H-1B Visas for Temporary Work in Lanham, MD
An H-1B visa is a type of nonimmigrant visa which allows citizens of foreign countries in specialized fields of work to temporarily work in Lanham, MD and the rest of the United States. H-1B applicants must have a job offer from a U.S. employer in a specialized professional field like science, healthcare, education, technology, or engineering. Any line of work where that the employer can demonstrate that a bachelor’s degree is the minimum entry requirement may qualify. The initial term for an H-1B visa is three years, but it may be extended to a total of six years and even longer if the applicant decides to apply for permanent residency.
Often, an H-1B is the first application individuals take towards permanent residency and citizenship. Those with an H-1B visa can pursue permanent residency (known as a green card) via sponsorship through their Lanham, MD job and then petition to obtain U.S. citizenship.
TN Visas in Lanham, MD: What Are They?
Another type of work visa for professionals is the TN visa, which is for which only Canadian and Mexican citizens qualify. There are stricter qualifications for TN visas because the list of occupations is restricted. It includes accountants, engineers, pharmacists, management consultants, and scientists. In order to qualify for a TN visa, applicants must have a full-time U.S. job offer (ex.: in Lanham, MD). 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.
To start, TN visas are valid for three years but can be extended for three-year periods at a time. Like H-1B visa applicants, TN visa holders in Lanham, MD are able to apply for a green card if certain requirements are met.
What an H-1B Visa Lawyer in Lanham, MD Can Help You With
H-1B visas could seem simple but in actuality, they require navigating a complicated, potentially convoluted process. An H-1B visa lawyer in Lanham, MD can help you work through this system and gain a desired outcome.
H-1B Cap Issues - One of the most difficult challenges that Maryland applicants must meet is the cap on how many new H-1B visas may be issued each year. The annual cap is currently set at 65,000 visas per fiscal year, plus an additional 20,000 visas allocated through the H-1B advanced degree exemption. Due to the limited number of approvable visas, your paperwork must be without errors and submitted correctly.
In 2023, U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services reported receiving 758,994 eligible registrations and selected 188,400 to apply for the 65,000 available visas. An H-1B visa lawyer in Lanham, MD can help you with preparing your petition and be more competitive in this highly selective process.
Dates To Remember - Registration to apply for an H-1B visa is routinely open for a few short weeks each March, and then the employers and applicants that are chosen only have a few weeks to apply from the date of selection. H-1B lawyers in Lanham, MD have expertise in this application process and can help make sure your application has been filed correctly in the limited timeframe.
Required Employer Sponsorship - Employers who want to file correctly normally will hire Maryland corporate immigration attorneys to help take the stress of composing the visa application in this regulated, high-stakes legal process. Precision and timeliness are vital for visa petitions and your H-1B visa attorney can assist with keeping track of important information and manage deadlines for you.
Changing Policies - Nearly every year, the policies around H-1B visas shift. A knowledgeable, skilled Lanham, MD immigration attorney can help you understand those policy changes to make sure your registration and application are prepared correctly.
How a TN Visa Attorney in Lanham, MD Can Help You
Much like H-1B visas, TN visas necessitate correct documentation on both the employer's and Mexican or Canadian citizens' sides. A knowledgeable Lanham, MD TN visa attorney can guide you through this process to the desired outcome.
Eligibility Determination - A TN visa lawyer in Lanham, MD can help review your or your potential employee’s educational background and experience to help decide if they meet the requirements for a TN visa, saving you from potential legal problems in the future. They can also assist you with the necessary documents and make sure that the TN visa is the right one for your employee.
Visa Renewal - TN visas must be renewed before their expiration, so your TN visa attorney in Lanham, MD can help keep you updated with potential policy changes and the information needed to renew your visa. They can help you prevent delays in your visa and ensure you can keep legally working.
Employer Compliance Requirements - Employers are responsible for complying with immigration and employment laws in Lanham, MD, which includes staying up to date with visa paperwork, recording wages and job assignments, maintaining Public Access Files for H-1B visas, and additional requirements. Your Lanham visa lawyers can train and prepare your staff members to stay compliant throughout the process and reduce the risk of audits and legal troubles.
Why Hire an H-1B or TN Immigration Lawyer in Lanham, MD?
If you or a potential employee is pursuing an H-1B or TN visa so that they can legally work in Lanham, MD, it can be a time-consuming, complicated process. Additionally, erroneous information on any piece of the application may lead to your petition being denied.
An H-1B visa lawyer or TN visa attorney in Lanham, MD is familiar with the intricacies of these visas and can help you understand the necessary paperwork, deadlines, and lotteries that are associated with each one. In addition, a TN visa lawyer or H-1B attorney in Lanham, MD can aid in your specific situation, especially if you need to bring dependents or close relatives to Maryland with you.
Why Should You Choose The Visa Pros as Your TN Visa Lawyer in Lanham, MD?
Karen Weinstock started Weinstock Immigration Lawyers, The Visa Pros, and she is intimately familiar with the United States immigration process – she migrated to the United States and has navigated a few immigration filings herself! Weinstock Immigration Lawyers has a multilingual, multicultural staff in Lanham, Maryland and beyond, with worldwide expertise and boasts a combined more than 100 years of legal immigration experience.
Our proactive perspective has resulted in over 20,000 cases of approved visas and green cards. That gives us one of the highest approval rates in the industry, with only a 1% denial rate.* Whether you’re looking to obtain a work visa to work in the USA or an employer who wants to tap into the global talent pool, Weinstock Immigration Lawyers is here for your H-1B and TN visa needs in Lanham, MD. Contact us for your free case evaluation.
*Disclaimer: Past results do not ensure the same outcome.