Good news on H-4, L-2, and EAD processing!

Posted on by Susan Lane

Beginning January 25, 2023, USCIS will resume bundling the adjudication of Forms I-539 and I-765 for the spouses and minor children of H-1B and L-1 nonimmigrants along with the underlying Form I-129 if the forms are filed concurrently. USCIS will adjudicate these applications together whether the I-129 petition is filed under regular or premium processing. This bundled process will be in effect for two years. The announcement did not clarify whether this applies to pending cases or merely cases filed 1/25/2023 or later.

President Trump’s Proclamation effective June 24, 2020

Posted on by Hayden Smith

The Proclamation suspending entry of nonimmigrants to the U.S. is effective June 24, 2020 at 12:01 AM ET and extends through December 31, 2020, subject to revisions and extension.

This Proclamation extends the earlier April 22, 2020 Proclamation suspending entry of certain immigrants into the U.S. through the end of the year as well.

The Proclamation affects the following nonimmigrant categories plus spouse & children: H-1B, H-2B, J and L.

It only applies to those individuals if they are:

·        Outside of the U.S. on the effective date of the Proclamation;

·        Do not have a nonimmigrant visa that is valid on the effective date of the Proclamation; and

·        Do not have an official travel document other than a visa such as advance parole which is valid on the effective date of the Proclamation.

It is not clear if Canadian citizens who are not required to have a visa will be exempt from this Proclamation.

There are limited exemptions such as those seeking to enter the U.S. to provide temporary labor essential to the U.S. food supply chain, or those who are need to provide services in the national interest of the U.S. such as defense, medical care to COVID-19 patients, or essential to facilitate the immediate and continued economic recovery of the U.S.

This Proclamation does not affect those nonimmigrants already in the U.S.

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This office advises against international travel in the event further restrictions are placed on nonimmigrants.

Types of Temporary Work Visas

Types of Temporary Work Visas

Posted on by Susan Lane

Temporary work visas are a popular way for people to come to the U.S. for seasonal or periodic employment, and there are several types available. If you’re interested in coming to the U.S. for work or business purposes, here’s what you need to know.

Types of Temporary Work Visas: Business and Working Categories

There are several types of temporary work visas that may apply in your situation. You must have a prospective employer file a petition with U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services on your behalf, and the petition must be approved, before you can apply for a work visa. However, there are two main exceptions: the B-1 visa and through the WB Temporary Business Visitors program.

Related: Investor visas to come to the U.S.

Temporary Work Visas

Each type of visa listed in the table below requires employer sponsorship. That means an employer must sponsor you to fill a specific position before you can apply for the work visa you’ll need to come to the United States.

Visa Category Purpose of the Visa

H-1B Visa

 These temporary work visas are reserved for people working in specialty occupations. Generally, these occupations require a college degree or its equivalent. However, these visas are also available to fashion models of distinguished merit and ability, people involved in government-to-government research and development, and those involved in co-production projects administered by the U.S. Department of Defense.

H-2A Visa

 These visas are for temporary or seasonal agricultural work. They’re limited to people from designated countries unless the U.S. government decides it’s in the U.S.’s best interest.

H-2B Visa

 These types of temporary work visas are for temporary or seasonal non-agricultural work. Like H-2A visas, they’re limited to people from designated countries with very few exceptions.

H-3 Visa

 These visas are for people who need to receive training (other than graduate medical or academic) that isn’t available in their home countries, or practical training programs in education for children with mental, physical or emotional disabilities.

L Visa

 These visas are available to people who are going to work at a branch, parent, affiliate or subsidiary of their current employer in a managerial or executive capacity, or in a job position that requires specialized knowledge.

O Visa

 These temporary visas are reserved for people of extraordinary ability or achievement in science, art, education, business, athletics or recognized achievements in movies and television. People providing essential services in support of the person applying for the O visa also qualify.

P-2 Visa

 These visas are available to people who are coming to the U.S. for performance under a reciprocal exchange program, as well as the people who provide them with essential services.

P-3 Visa

 These temporary work visas are for people who are coming to the U.S. to perform, teach or coach under a program that’s considered “culturally unique” or a traditional ethnic, cultural, folk, musical, theatrical or artistic performance or presentation, as well as those who provide the visa holder with essential services.

Q Visa

 These visas are for people who come to the U.S. for practical training and employment, as well as for sharing history, culture and traditions of their home country through participation in an international cultural exchange program.

Related: Permanent worker visas in the U.S.

B-1 Visas B-1 Temporary Work Visas

B-1 visas are available to people who will be participating in business activities in the U.S., such as consulting with business associates, attending conventions or conferences, settling estates or participating in short-term training.

WB Temporary Business Visitors

WB temporary business visitors can come to the U.S. under the Visa Waiver Program if they’re from one of 35 participating countries. (A list of those countries is located here.)

Do You Need to Discuss Temporary Work Visas With an Attorney?

Whether you’re an employer looking for foreign workers or you’re a worker who needs to apply for a temporary work visa, we may be able to help you. Contact us today to schedule your consultation.

 

Permanent Work Visas - Susan E. Lane Immigration

Permanent Worker Visas in the U.S.: Could You Be Eligible to Work in the States?

Posted on by Susan Lane

When an immigrant wants to work in the United States, he or she must come here on a visa that explicitly grants permission to work and get an Employment Authorization Document, or EAD. While there are no permanent worker visas, per se, there are immigration statuses that grant a person a permanent ability to work in the U.S.

Permanent Worker Visas: Categories of Workers in the U.S.

People who want to work in the United States must fall into one of these four categories:

  • -U.S. citizens
  • -Non-citizen nationals
  • -Lawful permanent residents
  • -Non-citizen non-residents who are authorized to work


Non-citizen non-residents further fall into one of three categories:

  • -Temporary nonimmigrant workers
  • -Permanent immigrant workers
  • -Students and exchange visitors


Here’s a closer look at each.

Related: How to find the best immigration attorney for your needs

Temporary Nonimmigrant Workers

Temporary nonimmigrant workers are people who want to come to the U.S. for a specific purpose, which is usually employment. In order to someone to come to the U.S. as a temporary nonimmigrant worker, he or she must be sponsored by an employer and take a specific job.

Permanent Immigrant Workers

Permanent immigrant workers are people who are authorized to live and work permanently in the U.S. These people hold green cards and are lawful permanent residents – and they’re one step away from U.S. citizenship.

Students and Exchange Visitors

Some students and exchange visitors can get work authorization, provided that they have permission from a Designated School Official, or DSO, from their school.

How to Get a Work Permit in the U.S. Before You Get Permanent Work Authorization

Because there is no permanent work visa in the U.S., you must get a temporary visa. If you choose to, you can apply for a green card to get permanent work authorization.

If you’re in the U.S. on a visa that allows you to work, you can apply for an Employment Authorization Document, or EAD. The EAD, or work permit, shows employers that you’re authorized to work in the United States, and it’s usually valid for a year. You can renew it, provided your visa is still valid, and if you lose it, you can replace it.

Related: Guide to employment-based green cards

Who Qualifies for an EAD? Working in the United States - Susan E. Lane Immigration

If you’re a U.S. citizen or a lawful permanent resident, you don’t need an EAD. You can work for any employer that will hire you. However, you can apply for an Employment Authorization Document if you fall into one of these categories:

  • -Asylees and asylum-seekers
  • -Refugees
  • -Students looking for employment, with some exceptions
  • -Foreign nationals who are applying for a green card
  • -People with Temporary Protected Status, or TPS
  • -Fiancés and spouses of U.S. citizens
  • -Dependents of some foreign government officials
  • -Spouses or children of some exchange visitors


Often, if your spouse or parent is able to work in the U.S., you can gain the same benefit. However, you may want to talk to an immigration attorney to be sure.

How to Get an EAD

You and your attorney can work together to file a Form I-765, Application for Employment Authorization. You’ll also have to pay the filing fee and pay a biometric services fee if you are applying under DACA, you’re facing compelling circumstances as a beneficiary of an approved employment-based immigration petition, or you’re a spouse or unmarried dependent child of a beneficiary of an employment-based immigrant petition.

Do You Need to Talk to an Attorney About Alternatives to Permanent Worker Visas in the U.S.?

There’s no such thing as a permanent worker visa in the U.S., but that doesn’t mean you can’t get authorization to work – and if you become a lawful permanent resident, you’ll be entitled to work for any employer in the country. If you’d like to talk to a lawyer about your situation, we may be able to help you. Call us today to learn about your options.