H-1B Visas for Temporary Work in Portage, ME
An H-1B visa is a type of nonimmigrant visa which allows foreign nationals in certain specialized careers to work for a finiteamount of time in Portage, ME and the United States in general. To qualify for an H-1B, applicants must already have been offered a job in a specialized professional field including healthcare, engineering, IT, science, education. Any profession where employers can show a bachelor’s degree is the minimum entry requirement could be eligible. Initially, H-1B visas are valid for three years but can be extended to a six-year maximum and even longer if the applicant decides to apply for permanent residency.
Often, an H-1B is the first application towards eventually applying for permanent residency and citizenship. holders of H-1B visa may seek permanent residency (also known as a green card) through sponsorship from their Portage, ME employer and then petition to obtain U.S. citizenship.
TN Visas in Portage, ME: What Are They?
Another type of work visa for professionals is the TN visa, which is designated for Mexican and Canadian citizens. The qualifications for TN visa applicants are stricter because the list of occupations is finite. It includes accountants, engineers, pharmacists, management consultants, and scientists. Applicants must already have a job offer in the United States (for example in: Portage, ME) 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, but citizens of Mexico need to have a visa stamped in their passport.
TN visas are valid for three years initially but can be extended for additional three-year periods. Akin to H-1B visa holders, TN visa holders in Portage, ME can shift to a green card if eligible.
Challenges an H-1B Visa Lawyer in Portage, ME Can Help You Overcome
H-1B visas may seem straightforward but require navigating a complex, frequently vague bureaucracy. An H-1B visa lawyer in Portage, ME can help you work through this system and gain a desired outcome.
Cap Limitations - One of the most difficult challenges that Maine applicants must meet 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. Since H-1B visas are extremely limited and in high demand, it's imperative you ensure your paperwork is submitted accurately with all the right information.
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 Portage, ME can help you prepare your application to be more competitive in pursuing this highly selective visa.
Deadlines - The registration window to apply for an H-1B visa is usually open for only a couple of weeks in March each year, and once selected, applicants and their employers only have a few weeks after being informed of their selection to apply. Hiring an H-1B visa lawyer in Portage, ME is a smart move. They are experienced with the process and can help make sure the proper forms and documents are filled out correctly in the short turnaround time.
Sponsorship by Employers - Busy employers and their HR teams commonly look to Maine corporate immigration attorneys to assist the employer with preparing the visa application in this legal process that involves many regulations. Timeliness and accuracy are paramount for these applications, and your H-1B visa attorney can assist with keeping track of important information and due dates on your behalf.
Visa Policies Change Frequently - Almost each and every year, changes are made to H-1B visa adjudications. A knowledgeable, skilled Portage, ME immigration attorney can help you understand those policy changes so your registration and application are filed on time and accurately.
What a TN Visa Lawyer in Portage, ME Can Do
Similarly to H-1B visas, TN visas also require documentation from both the applicant and the employer. A knowledgeable Portage, ME TN visa attorney can assist you with this process to a fruitful outcome.
Review Eligibility - Portage, ME TN visa attorneys can review your or your future employee's educational background and experience to help decide if they meet the requirements for a TN visa, saving you time, headaches, and legal problems. They can also help prepare the necessary paperwork for this process and confirm the TN visa is the right type to pursue.
Visa Renewal - Before they expire, TN visas require an extension, and your Portage, ME TN visa lawyer can help ensure you remain updated with changing policies and the required details needed to renew your visa each time. Your TN visa lawyer can assist you and avert gaps in your visa and retain your legal right to work.
Employer Legal Compliance - Employers hold the responsibility for complying with Portage, ME employment and immigration laws, which means staying on top of visa documentation, logging job duties and wages, keeping H-1B visa Public Access Files, and additional obligations. One of our Portage visa lawyers can train and prepare your staff members to maintain compliance throughout the petition and reduce the chance of government audits.
Why Hire an H-1B or TN Immigration Lawyer in Portage, ME?
Whether you or your employee needs to apply for an H-1B or TN visa so that they can legally work in Portage, ME, it can be a time-consuming, complicated process. In addition, mistakes in the application can result in automatic denial.
An H-1B visa lawyer or TN visa attorney in Portage, ME is experienced in the complications of each visa and can help you understand the deadlines, lotteries, and correct paperwork that correspond with each one. In addition, a TN visa lawyer or H-1B attorney in Portage, ME can help with your individual situation, which include additional dependents and immediate family members to Maine with you.
Trust The Visa Pros for Your H-1B and TN Visa Needs in Portage, ME
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 went through several immigration procedures herself! The Weinstock team is made up of multilingual, multicultural staff in Portage, ME, and throughout, who possess international 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. That gives us one of the highest approval rates in the industry, with only a 1% denial rate.* No matter if you're an individual hoping to secure a temporary visa in the U.S. or an employer hoping to hire global talent, Weinstock Immigration Lawyers can help with all H-1B and TN visas in Portage, ME. Contact us for your free case evaluation.
*Disclaimer: Previous results do not ensure a similar outcome.