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If you are planning to enter the United States for work reasons, you may need an attorney on your side who is confident handling immigration matters. Applying for a visa in Oak Brook can quickly become a complicated process. However, an experienced visa lawyer could assist you throughout the application process and work to ensure that you successfully complete all the necessary requirements. Call and schedule an appointment to start discussing your potential legal options. En Español.

Employment Visas

In order for an immigrant to work and live in the United States on a permanent basis, he or she must obtain legal permanent residency status through his or her employer. In many cases, an employer located in the United States will sponsor a prospective immigrant employee.

United States Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS) only issues a certain number of permanent employment visas in a given year. Those immigrant visas are dependent on the applicant having a specific degree or qualification.

Applying for an employment visa in Oak Brook takes time, and there are several steps to the process. First, the applicant’s prospective employer must petition the United States Department of Labor for the proper labor certification to hire immigrant workers. This process includes advertising and interviewing citizens for the position and determining that there are no United States workers who are available.

Next, the employer must file a petition requesting that USCIS make a visa number available for the immigrant worker. The availability of a visa depends largely on where the immigrant worker is from and the type of immigrant visa requested. Finally, the employer must obtain a green card for the immigrant once the visa number becomes available.

Visas for Family Members

Individuals who are United States citizens or lawful permanent residents can apply for a family member visa. In order to obtain a green card for a family member, the applicant must first file an I-130 petition with USCIS, in order to show that he or she has legal permanent resident status in the United States.

As part of the process, the applicant must be able to show that his or her petition is for a qualifying family member. In many cases, this means that the applicant is petitioning for a spouse or an unmarried child who is under the age of 21. Anyone who is interested in applying for a visa in Oak Brook should reach out to a skilled attorney who is well-versed in visa application procedures.

Student Visas

Applying for a student visa in Oak Brook can take a long time. Therefore, applicants should prepare to file well in advance of when they will need their visa.

The most important steps in the application process for obtaining a student visa include acceptance to a Student and Exchange Visitor Program (SEVP)-approved school, paying the necessary fee, completing a United States application for student visa, supplying recent photographs, paying the necessary fee for the visa application, and taking part in the visa interview process. Applicants can check the status of their application online while they await USCIS approval.

Filing a Visa Application

United States Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS) provides countless forms for the visa application process. The type of visa an applicant pursues will determine which form he or she needs. In addition to filing the application, a foreign national must pay some fees. Filing the wrong form could have serious repercussions and force a person to start their permit application process.

An applicant must include various documents with their application form. Every applicant must provide a photograph of themselves and a valid passport. In most cases, a passport’ expiration date should be no closer than six months before an application. A foreign national must also provide their social media information. A knowledgeable attorney in Oak Brook could ensure anyone applying for a visa submits a correctly completed form.

Visa Application Interviews

Most applicants—specifically those between 14 and 79—must complete an interview before USCIS grants his or her visa application. For non-residents already in the U.S., this interview occurs in the country. That is not the case for anyone applying from abroad. In those cases, it will be necessary for an applicant to schedule an interview in the consulate or embassy of his or her current country.

The outcome of an interview could determine whether USCIS grants an application. The government could extend the process if an interviewer suspects fraud or has additional questions. Legal counsel in Oak Brook could help an individual prepare for the interview stage of the visa application process.

Call an Immigration Attorney Today About Applying for a Visa

The visa application process can be stressful and time-consuming, and many applicants do not know where to turn for assistance. A knowledgeable immigration attorney could assist you with applying for a visa in Oak Brook and ensure that you do not waste valuable time and money during the application process. Contact the office today to learn more about your options.

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