The first step for non-citizens’ staying in the U.S. for a substantial length of time (legally) is, generally, to obtain a visa. A nonimmigrant visa guarantees a temporary stay, while an immigrant visa is typically required for permanent residence.  For many entrepreneurs and small business owners, the E-2 Visa is a great option. Even though it is a nonimmigrant visa, it has an unlimited number of extensions for its Read More

Having your family members across the globe as you sit in the U.S. is, understandably, difficult. You might have heard of the K1 visa, which allows foreign aliens to move to the U.S. in exchange for marrying a U.S. citizen within 90 days of their arrival. This has been popularized through 90 Day Fiancé and the show’s various spinoffs and is just one example of numerous visa types that can be used to bring over family Read More

Asylum is the one of the most well-known protections for U.S. non citizens to legally stay in the country. At its core, asylum allows those who have been persecuted (or fear persecution) due to their nationality, race, religion, political opinion, or membership in a particular social group. The concept has its roots in Medieval England. In the U.S., there are two forms of asylum protection: affirmative asylum and Read More

When the phrase “tough on crime” was in vogue some decades ago, Congress passed a law (the Victims of Trafficking and Violence Protection Act of 2000) that aimed to help law enforcement officials investigate crime while providing protections for victims of crime. One important tool for non-citizens the law created is the U visa, which is a nonimmigrant visa for victims of crimes (and certain family members) who have Read More

Domestic violence victims who are not U.S. citizens or lawful permanent residents have two options available to them if they wish to stay in the country: U visas or VAWA self-petitions. This blog will focus on the process by which a non-citizen can apply for a green card through the Violence Against Women Act (VAWA).  Who Qualifies? While the perpetrator of domestic violence in a U visa case does not have to be a Read More

Among the options for those who are not citizens or permanent residents of the U.S. to come to the country for work-related purposes is the L-1 visa. This non-immigrant visa is also known as the “Intracompany Transferee” visa and is specifically geared toward employees of international companies that have a presence in the U.S. Because it is designated as a non-immigrant visa, those who hold an L-1 visa are not Read More

One of the several visa classifications for foreign residents with exceptional ability or advanced degrees is the EB-2 Visa. This visa is employment-based and offers permanent residency for successful applicants. There is, however, a cap on this type of visa, making the selection process extremely competitive. Nonetheless, it is a viable solution for many employers and applicants. This blog will lay out the general Read More

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The U.S. immigration system has, historically, accommodated those fleeing violence, famine, and disasters from other countries by offering them a status called right of asylum. There are two common types of asylum recognized by the U.S. Citizen and Immigration Services (USCIS): affirmative and defensive asylum. This blog will focus on affirmative asylum, rather than defensive asylum, which can be requested by Read More

There are a number of options available for bringing over exceptional foreign talent to the U.S. O visas, which is a family of non-immigrant (temporary) visas, are meant for allowing exceptional workers from a select group of industries to work in the U.S. for a period of time. Within that family is the O-1A visa, which is reserved for individuals who have shown extraordinary ability in sciences, education, business, Read More