Whether you are seeking to acquire a tourist visa, extend your trip to the United States, or permanently immigrate through family or marriage, the New York and Miami based immigration attorneys at Law Offices of Inna Vernikov we are highly skilled and equipped to handle your matter.

Unless your country participates in a Visa Waiver Program (VWP), you must apply for a temporary visa in order to enter the United States. There are several temporary visas one may apply for, depending on the reason for the visit to the United States. You can view a list of countries of which its citizens are eligible to apply for admission into United States under the Visa Waiver Program here.

The type of temporary/nonimmigrant visa required depends upon the reason for the temporary visit (work- related, business, tourism, engagement, or others.)

Our immigration lawyers are committed to assisting our clients and are always happy to help you better understand your options.

Tourist Visa (B2)

The Tourist Visa (B2) is a nonimmigrant/temporary visa reserved for individuals wishing to enter the U.S. for tourism or pleasure.  Study or work during their stay while on this visa is not allowed. A tourist visa holder may be able to participate in courses which are recreational and not credit based, and which are for no longer than 18 hours per week. An example would be a tourist attending an art workshop once a week while on a visit for purely tourism purposes without credits being earned.

Once an individual is granted a tourist visa, he may enter and stay in the United States for a period of six (6) months. One must leave on or before the sixth month mark is up, unless they have applied for and have been permitted an extension of the temporary visa. The extension is usually given for an additional six months.

A tourist wishing to extend his stay in the United States without having to leave the country, is required to petition USCIS for an extension and he or she must prove with sufficient evidence that he or she has strong ties to his home country. Our temporary visa NYC lawyers are exceptionally capable and experienced at handling non-immigrant visa petitions, including extensions of temporary visas from New York and other office locations and we can effectively advise and assist in both visa applications and extensions.

Business Visa (B1)

The Business Visa (B1) is a nonimmigrant Visa obtained for business related trips of a short duration. A B-1 will only be granted for the period of time which is necessary for the person’s business activities. A visitor on business in the United States may not work in the U.S. The business visitor must intend to return to his home country and maintain a residence abroad. To be eligible for a B1 Business Visa, an applicant may participate in business activities, including but not limited to: negotiating a business contract, consulting with associates and partners, training, and more.

Our business visa NYC lawyers are exceptionally capable and experienced at handling business visa petitions, and we can effectively advise and assist with the process.

Investor Visa (E-2)

An Investor Visa (E-2) is a nonimmigrant Visa which entitles foreign nationals to enter the United States pursuant to a treaty of commerce and navigation between the United States and the foreign country of which he is a national, exclusively to develop the operations of a business venture in which he is investing or had previously invested no less than $50,000. Our investor visa NYC lawyers are exceptionally capable and experienced at handling investor visa petitions, and we can effectively advise and assist with the process.

Fiancé Visa (K-1)

A Fiancé Visa (K1 visa) is a nonimmigrant Visa allowing a fiancé of a U.S. Citizen to enter the U.S. for 90 days during which time they must marry and apply for lawful permanent resident status (otherwise known as adjustment of status) in order to obtain a green card. After the marriage, the applicant will be eligible for a two- year conditional Green Card and after two years of marriage, the beneficiary–spouse may apply for a permanent 10-year Green Card and eventually Citizenship.

You may not apply for a fiancé visa if you have already married your fiancé or if your fiancé is currently residing in the United States. In the case you intend to marry your fiancé outside the United States of if you have already married your fiancé, you may be able to petition USCIS for a marriage based green card.

Our NYC fiancé visa lawyers are exceptionally capable and experienced at handling fiancé visas in New York as well as other office locations and we can effectively advise and assist with the process.

Student Visa (F1)

A Student Visa (F1) allows foreign nationals to pursue academic studies in the U.S. Aliens admitted to the United States with an F1 Student Visa may remain in the United States for the duration of their studies. They may also engage in a period of practical training (OPT) after their studies have been completed, as long as such training is not available in their home country. Our business visa NYC lawyers are exceptionally capable and experienced at handling student visa petitions, and we can effectively advise and assist with the process.

“Exchange Visitor” Visa (J1)

A J-1 Visa is a nonimmigrant Visa reserved for foreigners known as “exchange visitors.” To obtain a J-1 Visa, an applicant must be sponsored by an employer through an Exchange Visitor Program. An alien may be eligible for a J1 Visa if he or she desires to come to the US and take part in a U.S. Department of State approved program for training, study, or research. J-1 holders are generally permitted to work for the program sponsors and in some limited circumstances they may work for non-sponsored employers. The duration of J-1 status is contingent upon the J-1 holder’s program of study. A J-1 visitor may extend his or her stay if his or her total period of stay does not exceed the maximum duration of stay for the program, and his program sponsor agrees to the extension. Our “exchange visitor” visa NYC lawyers are exceptionally capable and experienced at handling business visa petitions, and we can effectively advise and assist with the process.

The Foreign Worker Visa (H-1B)

An H-1B Visa allows foreign, highly skilled professionals, to obtain temporarily employment within their field in the U.S. The H1-B Visa is ideal for nurses, professors, engineers, computer programmers, researchers, as well as other professions. The H-1B Visa is available exclusively to highly specialized professionals who possess knowledge which is normally obtained through a four-year college degree. To be eligible, the applicant must have an equivalent of a bachelor’s degree. The H-1B Visa holder may be permitted to be employed in a professional capacity up to a period of six years. Our foreign worker visa NYC lawyers are exceptionally capable and experienced at handling foreign worker visa petitions, and we can effectively advise and assist with the process.

The Religious Worker Visa (R1)

The Religious Worker Visa (R1) is reserved for foreign nationals who wish to enter the United States on a temporary basis to be employed at least part of the time (at least 20 hours per week on average) by a U.S. non-profit religious organization in order to work as a minister or in a religious occupation. In order to qualify for the R1 Visa, the applicant must have been a member of the religious denomination of the organization for at least two years and the religious organization must have or qualify for a (501)(c)(3) tax exempt status. Our business visa NYC lawyers are exceptionally capable and experienced at handling religious worker visa petitions, and we can effectively advise and assist with the process.

O1 Visa

In order to qualify under the O1 nonimmigrant Visa category, an alien must have an extraordinary ability in the arts, sciences, business, education, or athletics. Each field has a different standard of eligibility. The alien must be coming to the United States in order to work in his field of extraordinary achievement or ability. The duration of stay under this category is approved for the time necessary to complete the activity for which the alien is admitted to the United States, up to a period of three years. Our business visa NYC lawyers are exceptionally capable and experienced at handling extraordinary ability visa petitions, and we can effectively advise and assist with the process.

U-Visa

The U-Visa is a nonimmigrant Visa reserved for those who wish to come forward and assist U.S. law enforcement in the prosecution or investigation of certain crimes which they fell victims to. Victims who suffered various types of mental or physical abuse, such as “domestic violence, sexual assault, trafficking of aliens,” and wish to cooperate with law enforcement in order to apprehend the criminal, might be eligible for a U-Visa. Our U- visa  NYC lawyers are exceptionally capable and experienced at handling U-visa petitions, and we can effectively advise and assist with the process.

VAWA: Violence Against Women Act – Visa for Survivors of Domestic Violence and Other Crimes

If you have been a victim of abuse perpetrated by your spouse, child, or parent who is either a U.S. Citizen or Lawful Permanent Resident, VAWA allows to self-petition for lawful status in the United States, receive employment authorization, and obtain public benefits. VAWA provides domestic violence survivors with the means that are essential to escaping violence and establishing safe, independent lives. You do not need to be a female to petition USCIS for VAWA based relief. Our VAWA NYC lawyers are exceptionally capable and experienced at handling VAWA petitions, and we can effectively advise and assist with the process.

Contact Law Offices of Inna Vernikov PLLC at (212) 729-3497 for assistance from our New York temporary visa attorneys in Brooklyn, Manhattan and Miami locations.