R1 Visa for Religious Workers – Know The Key Features!

R visas are a type of short-term work visas that is liable for people who have been offered jobs as religious workers in the United States. An immigration lawyer in Los Angeles can help secure R1 visa- which is a non-immigrant visa that permits religious workers to work in the U.S for a period of up to 5 years and for permanent visa application is send for green card.

Religious workers are ministers of religion approved by a recognized denomination to conduct religious duties and are defined as occupations whose duties must:

•    involve traditional religious function

•    be recognized as a religious occupation within the denomination

•    Involve religious creed and beliefs of the denomination.

Key Features of the R Visa

•    The worker can work as religious worker legally in the U.S. for the employer that files a visa petition with the U.S. immigration authorities. In case the worker wants to change the job, they need to get a new visa.

•    When the application is send for second R visa it can be issued reasonably quickly.

•    R visas will be granted initially for up to 30 months which can be extended up to maximum of total five years.

•    The R visa holder may travel in and out of the U.S. as long as R visa stamp and status are valid.

•    If the visa holder has a spouse and unmarried children under age 21 they may be granted R-2 visas to accompany the primary visa holder.

For your application process, you may also want to consult an immigration attorney for full analysis of eligibility with the application process. You can find an experienced immigration lawyer in Los Angeles who fit your needs and is undergoing promising respectful service.

Finding The Right Immigration Case

Finding the right immigration lawyer is of utmost importance when you are looking for a permanent citizenship or green card of USA. Start by making a list of the requirements you need to look in the immigration lawyer in the New York region. Ask your acquaintances, and referral sources in your circle and shortlist the immigration lawyers that you find suitable. Next comes online reviews and some other aspects which are discussed as follow:

Fees For The Case:

Before taking an appointment for consultation, it is important to ask how much they charge their clients. Some of the lawyers do free initial consultation while others take a certain amount of fees. Afterwards, for the case, it is crucial that you check the charging system. Some have a flat fee for the case, while others charge on an hourly basis.

Specialization:

The specialization of the lawyer is a principal factor that can either help you win or lose the case. Immigration lawyers have multiple specialities. Whether it is employment based immigration visa, marital visa or political asylum, the fields within immigration law are many. Make sure your lawyer has good experience within your immigration requirement. The immigration benefits you want to achieve are much more plausible if the lawyer has a history of successful winnings in the past.

Communication Network:

You should be able to reach the lawyer within the months your application is getting processed. So having accessibility to your lawyer is of paramount importance. The immigration attorney should be available to take care of the legal queries you might have about your case and the nearing deadlines.

Ask your lawyer about the approach they would take for your case and if the lawyer presents a reasonably good explaining then you can be assured that you stand better chance with that lawyer on your side to win the case.

Steps To Determine The Right Visa For You- Wildes and Weinberg PC

You may be in need of applying for a particular visa or need to apply for a new visa of the classification for the purpose of travel or passport under the visa waiver program, or if you hold a passport. Here are the steps to determine the right visa for you:

Step 1:

Determine your Immigration goals:

Under U.S immigration laws there are four options available to discuss with prospective investors under U.S immigration laws. E-2 Visas are only available to US treaty countries. Countries such as China, Russia, India, Brazil and Venezuela do not qualify for E2 visas.

•    L-1

•    E-2

•    Individual EB-5, or

•    Regional Center EB-5

Step 2:

Choose your Visa option

L-1A Intracompany Transferee staff

Through the L-1A nonimmigrant classification U.S. employer can transfer an executive or manager to any of the offices in the United States. With the purpose of establishing one, this classification also allows a foreign company not having an affiliated U.S. office to send an executive or manager to the United States.

E-2 Treaty Investor

The E-2 nonimmigrant classification permits a national of treaty country to be admitted to the United States. It is possible to obtain via self-employment. Also, there are no limits annually on the number of E-2 visas that can be issued.

EB-5 INVESTOR VISA

The EB-5 Visa gives you the permission to live permanently in the United States. The EB-5 Visa Program provides an excellent opportunity to get Green Card for foreign investors who wants freedom and flexibility.

Step 3:

Consult with your Immigration Attorney:

Immigration process in Los Angeles can be expensive processes and require detailed pre-planning for the success. Hire a reputed immigration law firm in Los Angeles whose lawyer will assist you in virtually every side of your relocation. The immigration attorney will provide the consultation, advice, education that you will require throughout the process.

The Need of Hiring An Immigration Lawyer

It is not easy to enter into the  United States without the assistance of an immigration lawyer. A Reputed Immigration Lawyer in Los Angeles can assist you in many different ways. A legal attorney can help you in filing paperwork and more. To accomplish all the legal formalities, you need to look through a list of licensed and registered immigration attorney.

Always make sure that you are choosing a lawyer that can actually assist you and has years of experience in representing those who are immigrating to the United States. It is advised to interview the lawyers before you hire them to represent you because every lawyer can’t be right for you.

There are a number of  immigration attorneys that also represent other types of suits, but you have  to find a lawyer that does have the experience exclusively working within immigration domain in order to get the best representation and outcome.

While viewing an immigration lawyer's profile, always consider the number of cases that the lawyer won and lost. The success rate of a lawyer plays a vital role. Immigration process can become very complicated if you hire an attorney who is new at handling immigration cases.

Most of the people take the decision based on the price as well. There are many factors that play a vital role in selecting the right immigration attorney to represent you. Sometimes, you are not able to avail the services of a lawyer because of the high charges or fees.

Once you submit the application, then you need to wait until your application is processed and approved. Finding the right immigration attorney can help a lot  in creating a legal and simple way to process the right paperwork to give you an opportunity to live the American dream.  

Thus, the proper guidance and assistance of a lawyer can help you to fulfill your all dreams.

What Work Related US Visa You Should Opt For? - O1 Or H-1B

When it comes to opting for immigrating to the United States to work in cities like New York, usually foreign nationals get two options - O1 and H-1B. As both options allow foreigners to work in the country, it is common for applicants to get confused between both options. This confusion usually leads to mistakes or rejection of visa.

And sometimes, you might not get the suitable opportunities and to work freely due to restrictions even if you get a visa. This is why, it is advised to hire a professional NYC immigration attorney to clear all your confusions and make no mistakes in your application.

Here are some details & fact that can help you decide which category is the most suitable for you and for which you qualify.

H-1B Visa – It allows foreign nationals to work in country if they are in specialty occupations. They can work in the fields of arts, architecture, accounting, business specialties, biotechnology, chemistry, engineering, education, law, mathematics, medicine & health, physical sciences, social sciences, theology etc.

Their occupation should require a bachelor's degree or its equivalent as a minimum qualification. However, this rule does not apply to the fashion models, who must be of distinguished merit and ability.

O1 Visa – To qualify for this category, applicant should fall have extraordinary talents, which are illustrated through aspects like nominations, awards and scholarly publication. Recognized by the media or press is another aspect. These extraordinary talents should be in the fields of arts, athletics, business, sciences, or education.

Individuals who have shown records of extraordinary accomplishments in the motion picture or television industry may also apply. Individuals who have been recognized nationally or internationally for these achievements can apply under this category.

It is essential that you clear all your doubts before applying to ensure that you apply under the right category that suits your requirements and you qualify for the visa too.

Why To Hire An Immigration Lawyer?

Are you planning to go abroad for your further studies? It is always a daunting task to apply for immigration to the United States. At this moment, it is always beneficial to hire a lawyer for the immigration services. Lawyers are said to be the most representative part of the society. A Lawyer is considered as an intelligent person, capable to fight for the rights of others in the court.

An intelligent lawyer helps you in various tasks such as paperwork. A lot of research is required before hiring a lawyer. Los Angeles Immigration Attorneys offer excellent assistance for  immigration services. A good lawyer helps you if you face complications and get stuck in some challenging task.

Before hiring a lawyer, make sure you have the depth understanding of your case. You should provide all the necessary information and documents to your lawyer for the approval of your visa.  You can take the reference of a good lawyer from your friends, family and colleagues. Reference is the best way to find a good immigration lawyer. An immigration lawyer can help you in many ways such as:

Paperwork: The paperwork is the most important and initial task when to plan to go abroad. Your lawyer can help you to get through the difficult procedure of collecting documents. It needs a deep study of the case.

Interview and Test Preparation: It is very essential to clear the interview and a test for the approval of your visa. An immigration attorney prepares you for the interview and the test. He will suggest you the best institution where you can groom your foreign language skills and other aspects.

Legal Appearance: Hiring an immigration lawyer can be very beneficial during a legal appearance or meetings as they make the process much easier. You get your work completed without any hurdle.

The search of the immigration lawyer should be started as soon as possible. One of the best ways to find a good lawyer is the use of the internet.  People are tech savvy and they know how to utilize the different sources of information for the positive outcomes.

Why Companies Require The Help Of An Immigration Lawyer?

In the United States, there are numerous companies with a large number of employees especially in Los Angeles. However, many of these companies also rely of employees who are foreign nationals. And, this is where an immigration lawyers comes. Any company that requires a foreign national on a position in America has to go through legal compliance procedure.

An immigration attorney helps companies in this procedure by –

Conducting I-9 training programs for staff – To ensure a company’s compliance, it is essential that there is an I-9 training program conducted for the staff. Immigration lawyers in Los Angeles can help you in conducting the training program.

I-9 review and audit – You will also need the help of an attorney for I-9 review and audit. A government auditor will measure the compliance and only legal help can ensure that come out unscathed from the procedure. Your lawyer can ensure that your firm is prepared for the audit without suffering any consequences.

They will prepare the I-9 records to present to the government auditor as a response to the audit notices. Attorneys will represent your organization throughout the audit process, which includes negotiating settlements. Furthermore, they will explore the litigation possibilities accordingly.

Protection against discrimination – Discrimination is a word that can ruin your business. And, developing a policy manual for your company is the only way to gain legal protection against discrimination.

Your will also need your attorney’s help for the I-9 maintenance programs as well as to monitor re-verification obligations. They can also assist you in managing your company's I-9 retention and destruction.

Your firm’s compliance with Form I-9 is vital in order to avoid various legal, financial and public relations risks. Non-compliance can lead to severe consequences that can affect your business and reputation. So, contact a professional immigration attorney to get rid of any compliance issue.

Join Your Fiancé(e) In America With K-1 Visa

Do you want to accompany your American citizen fiancé(e) to America? You would be happy to know that there is a visa category for that, which is known as K-1. With this visa, you can enter the United States and marry your fiancé(e) in the country.

However, the main requirement in this category is that the applicant has to marry their U.S. citizen fiancé(e) within the 90 days of their entry in country. Once married, they can apply for the status of a permanent resident.

And, it is essential that both fiancées are eligible for marriage. It includes requirements of legal age along with the appropriate marital status. They should not be married to anyone else or even to each other legally. Furthermore, their marriage should be legally possible according to laws of the particular American state in which they are planning to get married.

Even the same-sex partners can apply under this category. There are several other requirements for this visa. For example, the applicant must have met the fiancé(e) in person at least once within the two years prior to filing the application. If the applicant has unmarried children, who are under the age of 21 years, can apply for K-2 visa and accompany their parent.

You can get to know more about all these requirements, rules and regulations from an experienced immigration attorney. Choose a lawyer in the city you are planning to wed and live with your partner.

American cities such as Los Angeles are the centers of immigrant population as these cities provide numerous opportunities at life and career. This is the reason why every Los Angeles immigration lawyer handles many cases related to visas, green cards etc. If you are also planning to apply under the K-1 category, then hire a veteran attorney to handle your case.

Steps To Get A US Visa

America is a country with numerous cultures that have entered the nation due to immigration process throughout the years. People from different countries come to USA every year. And, cities like Los Angeles have the highest number of immigrants due to the numerous opportunities at job, business and life they offer.

However, to obtain an American visa, you need to follow several steps.

Get to know the right visa – First thing that you need to know is the right type of visa category under which you can apply. There are numerous categories and you will fall under one of those according your requirements and qualifications. You should also learn about all the eligibility requirements related to a certain type of visa, so that you can prepare accordingly.

Apply – After gather proper knowledge about the visa, you can apply by filling appropriate form. You should know about the fees, requirements, documents included in application and so on. All this information is necessary to avoid mistakes in the application process and ensure visa approval.

Appointments – After applying, you need to get appointments for the Visa Application Center (VAC) and for the visa interview. To ensure application approval, you need to excel in both these appointments. In addition, you need to your documents with you including passport (both old and new one), DS-160 confirmation page along with appointment confirmation page.

After completing these procedures, you will be issued visa if you meet all these essential requirements. But, you should know that this process can be exhausting. The lack of knowledge and familiarity with the immigration law increases the risk of mistakes that might jeopardize your application.

However, there is another way of doing it all. You can contact the best immigration lawyer in Los Angeles to ensure that you have all the help you need for a successful visa approval.

Are You Updated With O-1 Visa Requirements And Types? Read the information below!

Undoubtedly, America has numerous employment opportunities for both experienced and inexperienced workers. This is why so many people from all around the world look forward to move to the USA especially to the cities like Los Angeles that has numerous career opportunities.If you are also planning to come to America to work, then you must get acquainted with the right visa option for you.

And, this visa option is O-1. However, before you apply for this visa, you should get in touch with an immigration law firm in Los Angeles or the US city where you are planning to stay and work. Contacting an attorney will help you become familiar with all the legal formalities associated with the application process.

However, here are some facts associated with the O-1 visa. Let us have a look.

Requirements

Foreign nationals who excelled in the field of arts, science, education, athletics and business can apply for the O-1 visa. Individuals who has achieved awards in television industry or motion pictures or are renowned at a national and international level, even they are eligible to apply for this visa.

Types

There are two categories of this visa, which are mentioned below –

1. O-1 A – Candidates who have earned a name for themselves in the education and science or excelled in their business are eligible to apply for this visa. Athletes who have made a mark in sport events at national or international level can also apply under this category.

2. O-1 B – Candidates who have excelled in the field of television are eligible to apply for O-1 B visa.

Duration of stay for a O1 visa holder

Initially, an immigrant can stay in America for three years. However, the duration of stay depends on their duties or activities in the United States of America.

Finding The Right Immigration Attorney

A well qualified and experienced immigration attorney can make a lot of difference in your case. There are many honest and hardworking individuals who provide genuine services diligently. On the contrary a bad immigration lawyer can charge ridiculous amounts of money, fail to deliver promised services and corrupt the case to an extent that it becomes unrecoverable.

Before initiating a process like visa or green card petition, avoiding deportation or applying for additional immigration benefits it is essential to hire the services of an experienced lawyer. You can the following steps to avoid entangling with dishonest individuals.

• Do not entertain lawyers who try to approach outside various immigration offices. A good immigration lawyer will never resort to such malpractice and probably would be busy giving consultation to his clients.
• In many cases some less informed lawyers file the cases inappropriately and in the process do irreparable damage to your case. It is advisable to make sure that you’re interacting with a genuine lawyer and not some shady consultant.
• Conduct a background check about the lawyer and do some necessary research before availing his services.
• Do not engage with immigration officers who offer you solution by unethical means such as bribing an official to procure a green card or lie on your immigration application. These situations can be extremely dangerous and subject to legal actions.
• Immigration judge is the ultimate authority on the subject matter and even the best lawyers cannot ensure success every time. It is ok to be skeptical of unrealistic promises made by them.

Talk to more than one attorney before making the final decision. Interact with attorneys and their staff to gather all the information possible and understand the level of their commitment. Taking a second opinion may also reveal if the other counterpart tried to cheat you or conduct business through unethical means. Be vigilant and consider every minor detail before choosing your representative.

Finding The Best Immigration Law Firm In Florida

The south-eastern state of Florida is home to one of the largest immigrant populations in America. Hundreds of these immigrants deal with immigration issues on a daily basis with many trying very hard to obtain visas to live and work in the United States.

But dealing with immigration issues requires detailed legal information about the immigration laws. Being well prepared beforehand is the only way to ensure that your immigration issue is resolved without any hassles.

For this preparation, one should seek the counsel of an experienced immigration attorney. The attorney will evaluate your case and suggest the best course of action. Your lawyer will also provide legal representation wherever required.

If you live in Florida and are looking for a suitable attorney, then you should begin your search online by trying to find the best immigration law firm in Florida.

If you are looking for the best firm, you will have to check out certain features of that particular firm to find out its efficiency. You need to check out the lawyers who are working with the firm. Find out about their reputation in their respective field and their success rate in previous cases.

The best firm will have lawyers who have years of experience dealing with different kinds of immigration issues. So, it is very important to find a law firm that is known for providing positive outcomes for all kinds of immigration issues.

As you will be paying your hard earned money to hire the services of an immigration lawyer, so, it is important for you to choose the best attorney to represent you. Furthermore, make sure that the attorney you choose has complete and thorough knowledge to deal with your legal matter.

You can ask for references from family members or any of your friends who have hired the services of the lawyer. This will help you a lot in finding a good immigration law firm in your area.

When Do You Need a D-Visa To Enter USA?

To enter the United States of America, you need a visa issued under the right category, which depends on the reason for your visit. Depending on the reason for your visit, there are many immigrant and nonimmigrant categories under which you can apply. These categories include D visa too.

It is a non-immigrant visa that is issued to foreign nationals working as crewmembers on board sea vessels. Foreigners working in the international airlines in the United States can also apply under this category if they are providing their services for a normal operation. However, these applicants should have the intention to depart the country on the same or any other vessel within 29 days.

Foreign nationals can apply under this category if they work on a commercial airplane as a pilot or flight attendant. A captain, engineer, or deckhand working on a sea vessel can also apply under this category. Other professional foreigners who usually get this visa are lifeguards, cooks, waiters, beauticians etc., on a cruise ship as well as trainees on board a training vessel.

However, not all foreigners on a vessel require this visa. For example, foreign nationals working on a private yacht cruising in American waters (for more than 29 days) cannot apply for D visa. There is a different visa category for them. It is essential that you apply under the right classification.

But, what if you need to enter the United States first to join a vessel? In these situations, you need a combination of C-1 & D visas. The former category is for those foreign nationals who want to travel to the country in immediate and continuous transit and then to other country.

The many categories and subcategories of US visas can cause confusion among applicants. To avoid mistakes in your application, you should get in touch with a professional immigration lawyer in the US city you will be visiting or arriving at. For example, if you are going to arrive in Florida, then you should consult with the best immigration lawyers in Florida as it will be easier for you to get immediate help (if needed) when you arrive. The immigration lawyers can assist you in the application process ensuring the visa approval.

Major Requirements of US Labor Certification?

The United States of America’s green card (permanent residency) on the basis of employment is a dream of many. This aim fuels the hopes of many who wish to live the American dream.

But in order to get the green card one has to apply under the labor certification program and if the application is approved by the Labor Department, only then an immigrant can become a permanent American resident.

However, owing to numerous immigration laws and regulations, this process is quite complex.

These complexities increase the chances of making mistakes in the application process. This is why many candidates reach out to immigration law firms for help regarding labor certification program.

If you are opting for the Department of Labor's (DOL) labor certification program, then you should be aware of its essential requirements. They are listed below.

1. Your employers must have labor certification approval from the U.S. Department of Labor (DOL).

2. For several occupations, candidates require a bachelor's or a higher degree. If applying under a certain category, candidates need to ensure that they have the requisite qualification.

3. The Department of Labor will approve employer’s labor certification application with a validity period of 180 days. The employer has to submit their application to USCIS within this period.

4. Candidates also need to submit Form I-693 Report of Medical Examination and Vaccination Record, which should be completed by a designated civil surgeon.

5. Employer must have enough funds to pay the wages of the foreign national.

There are some other factors that have an impact on the approval of an application. For example, a candidate is only considered for job based permanent residency only if there are no qualified and available American workers for the offered position.

Even if the foreign national has a higher qualification than the US citizen, a qualified US worker is always given precedence. This is why the job opportunity in question should be open to any qualified U.S. citizen. If no American national applies only then foreign nationals are considered for the job.

However, if you are already living and working in the United States with a valid visa, then you can become a permanent resident with the adjustment of status. Knowing the aforementioned information will help increase the chances of application approval from the authorities.

Nevertheless, if the process becomes too complex, then employers should get legal guidance from the best immigration law firm. These professionals can help employers in perfecting their case, so that the DOL accepts their application for labor certification.