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WORK VISA

Serving all of Maryland, D.C., Virginia & Florida

Helping Non-citizen Workers Obtain Visas in the United States

Every year, thousands of non-citizens come to the United States from other countries to work in a number of different occupations or in a variety of employment categories. These workers include researchers, artists, participants in cultural exchanges, religious workers, information technology specialists, scientists, nurses, investors, athletes, agricultural workers and many others. However, all foreign or non-citizen workers must first obtain permission to work in the United States legally.

Depending on the employment category, each worker will have to meet certain requirements before they are admitted, and the conditions and length of the stay may be different for each category. To determine whether you might be eligible for a work visa, and under which category your visa may fall, it is important that you consult with an experienced Immigration Lawyer. The attorneys at Sanabria & Associates are here to discuss your case and to assist you with obtaining the visa you need to work in the United States.

TEMPORARY OR NON-IMMIGRANT WORKERS

If you are a worker seeking admission to the United States on a temporary basis or for a specific purpose, then you likely will have to apply for a nonimmigrant visa. Under these visas, you are only allowed to enter and remain in the United States for a certain period of time, and your actions are restricted to those for which your visa was issued.

PERMANENT OR IMMIGRANT WORKERS

If you would like to live and work in the United States on a permanent basis, then you may be eligible for the approximately 140,000 immigrant visas that are available each year to non-citizens who seek to immigrate to the U.S. based on their job skills. Whether you are eligible for one of these visas and which of the five employment-based immigrant visa categories you fall under depends on your skills, education, experience, and other factors.

EXCHANGE VISITORS AND STUDENTS

If you are an exchange visitor or a student from another country, you may be allowed to work in the United States depending on the circumstances. You must first obtain permission to work from an authorized official at your school known as a Responsible Officer for exchange visitors, and a Designated School Official for students.

TEMPORARY VISITORS IN THE UNITED STATES FOR BUSINESS PURPOSES

If you need to come to the United States for the purpose of conducting business, you will likely be required to obtain a temporary visa as a visitor for business, unless you happen to qualify for admission to the U.S. without a visa under the Visa Waiver Program.

EMPLOYERS OF NON-IMMIGRANT OR IMMIGRANT WORKERS

If you are an employer, you must make sure that the person whom you plan to employ or would like to continue to employ in the U.S. is actually allowed to accept employment in the U.S. If someone has been admitted to the United States as a permanent resident, was granted refugee or asylum status, or was given a non-immigrant work-related visa, then that person may have authorization for employment due to their immigration status. However, other non-citizens may be required to apply individually for employment authorization.