depends on the contract and the lender.
Why FHA fits this buyer
- Down payment: FHA is built around a 3.5% minimum with a 580+ score, with gift funds permitted.
- Thin U.S. credit: FHA guidelines explicitly allow nontraditional credit history, which suits someone who recently arrived.
- Credit flexibility: FHA accepts scores that many conventional programs would not, though lender overlays still apply.
The trade-off is mortgage insurance on every FHA loan, which is why the payment math above includes it from the start. For a broader look at the program’s strengths, see reasons an FHA loan might be the best mortgage for you.
State Notes and Working With Duane Buziak
Virginia and the Richmond metro
Property tax differs by county, and it moves the monthly payment more than many buyers expect. Current rates per $100 of assessed value:
- Henrico: $0.85 (henrico.us)
- Chesterfield: $0.89 (chesterfield.gov/823)
- Hanover: $0.81 (hanovercounty.gov/386)
On a $400,000 assessment, the gap between Hanover and Chesterfield is $320 a year. Stafford County’s rate is in transition, so confirm the current figure at staffordcountyva.gov instead of trusting an older number. Rates are set by local governments and can change each budget cycle.
Florida, Tennessee, Georgia, and D.C.
Duane is licensed in Virginia, Florida, Tennessee, Georgia, and the District of Columbia. In Florida, the homestead exemption under Florida Statute 196.031 can reduce the assessed value of a primary residence by up to $50,000, but it does not apply in your first year because you must own and occupy the home by January 1 to claim it. Budget for the full, un-exempted tax bill the first year.
Why a broker helps a visa holder
Duane Buziak is a mortgage broker, not a lender. That means he can compare FHA lenders whose overlays differ on visa length, credit score floors, and nontraditional credit. His Dare to Compare pricing challenge invites you to put any other quote next to his. If you are weighing your options, see these strategies to find the right FHA mortgage lender to work with.
To start, gather your passport, visa documents, I-94, EAD if you have one, SSN card, two years of W-2s, recent pay stubs, and bank statements. Then talk with FHA Mortgages by Duane Buziak, and use NoTouch Credit Pull to see your credit position with no hard inquiry. The guide to applying for an FHA loan walks through the full process.
FAQ: Work Visa FHA Loan Questions
Can I get an FHA loan on an H-1B?
Yes, in many cases. Lawful residence, a valid SSN, work authorization, and stable income are the core requirements, and an H-1B can meet all of them.
Do I need a green card?
No. Permanent residency is not required, though non-permanent residents must document lawful status and work authorization.
Does my visa need to be valid for a certain period?
HUD guidance asks whether you are likely to continue residing in the U.S. and sets no universal minimum. Some lenders set their own, so a broker can look for one that fits.
Can I use foreign income?
Generally, U.S. payroll income documented by pay stubs, W-2s, and tax returns is what qualifies. Foreign income that is not part of your U.S. tax filings is typically hard to count.
Can I use a foreign credit history?
Generally not as a replacement for a U.S. credit score. FHA allows nontraditional credit instead, such as rent, utilities, and insurance payments.
Can DACA recipients qualify?
HUD’s policy on this has shifted recently, so no one should assume an answer. As of 2026, contact Duane to confirm the current HUD position before you spend time on an application.
Can I buy while my renewal is pending?
It depends on your documents and the lender. A filed extension with employer support may be workable, but this is an area where lenders differ, so verify before making an offer.
Can I use gift funds from family overseas?
Gifts from eligible donors are allowed with a gift letter, but the transfer must be documented from source to receiving account. Start the transfer early.
A Work Visa Does Not Close the Door on FHA Financing
Holding an H-1B, L-1, TN, or similar visa does not by itself block an FHA loan. Documentation and lender overlays decide the outcome: clear immigration records, a sourced down payment, steady U.S. income, and a lender whose guidelines fit your visa timeline. The right match can be the difference between a quick approval and a frustrating denial.
Ready to take the first step toward homeownership with an FHA loan tailored to your needs? Schedule your free consultation today and discover how our award-winning team can help you navigate the path to your new home with competitive rates and expert guidance. FHA Mortgages by Duane Buziak offers 500+ wholesale lender access, NoTouch Credit Pull (a soft pull with no hard inquiry), the Dare to Compare pricing challenge, and no-out-of-pocket closing options where seller credits allow. Call 804-212-8663 or visit 4860 Cox Rd, Glen Allen, VA 23060.
