Three Types of Visas
There are many legal avenues to becoming a U.S. citizen. With the right immigration attorney, you can find which one works best for you. Here are three types of visas and the requirements for each.
Three Types of Visas | H-1 Visa
H-1 workers are foreign professionals with specialized knowledge in a particular industry or discipline. They must have at least a four-year degree or equivalent training for this visa. USCIS considers three years of professional experience equivalent to one year of higher education, in this situation. If you have not completed a four-year (Bachelor’s-equivalent) degree, you may need to complete an educational evaluation, usually about six pages.
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Three Types of Visas | TN Visa
A TN visa is similar to an H-1 but applies to professionals from Canada and Mexico covered under NAFTA (North American Free Trade Agreement). Obtaining this visa is an expedited process that can often occur right at the border.
Three Types of Visas | L-1 Visa
An L-1 visa is for intra-company transfers of skilled employees, including managers, executives, and their support staff. Unlike the H-1 visa, the applicant does not have to have completed a four-year degree. The only qualification is that the transfer must clearly benefit the U.S. economy. Candidates must have worked at the foreign company for one year, and there must be a clear and important relationship between both companies (as when one is a parent company, or if both are subsidiaries of the same parent or holding company).
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Remember, these types of working visas are not green cards. They are non-immigrant, short-term visas. You only obtain legal permanent residence after you adjust your status. However, they allow the visa holder to reside in the United States for a set number of years and may be renewed while the visa holder is in the country. If you have any questions, please call our Morristown office today to speak with our New Jersey immigration attorney Susan Scheer.
