Temporary Residency Visas
Note: the temporary residency visas discussed below are the ones most commonly utilized by those wishing to live & work in the US on a temporary basis. Others, including A & C [foreign government officials / staff], D [crewmen/seamen], G [international organization], I [foreign media], M [vocational student], N [family of G-4 visa holder], Q [cultural exchange], S [criminal / terrorist witness] & V [spouses / minor children of permanent residents waiting more than 3 years] are not discussed in any detail. However, if any of these visas are appropriate in a given instance, we can certainly fully service your needs.
B-1/B-2 Business and Tourist Visitor's Visas
Available to visitors coming to the U.S. for business or pleasure. B-1 business visitor visas and B-2 tourist visitor visas are for a short duration and must not involve local employment. Nationals of 28 participating countries in the Visa Waiver Program [VWP] [Andorra, Austria, Australia, Belgium, Brunei, Denmark, Finland, France, Germany, Iceland, Ireland, Italy, Japan, Liechtenstein, Luxembourg, Monaco, The Netherlands, New Zealand, Norway, Portugal, San Marino, Singapore, Slovenia, Spain, Sweden, Switzerland, the United Kingdom and Uruguay] may apply for admission to the U.S. without a B-1 or B-2 visas.
E-1/E-2 Treaty Trader and Investor Visas
The E Treaty visa is available to citizens of certain countries that have entered into a Treaty of Friendship, Navigation and Commerce or such other arrangement with the U.S. Most of the European countries have such treaties, and other countries include Canada, Mexico, Japan, Australia and New Zealand. The E-1 visa is available to treaty traders and the E-2 to treaty investors. Note that the E visa is available to individual entrepreneurs, as well as to employees of treaty trading or investing entities.
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, a period for practical training in their field of study.
H-1B Specialty Occupation (Professionals) Visas
The H-1B visa is available to specialty occupation workers, who will work in a professional field and is often used for technology related positions. The visa presupposes that the job in question requires the achievement of an equivalent of the United States' Bachelor degree in a particular field and that the foreign national possesses such a degree. The H-1B visa program is subject to quota, with 65,000 visas being available for the year ending September 30, 2005. The H-1B visa is valid for an initial period of up to three years & is renewable for an additional three years, for a maximum of six years.
J-1 and Q-1 Exchange Visitor Visas
Persons coming to the U.S. in 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, specialists, international visitors, government visitors, camp counselors and au pairs. Note: in some cases, participation in a J-1 program will be coupled with the requirement that the beneficiary spend at least two years outside of the U.S. before being permitted to switch to a different non-immigrant visa or to permanent residency. In special circumstances, waivers to the home residency requirement that applies to many J-1 visa holders could be obtained.
K-1 Fiancee Visas
A Fiance(e) of a U.S. citizen is eligible for a non-immigrant visa conditioned on the conclusion of the marriage within 90 days.
L-1 Intracompany Transfer Visas
The L-1 intracompany transferee visa is available to executives, managers and specialized knowledge personnel, who are to be transferred to a U.S. parent, branch, subsidiary or affiliate. The transferee must have worked for the overseas entity for at least one full year in the previous three years prior to transfer to the U.S. and in an executive, managerial or specialized knowledge capacity. There is no nationality restriction or quota imposed on intracompany transferees. The maximum period of stay for executives and managers is 7 years. Specialized knowledge personnel are limited to a maximum of 5 years.
O-1 Extraordinary Ability Worker Visas
The O-1 category is set-aside for foreign nationals with extraordinary ability. This includes entertainers, athletes, scientists, and businesspersons.
P-1 Artists and Athletes Visas
This category covers athletes, artists and entertainers.
R-1 Religious Worker Visas
Religious workers may be eligible for an R-1 visa.
TN Status Under the North American Free Trade Agreement
A special category has been set up for nationals of Canada and Mexico under the provisions of the North American Free Trade Agreement.
Feel free to contact us, via telephone, fax or e-mail, with any questions.
