What to know When Applying for a Visa

If you live in another country and want to come to the U.S., it’s important to know which type of visa you might need. Depending on the reason for your visit, applying for a visa might be relatively straightforward or involve a more difficult process. A New York immigration attorney at Pozo Goldstein can help you understand which type of visa you might need to apply for and how to go about doing so. Here is some information about the different reasons for which you might want to travel to the U.S. and the visas that might be required for each purpose.

Visiting the U.S. as a Tourist

If you want to travel to the U.S. for vacation, holiday, or tourism purposes, you’ll need to apply for a B-2 visa. This is a non-immigrant visa that is issued to people traveling to the U.S. temporarily for pleasure. It can’t be used for work purposes and only works for a temporary visit. This visa is required of all tourists visiting the U.S. other than those who come from countries participating in the Visa Waiver program.

Coming to the U.S. to Work for a U.S. Company

If you want to come to the U.S. to work for a U.S. company, you might need to get an H visa. An H-1B visa is a type of visa that U.S. employers can get so that they can hire foreign professionals to fill specialized jobs the employers for which the employers are having trouble finding enough U.S. workers. Employers must file petitions for H-1B visas on behalf of foreign professionals who have at least a Bachelor’s degree and/or specialized knowledge.

An H-2A visa allows a U.S. employer to sponsor foreign nationals and bring them to the U.S. to fill temporary agricultural jobs in the U.S. An H-2B visa allows U.S. employers to sponsor foreign nationals and bring them to the U.S. to fill temporary non-agricultural jobs. Finally, an H-3 visa is used for trainees.

Traveling to the U.S. to Study

If you want to come to the U.S. to study, you will need to apply for an F visa. The F-1 visa can be used to study at a high school, accredited college or university, conservatory, or seminary. Another option is a J-1 exchange program visa to study in the U.S. through an exchange program at an approved institution for less than 24 months.

Traveling to the U.S. for Medical Care

If you need to travel to the U.S. to receive medical treatment, you will need to show that the treatment is not available in your home country and is medically necessary. The visa you will need for this purpose is the B-2 visa. you will need to prove that you can afford to pay for the costs of the care you will receive in the U.S. and submit letters from the doctor in your home country and the physician in the U.S. who will provide the care.

Foreign Doctors Who Want to Practice in the U.S.

If you are a foreign doctor who wants to practice in the U.S., you can apply for a J-1 visa. This visa provides a foreign medical resident to work in the U.S. in underserved communities and can be extended each year for up to seven years. Doctors can also come to the U.S. to establish clinical practices or to conduct research with an H-1B visa.

Traveling to the U.S. as an Entrepreneur

If you want to start a business in the U.S. and can invest substantial resources, you might want to consider an E visa. This type of visa is available to those who come to the U>S. under a treaty between the U.S. and the home country of the investor. An E-2 investment visa is available for foreign investors who have a substantial stake of at least 50% ownership in a U.S. company.

Transferring to the U.S. as a Business Professional

If you are a foreign professional who works for a company that wants to transfer you to the U.S., you might need an L-1 non-immigrant visa. This visa allows companies to transfer foreign employees who have specialized knowledge or serve in managerial or executive roles from abroad to their U.S. divisions. To qualify, the professional must have worked for an affiliate of the U.S. company abroad for a minimum of one year. An L-1 visa can also be used by a foreign company to send an executive or an employee with specialized knowledge to the U.S. to establish a U.S. office.

Coming to the U.S. as a Recognized Expert, Athlete, or Artist

If you are an internationally known expert in business, education, or the sciences or are internationally recognized for your achievements in the arts or athletics, you might be able to come to the U.S. with an O visa. Those who possess extraordinary abilities in athletics, business, education, or the sciences might qualify for an O-1A visa. Media professionals, actors, and others might qualify for an O-1B visa. Those who accompany an artist or athlete with an O-1 visa might qualify for an O-2 visa to help with a specific performance or event.

Talk to a New York Immigration Attorney

This list is simply an overview and does not address all of the eligibility requirements for each type of visa. To learn more about applying for a visa and to obtain help, contact a New York immigration attorney at Pozo Goldstein today by calling (212) 201-9031.