Understanding H-1B Visas in Stratford, CT
An H-1B visa is a nonimmigrant visa that permits foreign citizens in particular job industries to temporarily work in Stratford, CT and the rest of the United States. Potential H-1B applicants are required to have a job offer in a professional specialty such as education, technology, science, engineering, or healthcare Any profession where employers can show it is required to have a bachelor's degree may qualify. H-1B visas are good for three years but have the option to be extended up to six years and potentially more if the applicant decides to apply for permanent residency.
Typically, securing an H-1B visa is the first step towards eventually applying for permanent residency and citizenship. Those with an H-1B visa can pursue permanent residency (known as a green card) through sponsorship from their Stratford, CT employer and then petition to obtain U.S. citizenship.
TN Visas for Mexican and Canadian Citizens in Stratford, CT
Another type of nonimmigrant visa for working professionals is the TN visa, which is exclusively for citizens of Canada and Mexico. TN visas have more strict qualifications for professions because the list of occupations is closed. These occupations include management consultants, scientists, accountants, engineers, and pharmacists. TN visa applicants are required to have a U.S. job offer (e.g., in Stratford, CT) in order to qualify. For Canadian citizens, you can apply directly at the border or at the airport and need not obtain a visa stamp at a consulate ahead of time, however, Mexican citizens must apply for a visa ahead of time.
To start, TN visas are valid for three years but can be extended for additional three-year periods. Much like H-1B visas, Stratford, CT TN visa holders are eligible to transition to a green card if certain requirements are met.
Do I Need a Lawyer for an H-1B Visa in Stratford, CT?
H-1B visas could seem simple but actually require you to go through a complex, frequently vague bureaucracy. H-1B visa lawyers in Stratford, CT can help you navigate this system and achieve a great result.
H-1B Cap Issues - One of the biggest obstacles that Connecticut applicants face is the cap on the number of new H-1B visas that may be issued yearly. The current Congressional cap per fiscal year is 65,000, with an additional 20,000 visas available under the H-1B advanced degree exemption. Due to the limited number of approvable visas, your paperwork must be without errors and submitted correctly.
For the 2023 fiscal year, U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services received 758,994 eligible H-1B registrations and selected 188,400 to apply for only 65,000 visas. An H-1B visa lawyer in Stratford, CT can help you prepare your application to be more competitive in pursuing this highly selective visa.
Deadlines - When applying for an H-1B visa, registration is usually open for only a couple of weeks in March each year, and then applicants and employers who are selected have just a few more weeks after being notified during which to apply. If you work with an H-1B lawyer in Stratford, CT, they are familiar with this process and can help ensure that your paperwork is submitted correctly in the short turnaround time.
Required Employer Sponsorship - Employers who want to file correctly commonly look to Connecticut corporate immigration attorneys to help put together the entire visa application in this legal process that involves many regulations. Precision and timeliness are crucial for visa applications, and your H-1B visa lawyer can help keep track of essential information and deadlines on your behalf.
Shifting Policies - Practically every single year, changes are made to H-1B visa adjudications. An immigration lawyer with expertise in Stratford, CT can help you navigate those shifts to make sure your registration and application are finalized completely.
What a TN Visa Lawyer in Stratford, CT Can Do
Much like H-1B visas, TN visas need proper documentation for both parties, the Canadian or Mexican citizen and the employer. An experienced TN visa attorney in Stratford, CT can help you navigate this process to a successful outcome.
Check for Eligibility - TN visa lawyers in Stratford, CT can help review your or your potential employee’s qualifications and information to help decide if they meet the requirements for a TN visa, saving you from potential legal problems in the future. They can also help you assemble the necessary paperwork and make sure that the TN visa is the right one for your employee.
Renewal - Because TN visas must be extended prior to expiration, your TN visa lawyer in Stratford, CT can help keep you updated with any policy changes and the information needed to renew your visa. They can help you avoid delays in your visa and ensure you can keep legally working.
Employer Visa Compliance - Employers are responsible for complying with immigration and employment laws in Stratford, CT, which means staying on top of visa documentation, logging job duties and wages, preserving H-1B visa Public Access Files, and additional requirements. Your Stratford visa attorneys can train and prepare your staff members to maintain compliance throughout the petition and minimize the risk of running into legal problems.
Benefits of Hiring TN or H-1B Visa Lawyers in Stratford, CT
Whether you or your employee is seeking an H-1B or TN visa to work in Stratford, CT, it can be a lengthy and extremely complex process. In addition, mistakes in the application can cause it to be denied outright.
An H-1B visa attorney or TN visa lawyer in Stratford, CT is familiar with the intricacies of these visas and can assist you in navigating the deadlines, lotteries, and correct paperwork correlated with each. Furthermore, Stratford, CT immigration lawyers can adjust to special circumstances, which include additional dependents or other immediate relatives with you to Connecticut.
Trust The Visa Pros for Your H-1B and TN Visa Needs in Stratford, CT
Karen Weinstock established Weinstock Immigration Lawyers, The Visa Pros, and she is intimately familiar with the United States immigration process – she immigrated to the USA and has navigated a few immigration filings herself! Weinstock Immigration Lawyers is comprised of team members who are multilingual and multicultural in Stratford, Connecticut, who have global expertise and a combined over 100 years of legal immigration experience.
Our proactive perspective means we have over 20,000 approved cases of visas and green cards. We also have one of the highest approval rates in the industry, with only a 1% denial rate.* If you're trying to get a work visa to legally work in the United States or an employer ready to hire the best global talent, trust Weinstock Immigration Lawyers for your TN and H-1B visa needs in Stratford, CT. Get in touch today for your free case evaluation.
*Disclaimer: Previous results do not ensure a similar outcome.