What A Business Needs to Know About Immigration and Visas

The world is in a constant state of change, which we know already, but these days with immigration law constantly changing and making headlines, it's important to go back to the basics when it comes to visas and immigration in the world of business.

In getting down to details, there are three main kinds of visas that relate to business to know about.

H-1B

The most popular visa for businesses in terms of their employees, is the H-1B visa.  This is designed specifically for those who are hiring employees that are foreign.  In order to qualify for this specific visa, the applicant must have a Bachelor's degree or equivalent in order to even be considered for one of these visas.

These are very selective in terms of who they are awarded to and the amount of them varies depending on the economy at the time of application.  As well, with these specific kinds of visas, the application must demonstrate both a theoretical and practical application in their knowledge area.  The requirements for this visa are in place to make sure that only qualified people, who are educated in a very specific area, are eligible to get the visa.  In this specific application, the higher the (relevant) education you have, the better the chances. Another form of the work visa is H-2B and is for temporary seasonal employees in industries that have a peak season

L-1A or B

This visa is intended for employees who are going to be changing over from an office in one country to the same kind of office (or associated) in other country.  It is intended specifically for this kind of “exchange”.  The L-1A is intended for executives and other positions that are higher on the “food chain” within a company.  The L-1B is intended for the employees who are trained in specific parts of company workings.

It's important to note that with this specific kind of visa, the applicant must be qualified in the position they are taking over (and leaving) as well as having worked for the company for 1 of the last 3 years.

E-1 or 2

The third option is the E-1 or 2 visa and this is intended specifically for certain professionals from other (approved) companies who are hired as part of the company.  The E-1 visa is for those who have a lot of trade within the company, whereas the E-2 visa is for those who have put in a lot of investment into the company.

When these visas are displayed before you within a business, choosing the right one is important for making sure that the outcome is a preferable one.  Each one is categorized properly to help make sure that only the right applications get these visas for the correct and accurate reasons.  Within the business world, hiring foreign employees or sending employees to work in international offices long-term is possible when the right visas are applied for and obtained.  This should help you understand what various options are out there to make it that much easier.

Should you have any questions about what visa works best for your employee and company, please contact Valverde Law at (757) 422-8472 and we would be happy to help you and your company.