OUR IMMIGRATION SOLUTIONS
Our practice is focused on preparing family and employment-based visas and green cards. This includes preparing marriage-based green card applications, fiance visa applicants, and individual work visas.
For corporate clients, we are happy to develop your immigration and international assignment strategy with you.
L-1A / L-1B - Intercompany Transferees
L-1 visas are visas available to company employees who are transferring from a position abroad to a position within the US. The companies must be related - either as a parent, subsidiary, affiliate or branch - and the employee must have either been employed as a manager or executive or as a specialized knowledge professional.
O-1 - Extraordinary Ability
O-1 visas are available for individuals who are accomplished in their field or specialty, such as the arts, sciences, business, athletics. However, O-1 visas are extremely versatile and can be an excellent fit for professionals in the majority of fields.
H-1B - Speciality Occupation
H-1B visas are versatile visas that can be used for professionals in a variety of fields. To qualify, applicants must possess a U.S. bachelor's degree (or a foreign equivalent) and a job offer from a US firm.
The majority of H-1B petitions are subject to the annual H-1B lottery, which takes place in April. Certain H-1B applicants are exempt from the lottery, including those who are applying to extend their previous H-1Bs, switch employers, or work for non-profit institutions.
B-1 in lieu of H-1B - Short term, "project" visa
B-1 in lieu of H-1B visas are temporary nonimmigrant visas that allow applicants, who would oridinarily qualify for an H-1B visa, to skip the Labor Condition Application filing and apply for a temporary, short-term work visa. B-1 in lieu of H-1B petitions are excellent options for those needing short-term, temporary work authorization in the US.
E-1/ E-2 - Treaty Trader and Treaty Investor
E-1 and E-2 visas are available to nationals of countries that have trader or investor treaties with the United States. For E-1 visas, applicants must be planning to work with a US business that is owned by at least 50% of citizens of the foreign treaty country. E-1 visas are available to the principal owners or critical employees of the business. E-2 visas are available to applicants of countries with an investor treaty with the US and must be coming to the US to work for a US enterprise that is funded by a substantial cash investment from nationals of the treaty country. The applicant must either own the applicant or be a essential employee of the business.
TN - Canadian and Mexican Professionals
TN visas are a special visa available to Canadian and Mexican professionals in a variety of fields. Very similar to H-1B visas, TN visas require applicants to have a Bachelor's degree or job experience and a US job offer to apply.
P-1- Athletes and Entertainers
P-1 visas are available for athletes or athletic teams who have been internationally recognized or individuals who play an integral role with an internationally-recognized entertainment group.
P-3 - Culturally Unique Artists and Entertainers
P-3 visas are available for artists, entertainers and their support personnel who come to perform, develop or coach culturally unique programs.
R-1 - Temporary Religious Worker
R-1 visas are available for applicants to work in the US as a minister, priest, rabbi, lay missionary or other religious occupation. The employing religious institution must be a non.profit and the individual must have worked for the religious organization for at least the past two years to qualify.
EMPLOYMENT-BASED GREEN CARDS
EB-1 - Extraordinary Ability
The criteria for this green card category is very similar to the O-1 visa and requires applicants to be accomplished and at the top of their field. These green cards do not require a US sponsor and applicants can "self-sponsor" themselves for this petition.
EB-1 - Outstanding Researcher
These green cards are available for researchers working in academia, non-profits or in private industry. To qualify, applicants must have at least three years of prior teaching or research experience and evidence at least two of the regulatory criteria, inclduing: receipt of a major prize or award, membership in associations that require outstanding achievement, published materials about the applicant's work, serving as a judge of others within the field, evidence of original scholarly research contributions, or authorship of scholarly articles.
EB-1 - Multinational Managers and Executives
This green card category is most similar to the L-1 nonimmigrant visa. To qualify, applicants must have been employed by a foreign office of the US employer for at least one year and be offered a permanent position to work in a managerial or executive capacity with the US entity.
EB-2 - National Interest Waivers
These green cards allow applicants to "skip" the labor certification process, if they can demonstrate that they have an advanced degree and that their work will benefit the national interest of the United States. Like the EB-1, these applicants may self-petition and do not require a US employer sponsor.
EB-2 & EB-3 - Labor Certification (PERM) Based Green Cards
PERM is a form of labor certification required by the Department of Labor. PERM-based green cards must be sponsored by a US employer. To qualify, employers must demonstrate that there are no qualified, able and willing US workers to fill a position and that employing the applicant will not negatively affect the wages of other employees.
FAMILY-BASED GREEN CARDS
I-130 - Immediate Relatives
US citizens are able to sponsor their immediate relatives (spouses, minor children, and parents) for green cards in the United States. U.S. citizens can sponsor same-sex spouses for green cards as well.
I-130 - Non-immediate Relatives
U.S. citizens can also sponsor non-immediate relatives, such as unmarried sons and daughters of US over age 21, spouses and minor children of green card holders, unmarried sons and daughters of green card holders, married sons and daughters of US citizens, and brothers and sisters of US citizens. There are often lengthy wait periods for these applicants, who must wait to file their green card applications until their priority date is current.
I-751 - Removing Conditions on Permanent Residence through Marriage
Permanent residents who received their green cards through marriage typically only receive a green card valid for two years. In order to obtain a green card valid for 10 years, with "conditions" removed, applicants must file an I-751 application.
CITIZENSHIP AND NATURALIZATION
N-400 - Naturalization
In the majority of cases, naturalization applicants must have held a green card in the United States for the five years immediately before applying for citizenship.
Green card holders who received permanent residency through marriage must only have been permanent residents for three continuous years before applying for citizenship.
STUDENT AND TRAINEE VISAS
J-1 - Trainee, Student, Intern, Au Pair, Researcher
J-1 visas are issued to applicants who will be participating in programs that promote cultural exchange between the US and the applicant's home country. To qualify, applicants must be sponsored by a university, employer or a government program and apply through a J-1 sponsoring entity.
CONSULAR AND USCIS INTERVIEW PREPARATION
U.S. Consular Interview
As part of the application process for a non-immigrant visa stamp or an immigrant visa, you will need to attend an interview at a U.S. consulate overseas. Our team can prepare you for this interview so that you can complete the interview confidently.
Adjustment of Status Interview
As of recently, employment-based green card applicants will need to undergo an interview at a USCIS office prior to their green cards being issued. Our team can prepare you for this interview so that you feel comfortable and know what documents to bring and what questions will be asked. Our team is happy to accompany you and represent you at the interview, if requested.