Temporary Non Immigrant Visa Categories
B-1/B-2 Visitor's Visa - Available to visitors travelling to the US for business or as a visitor for a holiday. B-1 business visitor visas are for a short duration and employment is not allowed. Nationals of certain countries may
be eligible to visit the US for up to 90 days without obtaining a visa under the Visa Waiver Program. For example, passport holders from France, the UK, Australia etyc are eligible to apply online for the ESTA (Electronic System for Travel Authorization) Visa Waiver, which must
be applied for prior to departure as a pre security check.
E-1/E-2 Trader and Investor Visas - Investors and traders and their employees may receive visas to carry on their businesses in the US if their country of residence has a commercial treaty with the US
conferring visa eligibility. There must be substantial trade of goods or services, principally between the US and the treaty country and substantial investment in the US, in a commercial enterprise.
F-1 and M-1 Student Visas - Persons seeking to pursue a full course of study at a school in the United States may be eligible for a visa for the course of their study plus, in some cases, a period for practical training in their field of study. Fees are
payable to the educational institution issuing the Form I-20 after acceptance to the school. However, we can assist students to obtain B-2 prospective student status and then file for change of status after arrival in the US.
H-1B Specialty Occupation Visas (Professionals with college degrees or equivalent) - Professional workers with at least a bachelor's degree may be eligible for a non-immigrant employment visa if their US employer demonstrates that they will pay at least the prevailing wage
and that the position is a "specialty occupation".
H-2B Visas for Seasonal, One time or Intermittent Employment - This category is often utilized by employers who have a short term and/or on-going employment needs to fill seasonal peaks in businesses. Hotels, restaurants, manufacturers and those in resort areas
utlize this category. One petition may cover many alens in the same job classification.
J-1 and Q-1 Exchange Visitor Visas - Persons coming to the US with an approved exchange program may be eligible for the J-1 Exchange Visitor's visa. J-1 programs often cover students, short term scholars, business trainees, teachers, professors, and research scholars, business trainees,
teachers, professors and research scholars, specialists, international visitors, government visitors, camp counselors and au pairs. In some cases, participation in a J-1 program will be coupled with the requirement that the beneficiary return home for at least two years before being permitted to switch to a different non-immigrant visa or to permanent residency. The Q-1 visa
is intended as a cultural exchange visa and applies only to certain professions.
B-1/B-2 Visitor's Visa - Available to visitors travelling to the US for business or as a visitor for a holiday. B-1 business visitor visas are for a short duration and employment is not allowed. Nationals of certain countries mayscholars
be eligible to visit the US for up to 90 days without obtaining a visa under the Visa Waiver Program. For example, passport holders from France, the UK, Australia etyc are eligible to apply online for the ESTA (Electronic System for Travel Authorization) Visa Waiver, which must
be applied for prior to departure as a pre security check.
K-1 Fiancee Visas or K-3 Visa for Spouses of US Citizens - A Fiancee of a US citizen is eligible for a non-immigrant visa conditioned on the conclusion of the marriage within 90 days.
L-1 Intra Company Transfer Visas - L-1 visas are available to executives, managers and specialized knowledge employees transferring to their employer's US affiliate. Executives and managers holding L-1 visas may be eligible for permanent residency without the need for a
labor certification.
O-1 Extraordinary Ability Worker Visas - The O-1 category is set aside for foreign nationals with extraordinary ability. This includes entertainers, athletes, professors, researchers, scientists and business persons.
P-1 Artists and Athletes Visas - This category covers high level athletes, artists and entertainers who are participating in events, exhibitions, tournaments or competitions and who may coach or teach incidental to these events.
R-1 Religious Worker Visa - This visa category covers religious workers, such as Priests, religious scholars etc.
TN Status Under the North American Free Trade Agreement - This is a special category that has been established for nationals of Canada and Mexico under the provisions of the North America Free Trade Agreement. Professionals whose occupation appears on the TN skills list may come to work under the TN status if a US employee offers a position.
Permanent Residency Visas ( "Green Cards")
Family Sponsored Immigration - US Citizens may petition for their foreign relatives including spouses, parents, children and siblings. Permanent residents may also petition for spouses and children.
Employment Visa - EB-1 Foreign Nationals of Extraordinary Ability, Outstanding Professors and Researchers and Multinational Executives and Managers - Individuals who qualify for this category can petition for permanent residency without having to go through the time consuming labor certification process.
Employment Visa - EB-2 Workers with Advanced Degrees or Exceptional Ability in the Sciences, Arts or Business - Visa holders in this category normally must have a job offer and the potential employer must complete the labor certification process. The labor certification involves a testing of the job market to demonstrate that the potential visa holder is not taking a job away from a US worker.
In cases where an individual can show that his work is in the national interest, the job offer and labor certification requirements can be waived.
Employment Visa - EB-3 Skilled Workers and Professionals - Visa holders in this category must have a job offer and the potential employer must complete the labor certification process.
Employment Visa - EB-4 Special Immigrants and Visas for Religious Workers - Ministers of Religious organizations are eligible for permanent residency as well as others who meet the definition of "special immigrants" including returning reidents, persons seeking re-acquisition of US citizenship, US employees abroad in the foreign service, Panama Canal
Treaty employees, commuters from border, foreign medical graduates practicing since 1978, G-4 retired officers, court depenents, persons who served in active duty in US armed forces for 12 years, NATO - 6 employees, Broadcaters entering to work for the BBG.
Employment Visa - EB-5 Investor/Employment Creation Visas - Congress has set aside up to 10,000 visas per year for foreign investors in new commercial enterprises who create employment for 10 individuals. This means that fast track immigration opportunities exist for foreign nationals investing $1 million dollars in a newly established
United States business. Benefits to a foreign national who qualifies for a green card through investment include allowing the foreign national's spouse and unmarried children under age 21 to also qualify for green cards as accompanying relatives. In addition to the visa applicvation process, we assist with the corporate structure requirements and United States tax and immigration compliance.
DV-1 Visas (the "Green card Lottery") - 55,000 visas are annually allotted in a random drawing to individuals from nations under represented in the total immigrant pool. The application form is free, however if selected, the applicant and his/her family members must then either apply for Adjustment of Status or Consular process.
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