Bona fide representatives of the foreign press, radio, film, or other foreign information media, who seek to enter the U.S. solely to engage in such vocation may be admitted to the U.S. for that purpose.

We assist companies, employees, and their accompanying relatives in preparing the paperwork, and coordinate matters between employer and employee. We guide the parties through decisions regarding the appropriate employer/employee relationship, necessary contracts, job duties, financial requirements, extensions of stay, and the eventual change from a temporary “I” visa to another visa, appropriate. We represent the parties before the INS the foreign U.S. consulate.

The I Visa Is Outlined Below.

I visas are available for persons acting as representatives of foreign press, radio, film, or other foreign information media, who have their “home office” in a foreign country, and will be engaged in news gathering activities in the U.S. You are also eligible under this category if you: 1) will be engaged in the production or distribution of film and/or video of an informational or educational nature; 2) are a free lance journalist with a credential issued by a professional journalistic organization working under contract in the U.S. to produce information or news; 3) are an employee of a government-related foreign tourist bureau which disseminates factual tourist information; 4) are an employee of an office which distributes technical industrial information. Representatives of promotional trade missions engaged in commercial/economic activities are excluded from this category.

I Visa Privileges:
• You can come to the U.S. and work legally for a foreign-based media company.
• Visas may be issued to accompanying relatives.
• Visas are available for essential support personnel of press representatives, as well as independent production companies, such as reporters, film crews, and video tape editors.
• You may travel freely in and out of the U.S. for the term of the visa.
• You do not have to prove that you intend to return to your home country residence when your business in the U.S. is completed.

I Visa Prerequisites and Restrictions:

• You must prove that you are a duly accredited employee or representative of: 1) a bona fide foreign media company, 2) an independent production company, 3) a government tourist bureau, or 4) an organization which distributes industrial or technical information.
• Your work must be related to news and information; those seeking to engage in commercial entertainment and advertising are excluded.
• Non-essential support personnel, such as proofreaders, may not qualify for the I visa.
• You are obligated to work only for the U.S. employer who petitioned for your I visa.
• The I visa will be issued for the term of employment.

PERSONS OF EXTRAORDINARY ABILITY IN THE ARTS, ATHLETICS, SCIENCE, BUSINESS AND EDUCATION: O-1 VISAS

The O-1 visa is available to individuals of “extraordinary ability” in the arts, athletics, science, business and education who are coming to the U.S. to work in their field.

We assist companies, workers, and their dependent family members in obtaining their O-1, O-2 and O-3 visas. We prepare the extensive paperwork and guide them through the distinct and complex rules that are applicable to each profession within this broad visa category. We coordinate matters between employer and employee, and represent the parties before the INS in the U.S. as well as the consulate of the employee’s home country. We guide the parties through decisions regarding the exacting eligibility requirements for O-1 and O-2 visas, as well as the methods and documentation needed to satisfy the legal criteria applicable to each of the professions covered by this visa. We obtain advisory and consultation reports from peer groups, labor unions, and management organizations, as required, review employment contracts, reference letters, diplomas, certificates and additional documentary and financial requirements, and assist with the eventual change from an O visa to another visa, as appropriate.

The O-1 Visa Is Outlined Below:

O-1 visas are available to individuals in the above-mentioned categories based upon individual qualifications who enjoy national or international acclaim, and who meet the demanding standard of “extraordinary ability”. Motion picture or television production applicants must have a “demonstrated record of extraordinary achievement”, which involves a somewhat more liberal application of the “extraordinary ability” requirement, and for those in the arts (defined as any field of creative activity, including but not limited to fine, visual, culinary, and performing) an even less rigorous standard known as “distinction” applies to the individual’s qualifications. The O-1 visa is based upon individual qualifications; membership in a group or team is not by itself sufficient to obtain this visa.

O-1 Visa Privileges:

• Visas can be issued quickly.
• You may travel freely in and out of the U.S. for the term of the visa.
• O-2 visas are available to those who work as essential support personnel of O-1 athletes and artists.
• O-3 Visas may be issued to accompanying relatives of O-1 and O-2 visa holders, but they may not work or study.
• You do not have to prove that you intend to return to your home country residence when your business in the U.S. is completed.
• O-1 and O-3 visa holders may apply for permanent residence while in O status.

O-1 and O-2 Visa Prerequisites and Restrictions:

• You must be the recipient of a job offer.
• You must meet the stringent standards of “Extraordinary Ability” applicable to the O visa.
• Letters of no objection or advisory opinions must normally be obtained from U.S. peer groups, labor organizations, or management organizations to obtain O-1 and O-2 visas.
• You are restricted to working for the employer who acted as your sponsor.
• O-2 visas are not available in the fields of science, business or education.
• O-2 visa applicants must prove that they intend to return to their home country residence when their business in the U.S. is completed.
• O-2 visa holders may not apply for permanent residence while in O status

The largest group of non-immigrants entering the United States each year is in the category of visitors for business (B-1) or visitors for pleasure (B-2). U.S. immigration law provides for the admission of an individual under one or both of these categories who plans to visit the U.S temporarily for business or pleasure, as long as the applicant has a residence in a foreign country which he has no intention of abandoning, and is not coming for the purpose of study or work. These visas are often issued together in order to provide the greatest amount of flexibility to the visitor.

We assist temporary visitors in these categories to properly prepare for their interviews at the U.S. consulate of their home country, including the questions and documentary requirements related to expenses for travel and lodging, specific plans for the term of the visit, and the existence of sufficient family, employment, social and property ties which will ensure the applicant’s return to his or her home country upon termination of the visit. We also represent visitors who seek extensions of stay in the U.S., as well as those who may desire to change from a temporary “B” visa to another visa, as needs change over time.

B-1 and B-2 Visas are outlined below.

B1/B-2 Visa Privileges:
• You can enter and re-enter the U.S. freely during the term of the visa.
• B-1 and B-2 visas can be issued quickly in most countries.
• B-1 and B-2 visas are often issued for extended terms, allowing you to make many trips to the U.S. without any additional applications.

B-1/B-2 Visa Prerequisites and Restrictions:
• You must prove that you have sufficient family, employment, social and property ties to your home country, and thus will return to home country in order to qualify for a B-1 or B-2 visa.
• You may not work, live permanently, or study in the U.S. with a B-1 or B-2 visa, except for a short course of study that is incidental to the purpose of your trip.
• The length of each visit to the U.S. is normally limited to six months, after which you must apply for an extension to remain in the U.S., with a maximum stay of one year for any single visit.

Individuals may come to the United States to participate in one of the many exchange visitor programs approved by the United States Department of State (DOS) (formerly the United States Information Agency (USIA). These approved programs are operated by a large variety of schools, businesses, organizations and institutions, which have the purpose of promoting international cooperation through the exchange of information.

We assist exchange visitors and their dependent family members in obtaining the J-1 visa. We prepare the extensive paperwork, guide them through the ever-changing rules, regulations and definitions, coordinate matters with sponsors and the U.S. government, and represent the parties before the INS and U.S. Department of State in the U.S. as well as the consulate of the employee’s home country. We guide the parties through decisions related to the exchange visitor program in accordance with State Department regulations, financial requirements, language requirements, travel issues, extensions of stay, the two year foreign residency requirement, and the eventual change from a J-1 visa to another visa, as appropriate.

The J-1 Visa is outlined below:

The J-1 Visa is available to bona fide students, scholars, trainees, teachers, professors, research assistants, specialists, or leaders in fields of specialized knowledge or skill, or other persons of similar description who come to the U.S. to teach, instruct, lecture, study, observe, research, or consult in their area of expertise, or receive training. The J visa is used primarily by four groups:

1) students coming to the U.S. to study at a university;

2) scholars and other experts, often university professors in other countries, who come to U.S. universities or research organizations to undertake research or train other people in their skills;

3) foreign medical graduates coming to U.S. medical schools to receive graduate medical education, or to U.S. hospitals or medical institutions to receive medical training in the form of internships and residencies; and

4) individuals from business or industrial organizations coming to the U.S. to receive training in a particular area, in a specific company’s methods and techniques, or an introduction to U.S. business or industrial techniques.

J-1 Visa Privileges:

• You may come to the U.S to participate in one of the many exchange visitor programs approved by the U.S. Department of State.
• J-1 visas can be issued quickly.
• You may work legally in the U.S. if work is part of your approved program, or if you receive permission to work from the program sponsor.
• You may travel freely in and out of the U.S. for the term of the visa.
• Relatives may obtain visas to accompany you, and they may work with special INS permission if the money is not needed to support you.

J-1 Visa Prerequisites and Restrictions:

• You must first be accepted in an approved exchange program before you can apply for a J-1 visa.
• Your activities are restricted to those for which your visa has been approved.
• J-1 visas are issued for a maximum term of 3 years. Students between of 15 and 18 who participate in a high school exchange program may be issued a J-1 visa for a maximum of one year.
• You may be required to return to your home country for at least two years before you are permitted to obtain a green card, or change status to an “L” or “H” visa, which would permit you to work in the U.S. Waivers may be obtained from this restriction under special circumstances.