Williamsburg, VA H-1B Visas Explained
An H-1B visa is a type of nonimmigrant visa which allows citizens of foreign countries in certain specialized careers to temporarily work and live in Williamsburg and the entire United States. To qualify for an H-1B, applicants must already have been offered a job in a highly-specialized industry like science, healthcare, education, technology, or engineering. Any profession where employers can show it is required to have a bachelor's degree could be eligible. The initial term for an H-1B visa is three years, but it may be extended to a total of six years and potentially more if the employee chooses to apply for permanent residency.
Frequently, obtaining an H-1B visa is the first step immigrants take when they want to eventually apply for permanent residency and citizenship. holders of H-1B visa may seek permanent residency (also known as a green card) as sponsored by their Williamsburg, VA job and eventually apply for citizenship.
TN Visas for Mexican and Canadian Citizens in Williamsburg, VA
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. Applicants must already have a job offer in the United States (for example in: Williamsburg, VA) to qualify. If you are a Canadian citizen, you are able to apply directly at an airport or border 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.
To start, TN visas are valid for three years but can be extended by three-year increments each time. Like H-1B visa applicants, TN visa holders in Williamsburg, VA can transition to a green card if certain requirements are met.
What an H-1B Visa Lawyer in Williamsburg, VA Can Help You With
The steps to acquiring H-1B visas could look straightforward but actually require you to go through a complex, frequently vague bureaucracy. An H-1B visa lawyer in Williamsburg, VA can help you work through this system and gain a desired outcome.
Cap Limitations - One of the biggest obstacles that Virginia applicants face is the H-1B visa cap, or the limit on how many new visas can be issued annually. Currently, the cap is 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, it's critical that your paperwork is submitted correctly and with accurate information.
U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services reported receiving 758,994 eligible registrations in 2023, and selected 188,400 to apply for just 65,000 available H-1B visas. An H-1B visa lawyer in Williamsburg, VA can help you prepare your application so your application can have more chances in this process.
Application Deadlines - The registration window to apply for an H-1B visa is typically open for just a few weeks in March, and then the employers and applicants that are chosen have a few short weeks to apply once they've been notified of selection. An H-1B attorney in Williamsburg, VA is well-versed in the process and can help make sure your application has been filed correctly in the short turnaround time.
Required Employer Sponsorship - Employers who already have a lot on their plates commonly look to Virginia corporate immigration attorneys to help alleviate the stress of preparing the employer’s portion of the application in this heavily regulated legal system. Precision and timeliness are paramount for these applications, and your H-1B visa attorney can assist with organizing essential information and due dates on your behalf.
Policy Changes - Nearly every year, the policies around H-1B visas shift. An experienced immigration attorney in Williamsburg, VA can help you understand those policy changes to ensure that your registration and application are filled out completely.
How a TN Visa Attorney in Williamsburg, VA Can Help You
In similar fashion to H-1B visas, TN visas need proper documentation for both parties, the Canadian or Mexican citizen and the employer. A knowledgeable Williamsburg, VA TN visa attorney can assist you with this process to a fruitful outcome.
Review Eligibility - Williamsburg, VA TN visa attorneys can analyze your or your potential new employee's qualifications and information to determine if they meet the eligibility 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 - Before they expire, TN visas require an extension, and your TN visa attorney in Williamsburg, VA can help ensure you remain updated with any policy changes and the necessary information that you need to renew your visa. Your TN visa attorney can help you prevent gaps in your visa and maintain your legal employment status.
Employer Visa Compliance - Employers are the party responsible for immigration and employment law compliance in Williamsburg, VA which means keeping up with visa documentation, recording wages and job assignments, preserving H-1B visa Public Access Files, and many more obligations. Your Williamsburg visa lawyers can coach the necessary staff to remain legally compliant during the process and reduce the risk of audits and legal troubles.
Why You Should Hire an H-1B or TN Visa Attorney in Williamsburg, VA
Whether you or your employee needs to apply for an H-1B or TN visa to work in Williamsburg, VA, the process can be complicated and taxing. Additionally, erroneous information on any piece of the application can cause it to be denied outright.
An H-1B visa attorney or TN visa lawyer in Williamsburg, VA is knowledgeable about the complexities of these visas and can assist in managing the lotteries, deadlines, and correct documentation that are associated with each one. In addition, a TN visa lawyer or H-1B attorney in Williamsburg, VA can adjust to special circumstances, especially if you need to bring dependents or close relatives to Virginia with you.
Trust The Visa Pros for Your H-1B and TN Visa Needs in Williamsburg, VA
Weinstock Immigration Lawyers, The Visa Pros, was founded by Karen Weinstock, and she intimately understands the immigration process – she relocated to the U.S. and went through several immigration procedures herself! Weinstock Immigration Lawyers has a multilingual, multicultural staff in Williamsburg, Virginia and beyond, who possess international expertise and over 100 years of legal immigration experience together.
We take a proactive approach, which means we have over 20,000 approved cases of visas and green cards. We also have 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 who wants to tap into the global talent pool, Weinstock Immigration Lawyers is here for your H-1B and TN visa needs in Williamsburg, VA. Contact us for your free case evaluation.
*Disclaimer: Past results do not ensure the same outcome.