Understanding H-1B Visas in Reading, PA
H-1B visas are a type of nonimmigrant visa that allows citizens of foreign countries in specialized fields of work to temporarily work in Reading, PA and the rest of the United States. In order to apply for an H-1B, applicants must already have a job offer in a specialized profession including healthcare, engineering, IT, science, education. Any line of work where employers can show a bachelor’s degree is the minimum entry requirement might qualify. Initially, H-1B visas are valid for three years but can be extended to a six-year maximum or longer if the employee applies for permanent residency.
Often, an H-1B is the first application immigrants take when they want to eventually apply for permanent residency and citizenship. Many H-1B visa applicants file for permanent residency (a U.S. green card) via sponsorship through their Reading, PA job and eventually apply for citizenship.
TN Visas for Mexican and Canadian Citizens in Reading, PA
Another type of nonimmigrant visa for working professionals is the TN visa, which is specifically for Canadian and Mexican citizens. The list of occupations for TN visas is closed, so this visa type has more stringent qualifications. This includes pharmacists, accountants, engineers, management consultants, and scientists. TN visa applicants are required to have a U.S. job offer (e.g., in Reading, PA) in order to qualify. 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 Mexican citizens must go to a consulate to apply for a visa.
The initial length of a TN visa is three years but visa holders can extend them for additional three-year periods. Similar to H-1B visas, those with a TN visa in Reading, PA can choose to transition to a green card if eligible.
Do I Need a Lawyer for an H-1B Visa in Reading, PA?
H-1B visas could seem simple but actually require you to go through a complex, frequently vague bureaucracy. An H-1B visa attorney in Reading, PA can assist you with this system and successfully petition your visa.
Cap Limitations - One of the most difficult challenges that Pennsylvania applicants must meet is the H-1B visa cap, or the limit on how many new visas can be issued annually. The current Congressional cap per fiscal year is 65,000, plus an additional 20,000 visas allocated through the H-1B advanced degree exemption. Since visas are severely limited and many apply, it's critical that your paperwork is submitted correctly and with accurate information.
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 Reading, PA can help you prepare your application so you may ensure proper filing in this selective process.
Dates To Remember - When applying for an H-1B visa, registration is routinely open for a few short weeks each March, and then the employers and applicants that are chosen have a few short weeks to apply once they've been notified of selection. If you work with an H-1B lawyer in Reading, PA, they are familiar with this process and can help make sure your application has been filed correctly in the small window of opportunity.
Employer Visa Sponsorship - Employers who want to file correctly often turn to Pennsylvania corporate immigration lawyers to help alleviate the stress of preparing the employer’s portion of the application in this highly-regulated legal process. Accuracy and timeliness are critical for visa applications, and your H-1B visa attorney can assist with organizing essential information and track time limits on your behalf.
Visa Policies Change Frequently - Almost each and every year, H-1B adjudication policies change. An experienced immigration attorney in Reading, PA can assist you with those adjustments to make sure your registration and application are finalized completely.
How a TN Visa Attorney in Reading, PA Can Help You
Much like H-1B visas, TN visas require proper paperwork on both the employer's and Mexican or Canadian citizens' sides. A TN visa lawyer in Reading, PA with experience can help you navigate this process to a successful outcome.
Eligibility Determination - A TN visa lawyer in Reading, PA can help review your or your potential employee’s information and qualifications to help decide if they meet the requirements for a TN visa, saving you time, effort, and potential legal difficulties. They can also help prepare the necessary paperwork for this process and make sure that a TN visa is the correct one for this situation.
Extensions - TN visas must be renewed before their expiration, so your TN visa lawyer in Reading, PA can help you stay up to date with changing policies and the necessary information that you need to renew your visa. Your TN visa lawyer can assist you and avert gaps in your visa and retain your legal right to work.
Employer Visa Compliance - Employers are responsible for complying with immigration and employment laws in Reading, PA, which means staying current with visa paperwork, logging job duties and wages, keeping H-1B visa Public Access Files, and many more obligations. Reading visa lawyers from our team can coach the necessary staff to maintain compliance throughout the petition and reduce the risk of audits and legal troubles.
Why Hire an H-1B or TN Immigration Lawyer in Reading, PA?
If you or a potential employee is pursuing an H-1B or TN visa to work in Reading, PA, it can be a time-consuming, complicated process. Additionally, erroneous information on any piece of the application can result in automatic denial.
An H-1B visa attorney or TN visa lawyer in Reading, PA is knowledgeable about the complexities of these visas and can assist in managing the deadlines, lotteries, and correct paperwork correlated with each. Moreover, an H-1B or TN visa lawyer in Reading, PA can aid in your specific situation, which include additional dependents and immediate family members to Pennsylvania with you.
Why Choose The Visa Pros as Your H-1B Immigration Lawyer in Reading, PA?
Weinstock Immigration Lawyers, The Visa Pros, was founded by Karen Weinstock, who understands the immigration procedures deeply – she migrated 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 Reading, Pennsylvania, with wide-reaching expertise and over 100 years of legal immigration experience together.
Our forward-thinking attitude means that we boast over 20,000 cases of approved green cards and visas. That gives us 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 hoping to hire global talent, trust Weinstock Immigration Lawyers for all of your TN and H-1B visa needs in Reading, PA. Contact us today for your free case evaluation.
*Disclaimer: Prior results do not guarantee a similar outcome.