Student visas allow foreign citizens to study in the U.S. as full-time students or in language training programs. There are two categories of student visas: F-1 and M1.

F-1 visas allow a person to enter the U.S. as a full-time student at an approved academic institution in a program leading to a degree or certificate. M-1 visas are available to those enrolling in vocational programs. The following are the eligibility requirements:

• Must be enrolled in an “academic” education program, a language training program or a professional program

• Your school must be approved by the Student and Exchange Visitor Program, Immigration & Customs Enforcement

• Be enrolled as a full-time student at the institution

• Must be proficient in English or enrolled in courses leading to English proficiency

• The candidate must have sufficient funds to support himself/herself throughout the proposed study program.

• You must maintain a residence abroad that you do not intend to give up.

F-1 students cannot work during the program, but may accept certain types of employment on campus. M-1 students may participate in practical training after completing their degree.

F-1 and M-1 students may bring their spouse and children, but these dependents will not be able to work while in the U.S.

H1B - Professionals who intend to work in the United States can apply for this type of visa, as long as they meet the following requirements:

1. A U.S. employer must establish a need for a professional in a profession and the employer must be willing to sponsor a foreign national.

2. Liberal professions are those that require specific knowledge, such as engineers, doctors, teachers, accountants and businesspeople, architects and many other professions.

3. The professional must demonstrate that he/she has the necessary qualifications. These qualifications may be fulfilled by diplomas or equivalent experience.

4. The employer must apply for certification from the U.S. Department of Labor. Once the certification from the Department of Labor is obtained, the employer can file a petition with the U.S. immigration authorities.

The H1B visa is initially valid for 3 years, but can be renewed for a maximum period of 6 years. The worker can bring his/her spouse and children under the age of 21 with him/her. During this period, the employer may decide to apply for a “green card” through a PERM process.

O Visa - O visas are available to people who are considered to have “extraordinary abilities”. They are often used by athletes, artists and scientists who wish to work in their specific field in the US. The O visa is initially granted for a period of 3 years, but can be extended indefinitely.

To qualify for an O visa, a person must demonstrate that they have extraordinary abilities in the arts, sciences, education, business, or athletics or that they have a record of extraordinary achievement in the film or television industry.

The candidate must provide sufficient evidence of at least 3 of the following characteristics:

• Receiving nationally or internationally recognized awards or prizes for excellence in the field of activity

• Be a member of associations in the field for which the classification is requested, which require exceptional achievements, evaluated by recognized national or international experts in the field

• Material published in major professional or trade publications, newspapers or other major media about the recipient and his or her work in the field for which classification is requested

• Original contributions of major importance in the scientific, academic or business field

• Authorship of academic articles in professional journals or other important media in the field for which classification is requested

• A high salary or other remuneration for services, evidenced by contracts or other reliable evidence

• Participation in a jury, or individually, as a judge of the work of others in the same field or in a field of specialization related to the field for which the classification is requested

• Employment in a critical or essential capacity for organizations and establishments that enjoy a distinguished reputation

P Visa - P visas are available to athletes (including coaches), artists and entertainers who would like to perform in the US.

The P1A visa is intended for those who wish to come to the US to participate in a specific competition as an individual or as part of a team. The applicant must demonstrate above-average skills and recognition.

The P1B visa is intended for artists who are members of an internationally recognized entertainment group.

The P2 visa is intended for those who wish to work as an artist or entertainer, individually or as part of a group, as part of a cultural exchange program between organizations in the US and another country.

The P3 visa is for those who want to come to the US to teach, train or perform individually or as part of a culturally unique program.

R Visa - R visas are for religious workers who want to come to the U.S. to work as a minister or in another religious activity. Religious workers must work in a “.

A non-profit religious organization in the United States;

A religious organization that is authorized by a group tax exemption holder to use its group tax exemption; or

A non-profit religious organization that is associated with a religious denomination in the United States.

E visas are based on treaties that the United States maintains with other countries. E visas are available to international traders and investors who are nationals or citizens of those countries.

E1 – Treaty Traders

Traders covered by the treaty are those who engage in substantial trade in goods, services, and technology between the U.S. and a foreign country covered by the treaty. To be eligible, the following criteria must be met:

1. Must be a national of a country with which the United States maintains a treaty

2. Carry out substantial commercial exchanges

3. Conduct major trade between the United States and the treaty country

What is trade?

Trade is the international exchange of goods between the United States and the treaty country. These goods may include goods, services, insurance, transportation, tourism, technology, etc.

What is a substantial trade?

It is the continuous flow of items. There is no minimum requirement for the monetary amount or volume of each transaction, but the emphasis is on the number of transactions over time.

What is core trade?

More than 50% of the total amount of trade carried out must be between the United States and the country that is a signatory to the treaty.

Who can be considered an employee of an economic operator bound by a treaty?

In order to be an employee of an economic operator bound by a treaty, one must have the same nationality as the economic operator bound by a treaty, meet the definition of an employee, hold a supervisory or executive position or possess special skills.

E2 – Treaty Investor

The E-2 visa program offers immigration privileges to investors who are citizens of countries that have trade treaties with the United States. The E-2 Treaty Investor Visa applies to those who make a substantial capital investment in a business located in the United States. A treaty investor must meet the following criteria to qualify for an E-2 visa:

The person or company must be a national of a country with which the United States maintains a treaty.

The individual or company has made or is making a substantial capital investment (see explanation below) in a bona fide commercial enterprise in the United States.

The individual is either the principal investor who will direct and develop the enterprise, or an executive, supervisor, or employee whose services are essential to the efficient operation of the American enterprise.

Capital investment consists of placing capital, including funds or other assets, at risk in a commercial sense with the aim of generating a profit. To be eligible, the capital must be subject to loss if the investment fails. The Treaty investor must demonstrate that the funds were not obtained through criminal activity.

Substantial investment is 1) substantial in relation to the acquisition of an established enterprise or the creation of a new enterprise; 2) sufficient to ensure the financial commitment of the treaty investor to the proper operation of the enterprise; and 3) of a size that ensures the likelihood of the treaty investor developing and successfully managing the enterprise.

It is also necessary that the investment is made in a bona fide company. A bona fide company is an active and functioning commercial or business enterprise that produces services or goods for profit. The company must comply with the applicable legal requirements to operate in its place of business. It is important to note that the company must be of an active nature, meaning that passive investments, such as those in stock markets and real estate, are not eligible.

E-2 visas allow for a maximum initial stay of two years. Extensions of up to two years each may be granted if conditions have not changed and the treaty with the investor’s home country remains in force. E-2 visa holders may apply for nonimmigrant dependent status for spouses and children under the age of twenty-one, allowing children to attend school and spouses to obtain a work permit.

EB 5 - U.S. immigration law provides visas to immigrant investors who wish to enter the United States to engage in new commercial enterprises. It requires that commercial enterprises benefit the U.S. economy through job creation and capital investment. To qualify as an immigrant investor, a foreign national must invest, without borrowing, the following minimum amounts in an eligible commercial enterprise:

US$1,000,000 (U.S.); or

$500,000 (U.S.) in a high unemployment area or a rural area that is considered a targeted employment area. A targeted employment area is an area that, at the time of investment, is a rural area or an area with an unemployment rate of at least 150% of the national average rate.

The investor must demonstrate the source of the capital investment. Capital includes cash, equipment, inventory, other tangible assets, cash equivalents and debt secured by assets belonging to the foreign entrepreneur. The investor must demonstrate the source of the capital by showing that it comes from a foreign country and from lawful sources.

An eligible investment must, within two years, create or maintain full-time employment for at least ten U.S. citizens, lawful permanent residents, or other immigrants authorized to work in the United States. This number must not include the investor, the investor's spouse, and children.

Jobs created or retained may be direct or indirect. Direct jobs are actual identifiable jobs for skilled workers within the enterprise in which the EB-5 investor directly invested capital. Indirect jobs are created collaterally or as a result of capital invested in a commercial enterprise. It is important to note that a foreign investor may only use the indirect employment calculation if he or she is associated with a regional investment center. Jobs created or retained must be full-time. To be considered full-time, an eligible worker must be employed by the new commercial enterprise in a position that requires a minimum of 35 hours of work per week.

Investor visas are also available to those who invest in commercial enterprises associated with regional centers designed to promote economic growth. This is a viable alternative for those seeking a hands-off approach and little or no return on investment. The required investment in a Regional Center is $500,000 (US).

The EB-5 investor and his/her family are granted conditional permanent resident status for a period of two years. This conditional status is based on the investor meeting the requirements of the EB-5 visa. After this two-year period, the investor and his/her family may apply to have the conditions on their green card removed.

To resolve any doubts, schedule a consultation or contact us by clicking on one of the links below:

Advogado de Extensão de Visto de Orlando

Os vistos para não-imigrantes são todos limitados no tempo. Estes expiram após um período de tempo pré-determinado e o imigrante é obrigado a regressar ao seu país de origem. Nalguns casos, o imigrante pode não ter terminado as suas funções nos Estados Unidos, ou pode simplesmente desejar prolongar a sua estadia no país. Em muitas circunstâncias, pode ser utilizado um Formulário I-539, Application to Extend / Change Non-Immigrant Status (Pedido de extensão/alteração do estatuto de não imigrante), para resolver este problema.

Precisa de prolongar a sua estadia?

As pessoas que pretendam prolongar a sua estadia nos EUA devem apresentar um pedido de prolongamento do visto junto dos Serviços de Cidadania e Imigração dos EUA. É necessário solicitar uma extensão do visto antes de o seu estatuto atual expirar ou enfrentar possíveis barreiras à entrada nos EUA. Devem ser cumpridos os seguintes requisitos:

• Foi legalmente admitido nos Estados Unidos com um visto de não-imigrante

• O seu estatuto de visto de não-imigrante permanece válido

• Não cometeu nenhum crime que o torne inelegível para um visto

• Não violou as condições da sua admissão

O seu passaporte é válido e permanecerá válido durante toda a sua estadia

Ficou com alguma dúvida? Entre em contato.

O asilo pode ser concedido a quem vem para os EUA para fugir a perseguições com base na raça, religião, nacionalidade, opinião política ou por fazer parte de um determinado grupo social. Os requerentes de asilo devem demonstrar um receio bem fundamentado de serem perseguidos se regressarem aos seus países de origem.

As pessoas que reúnem as condições para obter asilo são autorizadas a permanecer nos EUA e a trabalhar, incluindo a mulher e os filhos com menos de 21 anos de idade. É possível pedir asilo quando se chega aos Estados Unidos ou depois de estar no país até um ano (podem aplicar-se excepções).

Alguns requerentes podem qualificar-se para uma dispensa a fim de evitar a separação e as dificuldades dos seus familiares cidadãos ou residentes nos EUA. As isenções por presença ilegal permitem que os requerentes obtenham um “perdão” provisório antes de comparecerem a uma entrevista num consulado no estrangeiro e poderem regressar aos EUA. Este processo de isenção permite que as pessoas que tenham ultrapassado o prazo de validade dos seus vistos ou que tenham entrado sem visto regularizem o seu estatuto de imigração.

Para obter uma isenção de presença ilegal, é necessário

• Estar fisicamente presente nos EUA no momento do preenchimento da isenção.

• Ter uma petição aprovada por um cidadão americano ou parente direto residente permanente.

• Demonstrar dificuldades extremas para o cidadão americano ou parente imediato residente permanente.

A nossa empresa pode ajudá-lo com petições para cônjuges ou noivos, quer estejam nos Estados Unidos ou no estrangeiro.

Petições de casamento

Os cidadãos dos Estados Unidos e os residentes permanentes podem apresentar uma petição de residência permanente (green card) para os seus cônjuges. As petições de casamento podem ser apresentadas para cônjuges fora dos Estados Unidos ou para aqueles que já se encontram no país.

Para ser elegível, devem ser cumpridos os seguintes requisitos:

O requerente deve ser cidadão americano ou residente permanente (titular de um cartão verde)

Devem ser casados legalmente nos Estados Unidos ou noutro país

Deve ser um casamento de boa-fé

Petições de noivos – Visto K1

Os cidadãos americanos podem trazer os seus noivos estrangeiros para os Estados Unidos para se casarem. Devem ser cumpridos os seguintes critérios:

• O peticionário deve ser um cidadão dos EUA

• Pretendem casar-se no prazo de 90 dias após a chegada do noivo

• O requerente e o noivo podem casar livremente: não estão atualmente casados em nenhuma jurisdição

• O requerente e o noivo conheceram-se no prazo de 2 anos após a apresentação da petição (existem excepções a esta regra).

Os filhos dos cônjuges e dos noivos também podem beneficiar.

Os cidadãos americanos e os residentes permanentes podem apresentar uma petição de residência permanente para os seus familiares elegíveis. Para ser elegível, devem ser cumpridos os seguintes critérios

• O peticionário deve ser cidadão dos Estados Unidos ou residente permanente (titular de um “green card”) e ser capaz de demonstrar a sua relação com o cidadão estrangeiro. Podem aplicar-se as seguintes categorias:

  • Criança com menos de 21 anos

  • Filho(a) solteiro(a) com mais de 21 anos

  • Filho ou filha casada

  • Irmão ou irmã de cidadão americano

  • Pai ou mãe de cidadão americano

• O requerente deve estar em condições de ser um patrocinador, comprovando ter um rendimento igual ou superior a 125% do limiar de pobreza. Para atingir este limiar, pode recorrer-se a um copatrocinador.

Categorias de preferência:

As petições para familiares qualificados estão divididas em categorias de preferência. Cada nível de preferência está limitado a um determinado montante por ano. Estas categorias de preferência ditarão o tempo que um determinado requerente deve esperar por um visto de imigrante.

O processo de imigração familiar pode ser longo e complicado. Os nossos advogados explicarão como funciona o processo e guiá-lo-ão em cada passo. Compreendemos a importância de manter as famílias unidas. Temos o conhecimento e a experiência necessários para alcançar o sucesso e fornecer uma representação legal de qualidade.