Nonimmigrant Visas
Nonimmigrant visas are generally required for temporary (from a few weeks to several years) visits to the United States for work or for pleasure. Haight Law Group, PC specializes in the following nonimmigrant visa petitions and applications:
B-1/B-2 Visitor for Business or Pleasure
- B-1 visitor status is granted for short-term visits to the U.S. for business activities such as attending business meetings or academic conferences, receiving short-term training, conducting a plant tour, etc.
- B-2 visitor status is granted for short-term visits to the U.S. for non-business activities such as touring, shopping, or visiting friends and family.
- E-2 treaty investor visas are granted to citizens of countries with which the U.S. has an investment treaty and who can show a substantial investment in a foreign-owned business in the United States.
E-3 Treaty Alien in a Specialty Occupation
- E-3 visas are available for Australians for U.S. employment in a "specialty occupation," i.e., an occupation that requires a degree in a particular field, and the foreign national has a degree in that field (or its equivalent).
H-1B Worker in a Specialty Occupation
- H-1B visas are available for employment in a "specialty occupation," i.e., an occupation that requires a degree in a particular field, and the foreign national has a degree in that field (or its equivalent). Only 65,000 new H-1Bs may be granted each year, with an additional 20,000 for U.S. master's degree holders; a lottery is conducted each year for this purpose. Once selected in the lottery, a foreign national is exempt from future lotteries for future change of employer petitions filed on the foreign national's behalf. USCIS has shown increased scrutiny of H-1B petitions, meaning that employers are more reliant than ever on our extensive expertise with these cases.
H-3 Trainee
- H-3 visas are granted to individuals entering the U.S. for training that is not available in the individual's home country.
L-1 Intracompany Transferee
- L-1A Manager or Executive and L-1B Specialized Knowledge visas may be approved for individuals transferring to a U.S. entity from affiliated companies abroad.
O-1 Alien of Extraordinary Ability
- O-1 visas may be granted to individuals with extraordinary ability in science, education, business, or sports who are at the very top of their fields. In addition, O-1 classification may be granted to individuals with extraordinary achievement, i.e., a high level of achievement in the arts or a very high level of accomplishment in the motion picture or television field.
P Athlete
- P classification is available for internationally-recognized athletes.
TN Entry under NAFTA
- TN classification is available for citizens of Mexico or Canada who have the appropriate credentials and are seeking employment in an occupation listed in Appendix 1603.D.1 to NAFTA.