Nonimmigrant Visas
An individual issued a nonimmigrant visa is admitted
into the United States, usually for a set period
of time, to perform activities consistent with
that nonimmigrant visa.
Nonimmigrant visas are available for business
personnel, physicians, nurses, athletes, entertainers,
media representatives, fashion models, religious
workers, students, trainees, visitors, and fiancées
and spouses of U.S. citizens. Some examples of
nonimmigrant visas are listed below.
TN visa
Visa for Canadian and Mexican citizens engaged
in a profession |
E-1 visa
Visa for a treaty trader (E-1) |
TD visa
Visa for spouse/children accompanying a TN
visa nonimmigrant |
E-2 visa
Visa for a treaty investor (E-2) |
H-1B visa
Visa for individuals employed in a specialty
occupation, fashion models, or U.S. Department
of Defense research and development projects |
L visa
Visa for an executive (L-1A), manager (L-1A)
or worker with specialized knowledge (L-1B) |
H-2B visa
Visa for individuals engaged in seasonal
work |
K-1 visa
Visa for the fiancé/fiancée
of a U.S. citizen |
H-4 visa
Visa for spouse/children accompanying
an H visa nonimmigrant |
K-3 visa
Visa for the spouse of a U.S. citizen |
O visa
O-1A visa for an individual with demonstrated
extraordinary ability in the sciences, arts,
education, business or athletics; O-1B visa
for an individual with demonstrated extraordinary
achievement in motion picture/television production |
B-1 visa
Visa for a visitor to the U.S. for business |
O-3 visa
Visa for spouse/children accompanying an O
visa nonimmigrant |
B-2 visa
Visa for a visitor to the U.S. for pleasure |
P-1
Visa for athletes and group entertainers |
F visa
Visa for an academic student |
P-4
Visa for spouse/children accompanying a P
visa nonimmigrant |
M visa
Visa for a vocational student |
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J visa
Visa for an exchange visitor |
U.S. Legal Residency
Legal permanent residency in the U.S., commonly
known as a "green card," is usually
obtained through a family-based immigrant petition
or an employment-based immigrant petition.
A U.S. citizen can file an immigrant petition
for his or her spouse, child, adult (married or
unmarried) son or daughter, parent, and sibling.
A U.S. legal permanent resident may file an immigrant
petition for his or her spouse, child or an unmarried
adult son or daughter.
Employment-based Immigration
Employment-based immigration to the United States
is available under the five categories below:
- EB-1
Individuals who have extraordinary ability in
the sciences, arts, education, business or athletics
as demonstrated by national or international
recognition; outstanding professors and researchers,
and multinational executives and managers. No
foreign labor certification (PERM) needed.
- EB-2
Individuals with advanced degrees or with exceptional
ability in the sciences, arts or business. Usually
requires prior approval of a foreign labor certification
(PERM) unless a national interest waiver is
obtained.
- EB-3
Professionals, skilled workers, and other workers.
Usually requires prior approval foreign labor
certification (PERM).
- EB-4
Religious workers
- EB-5
Immigrant investors
Outbound Immigration
CLEARCROSSINGS assists in obtaining visas for
overseas business trips and long-term work assignments
and advises on complying with foreign immigration
laws.
Immigration Law Compliance
In light of heightened concern for U.S. national
security, the federal government has increased
enforcement of U.S. immigration laws against employers.
CLEARCROSSINGS assists small and medium sized
corporations with developing customized immigration
compliance programs, self-audits for immigration
law compliance, U.S. Department of Labor wage
and hour compliance, and I-9 compliance matters.
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