While there are many different types of visas, the purpose of each is to give foreign nationals the chance to live and work in the United States. Depending on your immigration situation, you can apply for a visa that gives you temporary travel to the U.S. or permanent resident status. Here’s what you need to know.
Two Visa Categories - Non-Immigrant and Immigrant
There over 185 different kinds of visas, but all fall will fall into one of the following categories — non-immigrant visas and immigrant visas. Non-immigrant visas are intended for temporary visits and can be used to accommodate foreign nationals wishing to come to the United States temporarily for tourism, work, visiting family, or pursuing a course of study at a university. Immigrant visas, on the other hand, are for people intending to become a permanent resident of the United States.
Non-immigrant Visas
The United States Citizenship and Immigration Services agency - a sector of the Department of Homeland Security - handles visas and other aspects of naturalization and immigration services. The most common non-immigrant visas may include but are not limited to:
H1-B - work visa
O-1 - self-petition/entrepreneur visa
L-1 - Intracompany transfer visa
E-1 - Investor visa
B1 and B2 - Business and tourism visa
Immigrant Visas
There are two general routes for obtaining an immigrant visa - a foreign national living abroad applies for an immigrant visa through the consular office for the Department of State and, secondly, holders of a temporary, non-immigrant visa wish to file an application for adjustment of status and achieve legal residents through the green card process. Immigrant visas may include but are not limited to:
K-1 - fiancé visa
V- visa for spouses and unmarried children under 21 of any green card holders who have applied for immigrant visas on or before December 21, 2000, and are still in the process
U - visa for victims of crime
Navigating the visa process can be daunting, especially when you’re unfamiliar with immigration law. Enlisting the help of an experienced immigration attorney can make all the difference. If you or a loved one needs assistance with obtaining a visa, we can help.Contact Yekrangi & Associates at (949) 478-4963 today to learn more. Our experienced immigration attorneys will guide you through every step of the way.