H-1B Visas in Cape Fear, NC: What Are They?
H-1B visas are a type of nonimmigrant visa that allows foreign nationals in certain specialized careers to temporarily work and live in Cape Fear and the entire United States. H-1B applicants must have a job offer from a U.S. employer in a specialized professional field such as engineering, science, healthcare, education, or IT. Any line of work where employers can show a bachelor’s degree is the minimum entry requirement might qualify. H-1B visas are initially three years long but have the option to be extended up to six years and potentially more if the employee chooses to apply for permanent residency.
Typically, securing an H-1B visa is the first step towards eventually applying for permanent residency and citizenship. H-1B visa holders may apply for permanent residency (known as a green card) through sponsorship from their Cape Fear, NC employer and then apply for United States citizenship.
What Is a TN Visa in Cape Fear, NC?
TN visas are another temporary work visa type, but they are exclusively for citizens of Canada and Mexico. There are stricter qualifications for TN visas because the list of occupations is restricted. These occupations include management consultants, scientists, accountants, engineers, and pharmacists. In order to qualify for a TN visa, applicants must have a full-time U.S. job offer (ex.: in Cape Fear, NC). For Canadian citizens, you can apply directly at the border or at the airport and do not need to have a visa stamped at the consulate, but citizens of Mexico need to have a visa stamped in their passport.
The initial length of a TN visa is three years but can be extended for additional three-year periods. Similar to H-1B visas, Cape Fear, NC TN visa holders are eligible to transition to a green card if they are qualified.
How an H-1B Visa Lawyer in Cape Fear, NC Can Help You
H-1B visas might appear to be simple but actually require you to go through a complex, frequently vague bureaucracy. H-1B visa lawyers in Cape Fear, NC can help you navigate this system and successfully petition your visa.
Visa Caps - One of the biggest obstacles that North Carolina 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, and then 20,000 additional visas in the H-1B advanced degree exemption. Due to the limited number of approvable visas, all of your application paperwork must be accurate and submitted properly.
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 Cape Fear, NC 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 normally only allowed during a few weeks in March, and once selected, applicants and their employers only have a few weeks to apply from the date of selection. If you work with an H-1B lawyer in Cape Fear, NC, they are familiar with this process and can help make sure your application has been filed correctly in the limited timeframe.
Sponsorship by Employers - Employers have a lot to manage, so they commonly look to North Carolina corporate immigration attorneys to help alleviate the stress of preparing the employer’s portion of the application in this legal process that involves many regulations. Timeliness and accuracy are vital for visa petitions and your H-1B visa attorney can assist with organizing essential information and due dates on your behalf.
Changing Policies - Just about each year, changes are made to H-1B visa adjudications. An immigration lawyer with expertise in Cape Fear, NC can help you understand and navigate the changes so your registration and application are filed on time and properly.
What a TN Visa Lawyer in Cape Fear, NC Can Do
Much like H-1B visas, TN visas also require documentation for both the employer and the Canadian or Mexican citizen applicant. A knowledgeable Cape Fear, NC TN visa attorney can assist you with this process to a fruitful outcome.
Eligibility - A TN visa attorney in Cape Fear, NC can analyze your or your potential new employee's education and experience to help decide if they meet the requirements for a TN visa, helping save time and prevent future legal issues. They can also help you assemble the necessary paperwork and make sure that the TN visa is the right one for your employee.
Extensions - TN visas must be renewed before their expiration, so your TN visa attorney in Cape Fear, NC can help you remain current with changing policies and the necessary information that you need to renew your visa. They can help you prevent delays in your visa and ensure you can keep legally working.
Employer Compliance - Employers hold the responsibility for complying with Cape Fear, NC employment and immigration laws, which includes staying up to date with visa paperwork, recording wages and job assignments, keeping H-1B visa Public Access Files, and additional obligations. Your Cape Fear visa attorneys can ensure your team is trained and prepared to maintain legal compliance throughout the application and reduce the chance of government audits.
Why You Should Hire an H-1B or TN Visa Attorney in Cape Fear, NC
Whether you or your employee is seeking a TN or H-1B visa to work in Cape Fear, NC, 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 Cape Fear, NC is familiar with the intricacies of these visas and can assist you in navigating the necessary paperwork, deadlines, and lotteries correlated with each. Moreover, an H-1B or TN visa lawyer in Cape Fear, NC can aid in your specific situation, including bringing dependents or close relatives to North Carolina with you.
Trust The Visa Pros for Your H-1B and TN Visa Needs in Cape Fear, NC
Karen Weinstock started Weinstock Immigration Lawyers, The Visa Pros, and she is intimately familiar with the United States immigration process – she moved to the United States and went through various immigration steps personally! Weinstock Immigration Lawyers is comprised of team members who are multilingual and multicultural in Cape Fear, North Carolina, who possess international expertise and a combined over 100 years of legal immigration experience.
We take a proactive approach, which means we have over 20,000 approved cases of visas and green cards. That's 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 seeking to take advantage of the best talent the world has to offer, turn to Weinstock Immigration Lawyers for your H-1B and TN visa needs in Cape Fear, NC. Contact us for your free case evaluation.
*Disclaimer: Past results do not ensure the same outcome.