Category: Immigration
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The L-1 Visa: Opening a New Office in the United States
The L-1 visa allows U.S. businesses to transfer professional employees who currently work at branch or affiliate office of a US company and transfer them to a U.S. office. The L-1A visa is for an executive or manager. The L-1B visa is for an employee with specialized knowledge relating to the company’s technologies, products, processes…
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Good Help is Sometimes Hard to Get into the Country
Soccer star David Beckham and his wife Victoria “Posh Spice” Beckham moved to the United States in the summer of 2007. It was reported at the time that their security team were denied work visas by U.S. immigration officials, and could not join them in the States. The Beckhams had to hire a new staff…
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The High Cost of Immigration Enforcement
A recent article in the Huffington Post cited a report from the nonpartisan Migration Policy Institute that puts the total cost of immigration enforcement in 2012 at $18 billion. This includes the criminal enforcement and border control measures conducted by agencies such as U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE), and Customs and Border Protection (CBP).
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How to Become a U.S. Citizen Through Your Grandparent
United States citizenship is not a privilege granted to everyone. U.S. citizen parents can obtain citizenship for their children who were born and live out of the country. However, if only one parent is a U.S. citizen, that parent must show that they lived in the States for at least five years, of which at…
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Waivers of Inadmissibility : New Rules Allow Immigrants to Apply Without Leaving the Country
As has been widely reported, Homeland Security Secretary Janet Napolitano announced new rules that allow immigrants who have applied for a green card to apply for waiver of inadmissibility for unlawful presence – without having to first leave the country. The announcement was made on January 2, 2013, and becomes effective March 4, 2013. Many…
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The H-1B Visa Season Is Almost Here
As it is now 2013, many companies can now begin planning their H-1B hires for this year. The H-1B visa allows U.S. businesses to hire foreign nationals in “specialty occupations that require theoretical or technical expertise in specialized fields, such as scientists, engineers, or computer programmers.” The company must show that the foreign worker they…
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New Immigrant Fee as of February 1, 2013
The cost of a green card is about to go up. As of February 1, 2013, anyone who has applied to be a permanent resident and has received their immigrant visa will have to pay a new “immigrant fee” of $165. This new fee is in addition to the existing U.S. Department of State (DOS)…
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The Visa Waiver Program
The Visa Waiver Program (VWP) allows nationals of 37 participating countries to travel to the United States for tourism or business for stays of 90 days or less without first obtaining a visa. The participating countries include Australia, Austria, Belgium, Czech Republic, Denmark, Estonia, Finland, France, Germany, Greece, Hungary, New Zealand, Norway, Ireland, Italy, Portugal,…
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H1-B Work Visas and What You Need to Get One
The H-1B visa is a non-immigrant visa sponsored by a US company for a foreign worker they intend to employ in “specialty occupations” which requires theoretical or technical expertise in specialized fields like scientists, engineers, or computer programmers. H-1B work visas are important because they are typically the best way for a company to hire…
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The Criteria for a Petition Under The Violence Against Women Act (VAWA)
A controversial international matchmaking company with the aim of arranging marriages between U.S. men and Russian women, lobbied the House of Representatives to reform the Violence Against Women Act (VAWA), by removing confidentiality protections for immigrant victims of abuse and forcing them to tell their alleged abusive husbands that they’re applying for protected immigrant status.…