Columbus Visa Attorneys

Need Help Obtaining a Visa? 70+ Years of Legal Experience

U.S. visas give foreign citizens permission to legally visit, work and live in the United States for a specified period of time. There are a number of different visa types available, according to the visitor's status and purpose. While immigrant visas are given to those seeking to permanently work and reside in the United States, non-immigrant visas are intended to allow individuals to visit the country temporarily under specific conditions. From immigration to non-immigration visas, we can help you petition for the right status for your unique needs. Our Columbus visa lawyers can provide informative legal guidance through the application process.

Non-Immigration Visas in Columbus, OH

As we mentioned earlier, a non-immigrant visa is a type of visa granted to individuals who wish to temporarily visit, work, study, or conduct business in a country where they are not a citizen or permanent resident. Unlike immigrant visas, which are intended for those planning to live permanently in another country, non-immigrant visas have a limited duration and specific purposes for the stay.

Each category often has its own specific requirements, limitations, and application processes. Non-immigrant visas typically have an expiration date and may also have restrictions on activities allowed during the stay, such as prohibiting employment or limiting the type of work that can be undertaken.

Applicants for non-immigrant visas usually need to demonstrate ties to their home country, such as family, employment, or property, to prove their intent to return after the temporary visit. Additionally, they often need to provide documentation supporting the purpose of their visit, like an invitation letter, travel itinerary, proof of funds, or enrollment in an educational program, depending on the type of visa they are applying for.

We can help with the attainment of non-immigrant visas, including:

• B-1: Temporary travelers with business-related purposes
• B-2: Short-term business, tourism, or pleasure
• E: Citizens from treaty countries whose purpose in visiting is related to trade and commerce
• F, M: Student or academic
• H-1B: "Specialty occupation" workers, whose jobs require highly specialized knowledge and education, or who are involved in governmental research and development projects concerning the U.S. and another country
• H-2(A or B): Temporary worker
• J: Student exchange
• K: Fiancés and spouses of U.S. citizens
• L: Intracompany transferees of multinational corporations
• O: Individuals who possess extraordinary ability or have made significant achievements and are visiting for the purpose of performing or demonstrating their work
• P: Internationally recognized artists, athletes, or entertainers who are visiting for purposes relating to their work

How Do I Determine Which Non-Immigrant Visa Category Is Suitable For Me?

Determining the most suitable non-immigrant visa category for your circumstances can be complex, but here are some general steps to help you navigate the process:

1. Assess your purpose of travel: Determine the primary reason for your visit to the United States, such as tourism, business, employment, education, or family-related matters.
2. Research visa categories: Familiarize yourself with the various non-immigrant visa categories available. Visit the official website of the U.S. Department of State to explore the visa options and their specific requirements.
3. Review eligibility criteria: Understand the eligibility criteria and requirements for each visa category. Consider factors such as your qualifications, intended activities, duration of stay, and any specific conditions or limitations associated with the visa.
4. Consult an immigration attorney: If you're unsure about which visa category is most suitable for you, consider seeking advice from our experienced immigration attorneys. We can assess your individual circumstances, evaluate your options, and provide personalized guidance based on our expertise.

It's important to note that the determination of the appropriate visa category can have legal and long-term implications. Therefore, seeking professional guidance from a Columbus visa lawyer can help ensure you make an informed decision and navigate the process successfully.

Immigration Visas in Columbus, OH

There are also numerous categories of immigrant visas; those eligible include the spouses and fiancés of U.S. citizens, adopted children of U.S. citizens, certain family members of U.S. citizens and lawful permanent residents, and employees of U.S. employers. 

Obtaining a visa requires the completion and submission of the appropriate applications and petitions to the U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Service. These filings are often complex, requiring legal briefs, multiple exhibits and extensive documentation.

Immigrant visas are designed for individuals who intend to live permanently in a country where they are not a citizen. These visas allow holders to reside, work, and eventually apply for citizenship in the host country. 

Here are some common types of immigrant visas:

• Family-Based Immigration Visas: For individuals sponsored by a close family member who is either a citizen or a lawful permanent resident (green card holder) in the host country. They include:
  • Immediate Relative Immigrant Visas: Spouses, unmarried children under 21, and parents of adult U.S. citizens in the United States
  • Family Preference Immigrant Visas: Distant relatives, including unmarried sons and daughters of U.S. citizens, spouses and unmarried sons and daughters of permanent residents, married sons and daughters of U.S. citizens, and siblings of adult U.S. citizens.
• Employment-Based Immigration Visas: These visas are for individuals who have specific job offers or qualifications needed by an employer in the host country. They are categorized into different preference levels based on employment priority:
  • EB-1: Priority workers with extraordinary abilities, outstanding professors or researchers, and multinational executives or managers.
  • EB-2: Professionals holding advanced degrees or individuals with exceptional abilities.
  • EB-3: Skilled workers, professionals, and unskilled workers.
  • EB-4: Special immigrants including religious workers, certain employees of U.S. foreign service posts, and other specific categories.
  • EB-5: Immigrant investors who invest a specified amount of capital in a new commercial enterprise that creates jobs in the U.S.
• Diversity Immigrant Visa (DV) Lottery: This program, known as the Green Card Lottery, provides a limited number of immigrant visas annually to people from countries with historically low rates of immigration to the host country. Applicants are selected randomly by a computer.
• Special Immigrant Visas: These visas are for various special categories of immigrants, such as certain Iraqis or Afghans who worked for the U.S. government, religious workers, certain juveniles, and other unique groups.

How We Can Help You Secure a U.S. Visa

Obtaining a U.S. visa does not automatically require the services of an immigration attorney, but the counsel of a dedicated immigration professional can simplify the process tremendously, while also increasing the overall likelihood of being able to successfully navigate the immigration process. At Brown Immigration Law, we have nearly seven decades of combined experience in immigration cases.

Our team of experienced Columbus immigration visa lawyers can help you determine the most appropriate visa to apply for and walk you through the entire process. We’ll work to improve efficiency in constructing your filing and work towards attaining overall success. We have helped countless employers, families, and foreign nationals secure the U.S. visas they need - while sparing them time and headaches along the way.

To put our services to work for you, call Brown Immigration Law at (614) 698-1205. Schedule your initial visa consultation with our team today.