Our client-oriented working ethics have enable us to find the most cost-efficient solutions for our clients. We strive to provide quality legal representation to our clients at competitive rates. We work hard to keep our clients up to date with all important legal developments because we want our clients to be fully informed about their cases. Therefore, we follow-up and return phone calls on a regular basis.
We provide represent clients regarding green card attainment, adjustments of status, employment-based visas, family-based immigration, naturalization and citizenship, student visas, and much more. Please refer to the list at the bottom for different types of visa we represent. Click on each visa to learn more!
Employment-Based Visa
- Non-Immigrant Visa
- Visitor Visas—B1/B2
- Visa Waiver Program
- Temporary Visa for Studying Program—F1, M1, J
- Temporary Work Visa—H1B, H1C, H1A, H2B, H3, I, L1A, L1B, O1, P!A, P!B, P2, P3, Q, R1, TN status.
- Immigrant Visa—Permanent Workers
- EB1, EB2, EB3, EB4, EB5
Family-Based Visa
- Immediate Relatives
- F1, F2A, F2B, F3, F4
- K1, K3
OTHER VISAS
- DACA
- Asylum
- VAWA—Violence Against Women Act
- U Visa
- T Visa
- Special Immigrant Juvenile
- Humanitarian Parole
Adjustment of Status
- For Employment-Based
- For Family Based
Citizenship and Naturalization
EMPLOYMENT-BASED:
NON-IMMIGRANT VISA
- Visitor Visas
- Individuals entering the United States as visitors for business or pleasure may enter with a temporary nonimmigrant visa.
- B-1 visa is for temporary business visits such as contract negotiation, consultation with business associates, litigation, participation in educational conference or seminars, and etc.
- B-2 visa is for temporary pleasure visits such as attend a graduation of loved ones, meet friends/relatives, tourist attraction, and so on.
- Extensions for B-1/B-2 Visas: for applicant who wish to stay longer than the allotted period, he/she may apply for extension of the current status or to change the status.
- Visa Waiver program (VWP) allow business visitors and tourists from certain countries to visit the United States for 90 days without the need to apply for a visa. Applicant may not change of status or extend his/her stay.
- Temporary Visas for Studying:
- F-1 Visa: This visa is for alien who wish to study full-time at an academic institution such as university, academic high school, elementary school, private school or language institute. The school must be authorized by the U.S. government to accept international students—approved by the Student and Exchange Visitors Program, Immigration & Customs Enforcement. F-2 visas are for spouses and children of F-1 individuals.
- M Visa: This visa is for individuals who want to attend an proved course of study leading to a specific vocation or nonacademic programs other than for language training. The individuals must participate in a full course of study.. M-2 visas are for spouses and children of M1 visas. Any off-campus employment must be related to their area of study and must be authorized prior to starting any work by the Designated School Official.
- J Visa: This visa is commonly known as the Exchange Visitor visa and this visa is for student who wants to intern to work or train with an company that has been approved for an exchange program (approved exchange sponsor designated by USCIS). It is for individuals who want to participate in teaching, instructing or lecturing, studying, observing, conducting research, consulting, demonstrating special skills, receiving training, or to receive graduate medical education or training.
- Examples of exchange visitor: professors/scholar, research assistants, students, trainees, teachers, specialist, nannies, and camp counselor.
- Temporary Work H Visas:
- H-1B Visa: this is a specialty occupation visa. H1-B is the most utilized H visa in the practice. This visa is for individuals who are offered a position with a U.S. employer to work for that employer as long as the position is in their field. Importantly, H-1B visa requires the attainment of at least a bachelor’s degree or the worker may be qualify based on years of employment experience that is equivalent to a bachelor’s degree. Congress has established an annual fiscal year limitation of 65,000 on the number of available H1-B visas commonly known as the “H1-B cap.” Out of the 65,000 visas, 6,800 visas are annually set aside for the Chile/Singapore H1-B program. Based on the H1-B Visa Reform Act of 2004, the first 20,000 H1-B petitions filed on behalf of aliens holding U.S. earned master’s or higher degrees will be exempt from the annual cap of H1-B visas.
- H1-B exemption: According to the USCIS, new H1-B employment are exempt from the annual cap if the aliens will be employed at the institutions of higher education or related or affiliated not-for-profit entities, or not-for-profit research organizations or governmental research organizations. Therefore, employers may file petitions for these H1-B categories at any time during the fiscal year.
- H2A Visa: Agricultural Workers: this visa is for agricultural workers to work in the U.S. in temporary or seasonal positions.
- H-2B Unskilled Foreign Worker Visa: This visa is for unskilled foreign worker to work in the US for a temporary period to fill an offered non-agricultural position that does not require any specific studies or experience.
- H-3 Trainee Visa: This visa is for individuals to come to the United States temporarily to receive instruction and training from the company in the United States. The training received must the necessary and applicable for them to use their skills abroad and the type of training they will be participated in the US is not available in their own country.
- H-1C Visa: This visa is for registered nurse working in a Health professional shortage area, which is determined by the Department of Labor. However, this classification expired as of December 20, 2009.
- I Visa: This visa is for representative of foreign media such as press, radio, film, and other foreign information media. The representative is coming to the US for the sole purpose of engaging in press, radio, film, or other foreign information media. Examples of such individuals are reporters, film crews, editors, and similar occupations.
- TN STATUS: This TN Status is for certain Canadian and Mexican citizens to temporarily work for an employer in the U.S. under the North American Free Trade Agreement (NAFTA). The position must be listed on a list of approvable occupations.
- E Visa: This visa requires that there must be a treaty between the US for trade or commerce, which means that only certain citizens or nationals of certain countries are eligible for this type of visa. There are two categories under the E visa—E1 and E2.
- E-1 Visa: this visa is for individuals who is doing substantial trade with the US, which commonly known as “Trader Visa.” Trader must be a citizen of certain country that has a treaty with the U.S.. The treaty trader must carry on “principal trade” between the U.S. and the treaty country (more than 50% of the international trade involved must be between the U.S. and the treaty country). Treaty trader must possess essential and specialized skills to operate the firm. Some examples of types of enterprise are international banking, insurance, transportation, tourism, and communications.
- E-2 Visa: This visa is for individuals who directing an investment or is investing in a new or existing company in the US. Commonly known as the “investor visa.” Investor must demonstrate that the investment is not for marginal business (must generate profit) and not for mere purchase of real estate. Additionally, investors must demonstrate that the funds he invest must be that of his own and the investment must be for a substantial amount of capital in an company or enterprise in the U.S.. At least 50% of the business must be owned by the treaty investor. The investor must be coming to the U.S. to develop and direct the investment company. The investor must show that the funds used to invest have not been obtained through criminal means. The investment funds must be subject to loss or at risk if the investment fails for any reason.
- E-3 Visa: Specialty Occupation—Australian Aliens: This visa is pursuant to the Australian Free Trade Agreement. This visa is for nationals of Australia coming to the U.S. solely for performance of a specialty occupation. Spouses of E-# principal beneficiaries are not required to be Australian nationals and are eligible to apply for work authorization.
- L Visa: this visa is for temporary worker at a subsidiary of a foreign company. There are two types of L visa—L-1A and L-1B. L1-A is for intra-company transferee manager or executive and L1B is for intra-company transferee with specialized knowledge and skills. L2 visas are for the accompanying spouses and children of the L1 visas. The U.S. company must be the petitioner and must be the subsidiary or affiliate of foreign company.
- O-1 Visa: This type of visa is for individuals who possesses extraordinary ability in the sciences, arts, education, business, or athletics, or someone who has been recognized or demonstrate extraordinary ability in motion picture or television. There are four types of O visas—O-1A, O-1B, O-2, and O-3.
- O-1A: these individuals possess extraordinary ability in sciences, education, business, or athletics NOT including the arts, motion pictures or television industry.
- O-1B: these individuals possess extraordinary ability in arts or extraordinary achievement in motion picture/tv industry.
- O-2: these individuals who will accompany an O-1 for a specific event and who is there to assist in the event—support staff of Artists and Athletes.
- O-3: these individuals are the spouses or children of O-1 and O-2 visa holders.
- P Visas: This type of visa is for internationally recognized athlete performing at a major athletic event as individuals athlete or as part of a group/team. Additionally, this visa is for artist or member of entertainment group that is internationally recognized.
- P-1 Visa is for Athletes, Athletic Teams, and Entertainment groups. P1A: is for internationally recognized athlete. P1B is for member of internationally recognized entertainment group.
- P-2 Visa is for Artists and Entertainer Reciprocal Exchange between the U.S. and foreign organization. The program must a government recognized reciprocal exchange program.
- P-3 Visa is for Artists and Entertainers integral to performance such as artist or entertainer whose performance, teaching, or coaching is integral to the performance of a group under a program that is culturally unique.
- Q Cultural Exchange Visa: This type of visa is for international cultural exchange program designated by USCIS. This visa is for the purpose of training, employment, and share of history/culture/traditions of your home country to the US. This visa is for employer who administer cultural exchange program to petition.
- R-1 Visa: this type of visa is for religious worker to work as a minister or other religious vocation.
IMMIGRANT VISA—path to green cards
- EB1: This type of visa has three sub-category—extraordinary ability, outstanding professors/researchers, or intracompany transfer of executives or managers. This is visa is for priority worker and is first preference.
- Extraordinary ability is for priority workers in sciences, arts, education, business, or athletics. The alien may self-petition.
- Outstanding Professors and Researchers is for priority workers who are recognized internationally for their outstanding academic achievements in particular field.
- International Executives and managers is for priority workers who are executives, managers, and employees of foreign companies or affiliates who are transferred to the US.
- EB2: This type of visa has two sub-category—professional with Advanced Degrees or Exceptional Ability. This is the visa with secondary preference.
- Professionals with Advanced Degrees are individuals with any degree above baccalaureate degree or baccalaureate degree and at least five years of progressive experience in the profession.
- Exceptional ability individuals in sciences, arts, or business means a degree of expertise significantly above that ordinarily in those field.
- National Interest Waiver: Alien is requesting that the Labor certification be waived because it is in the interest of the U.S. National interest waiver usually granted to those with exceptional ability and whose employment in the U.S. would greatly benefit the nation.
- Family of EB2 may be admitted to U.S. under E-21 and E-22 immigrant status.
- EB3: This type of visa is for skilled workers, professionals, and other workers.
- Professional are individuals in this area must have at least a U.S. baccalaureate degree.
- Skilled workers are individuals in this area must with at least two years training or experience and no qualified workers in US available for the position.
- Other workers: are unskilled workers, not for temporary nature and for which no other qualified workers are available in the US.
- EB4: this type of visa is for special immigrants/religious worker. Individuals must be a member of religious group for at least two years before filing the application. Religious workers include chorus leaders, religious instructors, cantors, missionaries, and religious broadcasters.
- EB5: this type of visa is for Investors and for the purpose of employment creation visa. It allow the investors to immigrate to the US to increase employment opportunities for the US. Individuals must have at least $500,000-1,000,000 designated for investment and with the intention of hiring 10 US workers.
What is the difference between E-2 Visa vs. EB5 green card investment?
FAMILY-BASED VISAS
IMMIGRANT VISA
- Immediate Relatives OF US CITIZENS: spouse, children (under 21), and parents can obtain visa number immediately on the day they filed for petition.
- F1: this category is for unmarried sons and daughter of USC who is 21 or older.
- F2A: this category is for spouse and children of LPR
- F2B: this category is for unmarried Sons and Daughters of LPR.
- F3: this category is for married sons and daughters of USC
- F4: this category is for Brother and sister of USC
Non-Immigrant Visa:
- K1: this type of visa is for fiancé of USC.
- K3-4: this type of visa is for spouse and minor children of USC.
- OTHER VISAS
- DACA—Deferred Adjudication of Childhood Arrival: this is known as the Dream Act. This is for children who has no intent for illegal entry and was brought to the US at when they were young illegally. There are very specific qualification for this type of visas.
- Asylum: this type of visa is for individuals who is outside of his country of nationality where he is unable or unwilling to return because of persecution or well-founded fear of persecution due to his religion, nationality, political opinion, or membership in a particular social group.
- VAWA—Violence Against Women Act: this type of visa is for individual who suffered from abused in U.S. by LPR or USC or being abuse abroad while spouse employed with US government or member of US uniformed services or parent of child who is abused.
- U Visa: this type of visa is for victim of crime and violence such as rape, torture, trafficking, domestic violence, and etc.
- T Visa: this type of visa is for victim of severe form of trafficking and is physically present in the US territories at the time the crime occurred.
- Special Immigrant Juveniles: SIJ: This type of process is for abused, abandoned, or neglect children in their home country which caused the child to unable to return to home country.
- Humanitarian Parole: This type of visa is used sparingly and for temporary period of time. This type of visa is for emergency, urgent humanitarian reasons that has significant public benefit.
- OTHER VISAS
Adjustment of Status: this is of process is to adjust the status of non-immigrant visa to immigrant status and it’s a path to attain green card. This process is only for alien who are present in the US.
- For Employment-Based or
- For Family Based
Citizenship and Naturalization: this process allows lawful permanent residence to apply for citizenship provided that they meet certain requirement regarding the duration of their physical presence in the U.S. and pass certain tests or one can become naturalized through his/her parent when the child is under 18 and parent is a citizen via naturalization process.