New York City Employment Visa Attorney

Whether or not you’re interested in lawful permanent residence and eventual United States citizenship, most foreign nationals who enter the country for employment do so on nonimmigrant visas. To learn how an experienced New York City employment visa attorney can help you through the employment visa process, contact the Law Office of Cheryl R. David for an initial consultation.

We Help People With Nonimmigrant Visa Applications in New York

Different visa categories with different eligibility criteria apply to various kinds of jobs, workers, and reasons for entering the U.S. New York immigration lawyer Cheryl David can explain the rules that apply to each of the different nonimmigrant employment visas and can help you understand the process for the particular visa that fits your circumstances.

Types of Employment Visas

There are numerous visas available to those who want to temporarily work in the United States. Depending on your qualifications and the type of work you will perform, your options may include:

• H-1B visas for professional employees
• H-2A and H-2B visas for nonimmigrant agricultural and non-agricultural workers in temporary or seasonal jobs
• B-1 visas allowing short-term entry for business-related activities such as meetings, conferences, or seminars, but not for actual employment
• TN visas for Mexican or Canadian professionals with a valid job offer from a U.S. employer at the time of application
• L-1A visas for executives and managers transferring from other countries to the United States’ subsidiaries or regional offices of the employer corporation and L-1B visas for employees with specialized knowledge
• F-1 and M-1 student visas (while not employment visas, they can allow limited work authorization, such as CPT or OPT)
• O visas for individuals with extraordinary ability in sciences, arts, education, business, or athletics
• P visas for internationally recognized athletes, artists, and entertainers
• R – Religious workers

Each of these nonimmigrant visas is issued for a limited period, which in most cases can be extended one or more times. While many temporary workers must eventually return to their home country once they have met their maximum allowable stay, there are some important exceptions. Certain visa categories, like H-1B and L-1, recognize “dual intent.” This allows workers to pursue permanent residence lawfully while working on a temporary basis. For example, L-1A multinational managers may qualify for a transition to permanent residence in accordance with the EB-1C category without the need for PERM labor certification. Similarly, in the event an H-1B worker is in the process of applying for a green card, they may extend their status beyond the standard six-year maximum.

For most nonimmigrant workers who would like to obtain permanent residence in the United States, the PERM labor certification process may be necessary to avoid the need to return home after the last visa extension. This complex and often lengthy process is initiated by the employer, and the objective essentially is to convert the status of the foreign national worker from nonimmigrant to lawful permanent resident — in other words, a green card holder. As this procedure can take a long time, it is important to discuss this possible option early on in your stay in the U.S. Please note that not all green card categories require PERM; some applicants may qualify under EB-1 or National Interest Waiver (EB-2) without employer sponsorship.

Employment Visa Attorney Providing Experienced, Proactive Representation

Our experienced immigration lawyers can help make sure that you apply for the right visa, that it’s properly documented, and that any complications or problems are promptly addressed. Our firm can also help you deal with any visa problems that arise after you’re in the U.S. Difficulties ranging from mistakes in the application timing to trouble with criminal charges can endanger your ability to live and work in the U.S.

Contact a Skilled NYC Employment Visa Attorney

Our firm is known for our ability to effectively help clients with all immigration matters. We are dedicated legal professionals who are ready to serve. For additional information about the scope of our firm’s nonimmigrant employment practice, contact an employment visa lawyer from the Law Office of Cheryl R. David in New York City today.