What are the Different Types of Immigrant Visas and Their Requirements?

Foreign nationals who want to come into the United States must obtain a visa. There are a number of immigrant visas available to these individuals. If you are in the Austin, Texas area, you can hire an Austin immigration lawyer to assist you in getting one. Here are the different immigrant visas and their requirements.

The B-1 and B-2 visas are for tourists and visitors to the US. These are available for people traveling to the country for business or pleasure and are only in place for a short period of time. People who obtain these visas are not eligible for employment and they must be from certain countries.

F-1 and M-1 student visas are available to immigrants in the US for educational study. They must have plans to enter a full course of study and sometimes, the visa is extending for training in their field.

H-18 is the Specialty Occupation visa. Professionals who hold at least a bachelor’s degree are eligible for this visa if their employers can prove they will be paid at least the regular wage for the position.

J-1 and Q-1 Exchange Visitor visas are available for students who are studying short term, teachers, business trainers, specialists and other international visitors. To be eligible, the individual must plan on spending at least two years outside the US prior to returning, during which time they can switch to a non-immigrant visa or permanent residency.

K-1 is the Finance visa, which is eligible to people not from the US who wish to marry a US citizen. They must get married within 90 days.

O-1 Extraordinary Ability worker visas are available for foreign nationals with extraordinary abilities and is typically given to people in business, scientists, athletes and entertainers. A similar visa, the P-1 is available for athletes and artists.

Religious worker visas are available as R-1 visas to individuals who come into the country to perform religious work.

There are also family sponsored immigration visas available to spouses, parents, children and siblings of US citizens. Spouses and children of the US citizen can also apply for permanent residency.

The DV-1 visa is also referred to as the “Green Card Lottery.” With this visa, 55,000 visas are given randomly to people from underrepresented countries on an annual basis.

If you are an immigrant who is looking to obtain a visa to come into the United States, it’s important to get the right representation. This means hiring a skilled Austin immigration lawyer who can help you. If you need an Austin Immigration Lawyer, do not hesitate to call Jackson Law Firm today!

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