Practice Areas

Nonimmigrant visas allow visitors to visit the United States for a given amount of time. It is sometimes called a “foil” or “stamp”. A nonimmigrant visa, or NIV, is issued to a person who wishes to travel to the U.S. on a temporary basis for a variety of reasons like business, school, tourism or medical treatment. The length of time a visa is issued depends on the country you are from and the purpose of the trip.

Note: There is a different between a person’s “visa” and their “status”. The visa stamp or file is only used to apply for entry into the U.S. When a person is admitted or enters the U.S., he or she is given an I-94 (issued by the U.S. Customs and Border Protection) which states the person’s status (or who long they are allowed to remain in the United States).

Yes. Nonimmigrant visas allow visitors to visit the United States for a given amount of time. The purpose of the intended travel will determine what kind of visa is issued under present U.S. immigration laws. The most popular NIVs are for students, work, business, religious workers, ship crews and journalists.

The price of a nonimmigrant visa varies depending on what type of visa you need. Common NIVs are around $160 each. Visas for religious workers are around $190. A few more obscure visas can cost more than $200. The highest priced NIV is currently around $260 per person. When traveling, you must understand the steps required to apply for the visa in the U.S. Embassy or Consulate abroad, or your travels could be delayed or denied.

Visitor visas are NIVs for people who wish to enter the United States for business or tourism, or a combination of the two. The B-1 visa is for business. For tourism, the appropriate form is B-2. Often, the B-1 and B-2 visas are combined and issued as one visa: the B-1/B-2. If you are from a country that has access to the ESTA system the corresponding classifications are “WB” (for waiver business) and “WT” (for waiver tourist)

The B-1 visa is used for travelers consulting with business associates, attending scientific, educational, professional or business conventions/conferences, settling an estate or negotiating contracts. The B-2 visa is appropriate for travel that is recreational - like tourism, visiting friends and relatives, medical treatments and activities of a fraternal, social or service nature. In many instances, the B-1 and B-2 visas are combined and issued as one visa: the B-1/B-2.

Generally, yes. Temporary worker visas are for those who wish to enter the United States for employment lasting a fixed period of time, and are not considered permanent or indefinite. If you want to work in the U.S. temporarily as a nonimmigrant, you need a specific visa based on the type of work you will be doing. Most temporary worker categories require a prospective employer or agent to file a petition, which must be approved by the U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS) before you can apply for a work visa.

Yes. There are many different types of worker visas for all kinds of reasons to visit the United States. You must use the appropriate forms and follow the correct procedures for each visa type. There are visas for artists and entertainers, specialty occupations, seasonal agricultural workers, trainees, skilled and unskilled workers, and intra-company transferees - just to name a few.

Yes. You need a student visa to study in the U.S. There are two types of visas for students: F visa or M visa. Your course of study and which school you plan to attend determines which visa you need. F-1 is the most common, as it includes accredited U.S. colleges or universities, private secondary schools or approved English language programs. The M-1 visa is used for non-academic and vocational study or training at a U.S. institution.

An exchange visitor visa (or J-1 visa) can be granted to foreign residents who want to come to the U.S. as part of an accredited exchange program. All exchange visa applicants must already be accepted and approved by an authorized program sponsor. After acceptance, the applicant will receive the necessary approval documentation from the educational institution or program. That documentation must be submitted when applying for a visa.

Any crew member serving onboard a sea vessel or aircraft in the U.S. must have a crew visa. To apply for this visa, you must show that the purpose of your trip is to enter the United States solely for transit or crew purposes. You do not intend to be paid by a U.S. source while in the United States, unless you have been granted proper approval for a temporary work visa.

First, you must be a member of a religious denomination recognized as a bona fide nonprofit religious organization in the U.S. Next, your religious denomination and its affiliate, if applicable, must be either exempt from taxation or qualify for tax-exempt status. Also, you must be a member of your denomination for the two years immediately preceding your application for religious worker status. You must be planning to work as a minister of your denomination, or in a religious occupation or vocation for a bona fide, nonprofit religious organization. Lastly, you must be residing and physically present outside the U.S. for the immediate prior year, if you have previously spent five years in this category.

A domestic employee visa is used by a person who wants to accompany their employer to the United States for the purposes of performing work duties for their employer while there. It is a sub-category to the B-1 business visa. This may include employees such as a butler, chef, chauffeur, maid, valet, nanny, au pair or personal shopper.

If you are a member of the working media abroad and wish to come to the United States, you will need a type I, Journalist and Media, visa. This visa is valid for members of the press, radio, film and print industries who want to come to the U.S. to engage in informational or educational media activities.

Yes. Anyone coming to the U.S. usually needs a temporary work visa. To come to the U.S. as an au pair for your foreign employer, you will need a domestic employee visa. To qualify, you must demonstrate that you are coming to the U.S. to work and plan to remain for a specific, limited amount of time. You must also have at least one year’s experience as a personal or domestic employee that can be confirmed by former employers. Your current employer must also meet certain qualifications.

The Visa Waiver Program (VWP) allows nationals of certain countries to travel to the U.S. for business or tourism for stays 90 days or less without obtaining a visa. This is due to the treaty between their countries and the U.S. VWP travelers must apply for authorization through the Electronic System for Travel Authorization (ESTA), be screened at their port of entry into the U.S., and actively enrolled in the Department of Homeland Security’s Office of Biometric Identity Management.

There are a few steps. First, know your visa type and complete the proper application. Next, pay your visa fees. Then, you can schedule and attend your interview in the U.S. Embassy/Consulate. Finally, you can track your visa application until it arrives.

There are very specific requirements which must be met by applicants in order to qualify for A, C-3, G or NATO visas under current U.S. immigration law. Visa applications for accredited diplomatic missions and the Indian Ministry of External Affairs must be submitted to the U.S. Embassy or Consulate Consular Section through official channels via designated couriers. A diplomatic note must accompany all applications.