Determining your eligibility for a work visa can be challenging. Understanding the various types of New York work visas will help you decide on the right approach to obtain a green card. Your work visa can provide you with the opportunity to live and work legally in the United States. Making the right choices can be made easier with the help of a qualified and experienced New York immigration lawyer. Your attorney can offer added information on the various types of work visas available in your situation.
The H1B Visa
H1B visas are designed to provide legal residency for specialty workers in categories established by the U.S. Department of Labor. The process of obtaining these New York work visas usually starts with the issuance of a temporary non-immigrant visa that allows holders to work in the United States for a limited amount of time. Your New York immigration lawyer can help you decide whether an H1B visa is the right choice for you.
The H2B Visa
For workers who want to work in the United States for a limited period of time, the H2B non-immigrant visa is available to both skilled and unskilled laborers who are needed by U.S. employers to fill vacancies. Most H2B work visas are designed to last for one year and can be used to fill positions created by seasonal requirements or intermittent shortages of labor. Your attorney may be able to provide added assistance in converting an H2B visa to a longer-term work visa or another type of visa altogether.
The L1 Visa
Another option for work visas may be the L1 visa, which allows individuals who are employed by American companies overseas to enter the United States in connection with their work.
- Under the provisions of an L1A visa, executives and managers who are employed at a subsidiary, parent, affiliate or branch office of a U.S. company can enter the United States for up to seven years to pursue their work at an office of that company.
- L1B visas are available to specialized-knowledge employees to allow them to work at a U.S. office of their employer for up to five years.
To qualify for either of these types of L1 visas, the applicant must have worked for the employing company outside the United States for at least one year out of the most recent three years. There is no quota for L1 visas. However, the documentation required for each employee who enters the United States under these visas is significant. Working with an experienced New York immigration lawyer is a solid strategy for achieving success in managing the paperwork associated with these visas.
At Pozo Goldstein, we offer practical solutions for New York work visas and other immigration issues for our clients. We work with you to help you and your family navigate the immigration system and to promote the best outcomes for your visa requests and citizenship applications. Give us a call today at 212-201-9031 to schedule an initial consultation with our team. We are here to help you to pursue and to protect your version of the American dream.
