Business/Work Immigration

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United States Business and Work Visa Options  

Many businesses in Southern Texas rely on immigrants to get work done. Work visas and other business-related immigration petitions can require substantial advanced planning by the employer and the employee. The Villegas Law Office, PLLC, can help you understand your business immigration options, and create a plan that meets your employment needs. 

H1-B Work Permits for Specialty Occupations 

If your company is looking to hire skilled workers from overseas, you may need to sponsor those employees' H1-B work permits. A limited number of H1-Bs are issued each year to "regular" and "master" workers in certain specialty occupations including, but not limited to:

• Accounting
• Arts
• Architecture
• Bio-Technology
• Business
• Education
• Engineering
• Law
• Mathematics
• Medicine
• Science
• Social science
• Theology 

These temporary work visas can be granted for up to 6 years, and may sometimes be extended. They also provide an initial entry for workers who later apply to become lawful permanent residents. 

L-1 Visas For Transferring Workers 

If your company has offices overseas, it may become necessary to transfer workers to your U.S. locations. An L-1 visa can give certain existing employees the legal right to work in the U.S. for the same company, its affiliate, or a subsidiary. It can also be used to allow a foreign company to start up a domestic branch office. L-1 visas are granted to foreign workers who: 

• Have worked for the sponsoring employer for at least one of the past three years, and
• Is an executive or manager of the company (L1A), or
• Has specialized knowledge needed for the job (L1B). 

An L-1 visa is only good for one year. However, it can be a good option for existing employees or start-up branch executives that may later transfer to another work visa status or become a lawful permanent resident under another provision of the immigration code. 

Extraordinary Ability Work Visas 

Even if a person does not have an existing position or an offer of employment by a sponsoring business, he or she may still obtain a work visa in some cases. O-1 visas are granted to non-immigrants seeking to work in the United States based on their extraordinary ability within their given fields. O-1A visas are granted to the top small percentage of workers in the fields of:

• Sciences
• Education
• Business
• Athletics 

O-1B visas are granted to artists and actors (either for television or movies). These extraordinary ability work visas require a thorough showing of the applicant's talents, including an exhaustive résumé, and proof of his or her reputation in the field. 

Special Visas for Mexican and Canadian Citizens 

The North American Free Trade Agreement creates a special TN visa that is only granted to Mexican and Canadian citizens coming to the U.S. for "professional activities." It only applies to jobs that require a bachelor's degree or professional credentials. Unlike other work visas, it does not apply to applicants who intend (at first) to apply for immigration status once they are here. While an applicant's spouse or minor children are allowed to move to the U.S. with him or her, they may not work in the U.S. This can be difficult for some families, who struggle to thrive on a single income. It can, however, be renewed indefinitely, and may be a better option for Mexican or Canadian citizens seeking a shorter immigration process. 

Contact a Business / Work Immigration Attorney 

With so many options, it can be difficult to determine which work visa is right for you or your employees. An experienced immigration attorney can help you sort through the strengths and weaknesses of each choice, and create a plan that meets your employment needs. Contact the Villegas Law Office, PLLC, in Harlingen, Texas today to schedule a consultation with a skilled immigration attorney. 

Harlingen, TX Business Immigration Attorney — Villegas Law