Houston Employment-Based Immigration Lawyer

Employment offers a way for foreign nationals to pursue their dreams of living and working in the United States. Permanent and temporary visas are available, allowing individuals to choose from various paths to residency through employment. However, the process for obtaining a work visa is complex, creating room for errors that can lead to a denial. With the help of a Houston employment-based immigration lawyer, you could find the right path to accomplish your employment goals. 

A skilled immigration attorney from J. Lopez Law could help you accurately complete the necessary forms, prepare for interviews, and navigate the visa process successfully. At J. Lopes Law, we are dedicated to finding solutions that help our clients reach their immigration goals. We could advise you of your options and act as your personal guide and advocate throughout the legal process. 

What Types of Visas Are Available? 

Federal immigration laws allocate visas for immigrants to live in the U.S. temporarily or permanently while fulfilling employment obligations. As your attorney could further explain, employment visas available to Houston workers are divided into three categories, based on whether they will be temporary or permanent residents. 

Permanent Worker Visas

Permanent worker visas allow immigrants to become employment-based lawful residents to fulfill specific employment roles. These visas are divided into preference categories EB-1 through EB-5. First and second preference are assigned to individuals with extraordinary ability or advanced degrees in arts, sciences, and business. EB visas can also be obtained for professionals, skilled workers, religious workers, employees of U.S. foreign service posts, and business investors. 

Temporary Worker Visas

Several types of visas allow people to come to the country as non-immigrants for temporary work. These visas may be issued for individuals to conduct business, fill specialty roles, or participate in specific programs. Some of the most commonly used temporary worker visas include the following.

  • H status category visas, for employees working in a specialty occupation such as agriculture, nursing, and non-agricultural positions
  • L status category visas, for intracompany transferees, often high-level or essential employees
  • O status category visas, for individuals with extraordinary abilities in arts, sciences, education, business, or athletics

Visas are also often awarded to spouses and minor children of workers filling an essential role. 

Student and Exchange Visitor Visas

Visas for non-immigrant students allow individuals to pursue full-time academic or vocational studies in the U.S. or participate in exchange programs. These visas are available to academic students, vocational students, or exchange visitors and their spouses and children. 

How Can a Lawyer Help?

Navigating the visa application process can be overwhelming without legal assistance. In many cases, employers are required to obtain an approved labor certification from the Department of Labor (DOL) before submitting an immigration petition to verify that there are insufficient workers in the U.S. to fulfill the needed positions. Upon approval, the employee may begin the visa process, which includes completing online and paper forms, attending an interview, and paying fees. If these tasks are not completed accurately, within designated timeframes, the application will be denied. 

An experienced employment-based visa lawyer in Houston could provide valuable information and guidance throughout the process. Our attorneys could explain the requirements of specific types of visas and obtain the necessary forms. They could also help you accurately complete the forms, gather supporting documents, and prepare for interviews with immigration officials. A dedicated employment immigration lawyer acts as an advocate throughout the process to help visa applicants avoid mistakes and increase the likelihood of success. 

Contact an Experienced Houston Lawyer for Help Navigating Employment-Based Immigration

Applying for an employment visa is a tedious process with many opportunities for error. Luckily, it is not something you have to do on your own. A Houston employment-based immigration lawyer from J. Lopez Law could take the stress out of the visa application process by helping you with each step of the journey.

Our lawyers understand the nuances and complications that often lead to mistakes or delays in the application process, and we could help you avoid them. Contact our firm today for your case evaluation and answers to your questions about employment-based immigration.