H-1B Visas in Raleigh, NC: What Are They?
An H-1B visa is a nonimmigrant visa that permits foreign citizens in certain specialized careers to work in Raleigh, NC and the rest of the U.S. for a specific amount of time. In order to apply for an H-1B, applicants must already have a job offer in a specialized profession like science, healthcare, education, technology, or engineering. Any area of work where the hiring company can prove a bachelor's degree is the minimum qualification required could be eligible. H-1B visas are initially three years long but may be extended to a total of six years or longer if the applicant decides to apply for permanent residency.
Frequently, obtaining 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 (a U.S. green card) sponsored by their Raleigh, NC employer and then apply for United States citizenship.
TN Visas for Mexican and Canadian Citizens in Raleigh, NC
Another type of work visa for professionals is the TN visa, which is specifically for Canadian and Mexican citizens. There are stricter qualifications for TN visas because the list of occupations is restricted. It includes accountants, engineers, pharmacists, management consultants, and scientists. TN visa applicants are required to have a U.S. job offer (e.g., in Raleigh, NC) in order to qualify. For Canadian citizens, you can apply directly at the border or at the airport and do not need to apply for a visa stamping at the consulate ahead of time, but Mexican citizens must obtain a visa stamp.
To start, TN visas are valid for three years but can be extended for additional three-year periods. Similar to H-1B visas, Raleigh, NC TN visa holders are eligible to transition to a green card if they are qualified.
What an H-1B Visa Lawyer in Raleigh, NC Can Help You With
The steps to acquiring H-1B visas could look straightforward but require navigating a complex, potentially convoluted process. Raleigh, NC H-1B visa attorneys can help guide you through this system and successfully petition your visa.
H-1B Cap Issues - The biggest hurdle North Carolina applicants encounter is the H-1B visa cap, or the limit on how many new visas can be issued annually. The cap is set at 65,000 per government fiscal year, plus an additional 20,000 visas allocated through the H-1B advanced degree exemption. With a limited number of visas available, all of your application paperwork must be accurate and submitted properly.
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 Raleigh, NC can help you prepare your application to be more competitive in pursuing this highly selective visa.
Deadlines - Registration to apply for an H-1B visa is routinely open for a few short weeks each March, and once selected, applicants and their employers have a few short weeks to apply once they've been notified of selection. If you work with an H-1B lawyer in Raleigh, NC, they are familiar with this process and can help ensure that your paperwork is submitted correctly in the small window of opportunity.
Employer Sponsorship - Employers have a lot to manage, so they commonly look to North Carolina corporate immigration attorneys to help put together the entire visa application in this highly-regulated legal process. Accuracy and punctuality are paramount for these applications, and your H-1B visa lawyer can help monitor important paperwork and deadlines on your behalf.
Changing Policies - Nearly every year, H-1B adjudication policies change. An immigration lawyer with expertise in Raleigh, NC can assist you with those adjustments so your registration and application are filed on time and completely.
How a TN Visa Attorney in Raleigh, NC Can Help You
Like H-1B visas, TN visas necessitate correct documentation from both the applicant and the employer. An experienced TN visa attorney in Raleigh, NC can guide you through this process to the desired outcome.
Review Eligibility - Raleigh, NC TN visa attorneys can help review your or your potential employee’s education and experience to determine their eligibility for a TN visa, saving you time, headaches, and legal problems. They can also help prepare the necessary paperwork for this process and make sure that the TN visa is the right one for your employee.
Extensions - Because TN visas must be extended prior to expiration, your Raleigh, NC TN visa attorney can help keep you updated with potential policy changes and the required details needed to renew your visa each time. They can help you prevent delays in your visa and maintain your legal employment status.
Employer Legal Compliance - Employers are the party responsible for immigration and employment law compliance in Raleigh, NC which means staying current with visa paperwork, properly document job duties and wages, keeping H-1B visa Public Access Files, and additional requirements. One of our Raleigh visa lawyers can ensure your team is trained and prepared to remain legally compliant during the process and minimize the risk of running into legal problems.
Why Hire an H-1B or TN Immigration Lawyer in Raleigh, NC?
No matter if you or your employee is seeking a TN or H-1B visa to work in Raleigh, 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 lawyer or TN visa attorney in Raleigh, NC is knowledgeable about the intricacies of each visa type and can help you understand the necessary paperwork, deadlines, and lotteries correlated with each. In addition, a TN visa lawyer or H-1B attorney in Raleigh, NC can assist with your unique situation, especially if you need to bring dependents or members of your family to North Carolina with you.
Trust The Visa Pros for Your H-1B and TN Visa Needs in Raleigh, NC
Karen Weinstock started Weinstock Immigration Lawyers, The Visa Pros, and she is deeply familiar with the immigration procedures– 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 Raleigh, North Carolina, who have global expertise and together, they have more than 100 years of legal immigration experience.
Our proactive perspective 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.* If you're trying to get a work visa to legally work in the United States or an employer seeking to take advantage of the best talent the world has to offer, Weinstock Immigration Lawyers can help with your TN and H-1B visa needs in Raleigh, NC. Contact us today for your free case evaluation.
*Disclaimer: Prior results do not guarantee a similar outcome.