In a global business environment, many businesses are determining that immigration matters are increasingly common. Nonimmigrant visas are often sought by businesses that need employees with specialized skills that may be unavailable in Boston or the surrounding area. The skilled immigration lawyers at Maiona Ward have helped numerous employers and employees pursue both short-term and long-term business immigration and nonimmigrant work visas. Our knowledge and attention to detail are especially useful when it comes to executing complex paperwork completely and accurately. We know that a visa can affect an individual’s livelihood and the future of a business, and we work diligently on every case.
One of the common nonimmigrant visas that an individual can seek is the H-1B visa, which is a temporary employment visa granted to applicants in a specialty occupation. The applicant must have at least a valid bachelor’s degree, or the equivalent, in a field related to the position for which the applicant is seeking. The individual must also present an offer of employment which is related to that degree. Under the immigration laws, H-1B visa applicants must be paid a prevailing wage for their profession. This type of visa is granted for a three-year term and may be extended beyond that timeframe.
Professionals who possess an extraordinary ability in the arts, sciences, education, business, or athletics that has been demonstrated by sustained national or international acclaim may want to apply for an O-1 visa. Extraordinary ability refers to “a level of expertise indicating that the person is one of a small percentage who have risen to the very top of the field of endeavor.” A petition for an O-1 visa requires written advisory opinions from a peer group or persons of expertise in the applicant’s field.
An L-1 visa may be a good option for an individual who has been continuously employed abroad for one of the past three years by a parent, affiliate, or subsidiary of a U.S. company or corporation immediately prior to applying for the visa. This type of visa is for people who wish to enter the U.S. for a temporary managerial, executive, or specialized role in the same company, affiliate, or subsidiary.
Citizens of Canada, Mexico, Singapore or Chile may avail themselves to various visas available through free trade agreements with the United States. Generally, the applicants must have specialty occupations in order to take advantage of these free trade visa status’ such as TN (Canadian and Mexican nationals under NAFTA) or H-1B1 (Singapore and Chilean nationals under free trade agreements. Moreover, citizens of Australia may obtain an E-3 specialty occupation non-immigrant visa under a treaty with the United States.These are just some examples of the visas that may be available to individuals seeking to come to the U.S. for employment reasons. To understand the full range of your options, you should take the time to discuss your situation with a knowledgeable immigration attorney.
At Maiona Ward, our business immigration attorneys will work meticulously in our Boston office to address your corporate immigration needs. Our team will devote the professional effort that is needed to make sure that all the appropriate paperwork is completed and that your options are carefully explored and your interests are protected. We proudly represent clients in Cambridge, Waltham, Worcester, and other areas of Massachusetts, as well as in Providence and elsewhere in Rhode Island. We encourage employers and employees to share their concerns and ask any questions as they come up. To learn more, call us at 617-695-2220 or contact us online.