Applying for a visa is an exciting prospect, but the immigration process is also filled with worry and uncertainty for many people. With limits on many visa categories and stringent requirements of the immigration system, there is a reason for concern that one mistake can ruin your chances. Working with an experienced St. Louis visa lawyer who understands immigration matters and the process can often be very beneficial.
Our immigration attorneys at Hacking Immigration Law, LLC want to help you succeed. A knowledgeable immigration attorney could give you peace of mind knowing that you are taking the right steps to increase your chances of visa approval in the shortest possible time frame.
The United States government issues many different types of visas, but there are two main categories:
Those with immigration visas are often said to "have a green card" or are referred to by the acronym "LPR" a for lawful permanent resident.
Temporary visas may be issued for purposes such as travel, visiting family, receiving medical care, study, or employment. Permanent visas are most often granted on the basis of a family or employment relationship but may be granted on other grounds, such as refugee status. Immigration visas are subject to numerical limits in most categories, but temporary visas are not currently limited.
St. Louis immigration lawyers in our law firm can help with getting these visas:
Certain relatives of U.S. citizens and LPRs are eligible to apply for immigrant visas based on their relationship. In addition, some relationships qualify foreign nationals for temporary visas, such as a fiancé visa for those who are engaged to marry U.S. citizens.
Both the closeness of the relationship and the status of the person petitioning for a family member affect the type and status of a visa application.Â
Immediate family members of a U.S. citizen stand in the best situation to obtain a visa because they are not subject to any quotas or numerical limits. Immediate family members are:
Other family members may apply for a family preference visa based on their relationship. A U.S. citizen may petition for adult children (and any minor children they have), brothers and sisters, and their spouses and children. LPRs, by contrast, may only petition for spouses and children, with a preference toward unmarried children under the age of 21. However, these cases can take years and years to be finally approved.
Employers may petition employees for immigrant or temporary work visas. In some instances, highly qualified foreign professionals may file a petition on their own behalf.Â
In most cases, an employee must have a job offer and prove that they meet the qualifications for a particular visa preference category. The more skill, education, experience, and recognition an employee has received, the higher the preference accorded to the visa application.
The U.S. government and immigration laws have established numerous categories of employment-based visas, both temporary and permanent. Before an employer may file a petition on behalf of an employee for either a temporary or immigrant visa, the employer must generally obtain labor certification approval from the U.S. Department of Labor to establish that qualified U.S. citizens are not available to fill the position at issue.Â
To learn more about our legal services for obtaining employment visas, speak with a seasoned St. Louis immigration attorney.
In some cases, it can be difficult to determine which type of visa you should apply for and how to best establish the qualifications for that visa so that the petition and application are likely to be approved.Â
An experienced immigration lawyer could serve as an advocate and fight to help you obtain the visa you need. Our team could evaluate your situation, devise a strategy based on the unique circumstances involved, and help meet requirements. Whether you need help with your travel visas, green cards, or naturalization applications, we have someone on our team to help you.
