U.S. Visa Application
An H1B visa requires sponsorship by a US based employer. Foreign nationals cannot apply by themselves for this type of visa, a US employer must petition for their entry. The application date can be as long as six months before the actual start of employment based on the US fiscal year.

H1B Requirements
The H1B visa is designed for workers in specialty occupations or professions that entail expertise or specialised knowledge. The minimum requirement is normally a job-relevant tertiary education, equivalent to a 4-year US Bachelor’s degree or the equivalent of a three-year course plus three years of relevant work experience. Undergraduates can qualify for a H1B visa if they have at least 12 years of relevant work experience. Professional practitioners are required to pass the licensure exams mandated by the government.

Duration of Stay
H1B holders can work in the USA for a maximum of three years during their first term. This visa can then be renewed for up to two years and for one further year thereafter. When the six-year maximum residency ends, H1B workers must leave the USA and wait for one year before applying for another visa.

Rights of H1B Workers
Should an H1B worker be dismissed prior to the expiration of his visa, the sponsoring employer is liable for the expenses he incurs in returning to his previous foreign residence.

In June, President Bema announced that in three months, “USCIS will launch a vastly improved website that will, for the first time ever, allow applicants to get updates on the status of their applications via e-mail and text message and online…This is going to save [families] huge amounts of time standing in line, waiting around, making phone calls, being put on hold. It’s an example of some things that we can do administratively even as we’re working through difficult issues surrounding comprehensive immigration. We’re going to leverage cutting-edge technology to reduce the unnecessary paperwork, backlogs and the lack of transparency that’s caused so many people so much heartache.”

Anyone who has ever tried to navigate through the confusing pages of the old immigration website, is sure to be hopeful that these improvements will finally help in the processing of their applications.

The number of H-1B “specialty worker” visas has been updated by the USCIS for the fiscal year 2010. According to the service, on 26th June 2009, an estimated 44,800 H-1B cap-subject petitions and 20,000 advanced degree cap exemption petitions, the annual cap is 65,000, were received.

The US business visa or B1 visa, allows a foreign national to enter the country on short-term business activities, such as attending conferences, but actually carrying out work is not permitted. A B1 visa usually allows a candidate to enter the USA for up to six months, but the total validity period of this visa is anywhere from one to 10years, in most cases.

The B2 travel visa, allows a foreigner to travel around the USA, temporarily, for tourism purposes and to visit friends and family.

The L1 or H1B visa is issued to people who wish to live and work in the country for a longer period of time.

For anyone wishing to establish a business in the country, an E1 or E2 visa must be applied for. These two visas have five-year validity and holders of E1 and E2 visas have the opportunity to pursue a US Green Card.

Anyone intending to relocate in the USA permanently should go down the employment-based routes for US Green Cards by first applying for EB-1 and EB-2 visas.

The EB-3, EB-4 and EB-5 visas permit qualified individuals to apply for permanent residency in the country through employment opportunities.

An individual may also apply for a Green Card through specific categories of family relationship, such as a sibling, spouse, parent or fiancé.

The annual US “Green Card Lottery” is aimed at giving candidates from under-represented countries the opportunity of obtaining a Green Card and of living and working in the country.

H1B or specialty occupation visas are available to skilled workers who have attained the equivalent of a US college or university education or relevant training. Emigrants or those educated outside the USA are required to have a relevant or partly relevant degree, plus three or more years of work experience in the target position. For anyone seeking to practice their profession, such as medicine, law or accountancy, a relevant state or federal licence is required.

The dependents of aliens holding a US work visa are prohibited from working in the USA unless they qualify for a work visa in their own right and have a US employer that will sponsor them. Nevertheless, dependents of the US visa holder may study in the country. They must obtain their derivative visas at the same time as the principal US visa holder.

H1B visa holders can remain in the USA for three years, though the duration of stay can be extended to six. Despite this limit, H1B visa holders are not required to stay for a specific period in the job, which they originally sought when they applied for visa.

var uri = ‘http://impgb.tradedoubler.com/imp?type(js)g(17945146)a(1737490)’ + new String (Math.random()).substring (2, 11);
document.write(”);

The H1B or Specialty Occupation Visa is aimed at skilled workers. It grants a minimum of three years of residency, which can be extended twice, up to a maximum of three more years. To qualify for the H1B visa, you need to be a graduate of a job-relevant course and have at least three years of relevant work experience. If the educational qualification is not relevant to the target job, at least twelve years of related work experience will suffice.

L1 or Intra-Company Transfer Visas are intended for foreign nationals who must work in the USA on the instructions of their employer. This type of visa is designed for those who are relocating to the US subsidiary or branch of their employer.

E Treaty Trader or Treaty Investor Visas are intended for the employees of accredited Treaty Traders or Treaty Investors. E visas are valid for only two years, but can be renewed indefinitely.

Employment-based green cards come in three types. EB1 is for managers and experts in the fields of science, arts, business, education and sports. EB2 is given to foreign nationals who have earned notable achievements in their respective fields. EB3 is for professionals who are sponsored by US employers to work in the country. This type of visa imposes a minimum level of work experience and educational qualification, as does the work visa.

Before anyone can enter and live in the United States, a USA visa must be obtained. Depending on the reason for travelling to the United States, processing a USA visa will require various documents. Living and working in the United States will require the applicant to prove that he or she will be working in the country upon entry.

var uri = ‘http://impgb.tradedoubler.com/imp?type(js)g(17934078)a(1737490)’ + new String (Math.random()).substring (2, 11);
document.write(”);

Work permits are granted to people who qualify for a certain job after thorough evaluation of their skills and qualifications. Another option, if you want to live in the United States, would be to show the immigration office that you have a spouse, family member or relatives already resident in the country.

There are certain agencies that can do the processing for you, for a fee, of course. Either talk to them or send them an enquiry; most agencies have websites that explain what you need to do and they will process your application for you.

Remember, a USA visa will not be processed overnight. If you need to go to the country at a specific time, it is best to start processing your USA visa months before your expected arrival date.

var uri = ‘http://impgb.tradedoubler.com/imp?type(js)g(970420)a(1737490)’ + new String (Math.random()).substring (2, 11);
document.write(”);

In order to apply for an American student visa, the applicant must have received a letter offering them a place in an institution or university in the USA. They must also present proof that all fees have been paid to the chosen educational institution, a process that can take up to 90 days to complete.

There are also other options available, related to the American student visa, which interested applicants may wish to consider. The J-1 exchange visitor visa is designed for people involved in prearranged work, training or research. Another alternative is not dependent on educational requirements, but is aimed at anyone looking to attend non-academic training courses.

A B2 visa grants residency for between one and ten years. This type of US visa allows aliens to leave and re-enter the USA during this period, as long as the purpose of travel remains the same as that specified in the visa. In cases of multiple entries, each visit should not exceed six months. The duration of each visit can be extended to six additional months provided that the visitor can prove that it is only temporary. The Customs and Border Patrol (CBP) decides how long a visit should last and this is stamped in the individual’s 1-94 card.

When reviewing applications for B2 visas, the immigration authority pays close attention to the possibility of illegal immigration. B2 applicants must prove that they have no plans to permanently settle in the USA. This can be done by providing proof of family ties, property ownership and strong reasons why they plan to return to their country of origin.

The US Visa Waiver Program exempts the nationals of certain countries from having to obtain a US visa if they have a machine-readable passport and a non-refundable flight ticket to their country of origin or other foreign destination, except Canada. Among the nationals eligible for this programme are Britons, Danes, Spaniards, Australians and Hungarians.

However, with the arrival of the American Visa Bureau, you may not have to go through that gruelling process anymore. This company, which is a division of an independent UK immigration company, specialises in assisting anyone immigrating to America.

If you need advice and guidance concerning your intended move, feel free to contact them. They can personally address your needs, as their staff are trained to deal with almost any visa related problem.

The company not only offers services to interested immigrants, but can also provide assistance to people who are interested in obtaining other types of American visas, tourist, visitor, student, working, etc.

You can expect to be given efficient guidance even if you need employer or employee sponsorship and assistance regarding relocating your family.

Although the company is based in London, it has access to all the latest data and information regarding American visa policies and immigration requirements.

The company’s consultants will continue to closely monitor the status of their clients after completion of the visa process and will see to it that they settle in smoothly once they arrive in the USA. The company is there to take the hassle out of its clients legal issues in connection with immigration, which is why they ensure that transactions are transparent and of course, in full accordance with the law. In the first instance, American Visa Bureau will ask you to complete an online assessment, to determine whether you are eligible for immigration.

Contact American Visa Bureau to make your USA immigration easier and faster.

Becoming an American citizen is no easy task. The processing of paperwork could take a relatively long time – it could take days, months and even years – which could be unbearable for anybody who is all amped up to be a legal resident of the United States. Immigrants are categorised into two groups: Unlimited Immigrants, who may stay in the country without numerical limitation, and Limited Immigrants, who have annual limitations. Immigrants with annual limitations can take advantage of three different types of visas, such as the USA Family-Based Immigration Visa, the USA Employment-Based Immigration Visa, and the USA Diversity Immigrant Visa Lottery.

In applying for visas which are provided by the embassy, the migration applicant should be petitioned by either their relatives living in the US or their employers. Some applicants, such as investors, diversity immigrants, certain special immigrants, and priority workers can apply for a visa without a petition. America has strict migration policies in order to protect its own people’s welfare, health, and security; thus, not all the applicants for migration will be eligible. People who might threaten the peace and security of the country and its people, such as those who may have mental or physical disorders, communicable diseases, and those who have criminal records are not allowed to enter the USA.

Immigration to the United States is a popular option, albeit a very tiring one. However, the rigorous process reaps great rewards when one is finally on their way to what is considered as the world’s ‘melting pot’ of cultures.