There are many types of visas that might be sought by someone who wants to visit or move to the United States. The first step, therefore, is to know and understand the type of visa that would best serve the needs of the applicant. Sometimes the person who wants to come to America must apply for a visa. Other times a prospective employer must apply for the visa. It is therefore usually wise to hire a competent immigration law firm when starting the immigration process.

What is an Immigrant Visa?

An immigrant visa is one that allows someone from another country to obtain a green card, which is issued to a person who is given the status of a lawful permanent resident of the United States. Obtaining an immigration visa can be a long and difficult process, which is why a competent immigration law firm can provide invaluable advice and guidance.

• One of the primary ways to obtain an immigration visa is through employment. America recognizes that people who live in other countries often have education, training and skills that would be beneficial to employers in America. There are ways for employers to bring those workers to America through the immigration visa process. These workers might include professionals with advanced degrees or with exceptional abilities, for example, although there are additional categories. For most employment based immigration visas, an employer must first apply for and receive a labor certification from the Department of Labor.

• Another primary way to obtain an immigration visa is through a qualifying family member. The services of a competent immigration law firm can be very helpful.

• There is another less known way to obtain an immigration visa, which is through an investment in a business that creates jobs for American citizens. The rules are strict, but this is a fairly quick way for someone to obtain immigration visas for themselves and their family members. Almost certainly an investor will wish to have the assistance of a competent immigration law firm, as well as the assistance of a competent business and employment law firm.

Finally, it is possible for persons seeking protection from persecution in their home country to seek asylum in America.

What is a Nonimmigrant Visa?

A nonimmigrant visa allows a person to come to America for a specific purpose for a specific period of time. Again, there are many choices. Determining which choice would work best for a person requires an evaluation of the purpose of the visit as well as comprehensive knowledge of the rules. The reasons for a nonimmigrant visa range from education to business to temporary employment to bringing a fiancée to America to be married.

There are many, many types of nonimmigrant visas. The application process includes filing an application with the U.S. consulate or embassy that is located in the foreign country where the person seeking the visa lives, but sometimes it also requires the filing of an application in America by an American citizen.

The assistance of a competent immigration law firm can therefore be very valuable.

What is the Visa Diversity Lottery?

Each year America conducts a diversity lottery from which foreign nationals who wish to move to America are selected. The selections are random among applicants who live in countries that have low rates of immigration to the United States.

It often isn't easy to decide which type of visa to pursue, and it is often even more difficult to apply for and receive one. The services of a competent immigration law firm should therefore be seriously considered by anyone who intends to seek an immigrant or a nonimmigrant visa to come to America.

To learn more about immigration law, please review the information we have provided. Call for a free telephone consultation and if appropriate a free office consultation where we can obtain the details necessary to evaluate and handle your case.

Contactthe Houston immigration law attorneys at The Solomon Firm, P.C. today to schedule a time to meet and discuss your business needs.