At the Olsen Law Firm in Chattanooga, Tennessee, we provide a full range of immigration law services, assisting clients in both employment-based and family-based immigration, applications for asylum, family-based visa petitions, naturalization applications, and other immigration law matters as well as religious worker issues, nurse immigration, national interest waivers, and permanent residence obtained through marriage to a U.S. citizen.
The following is a list of the immigration issues which we can assist with:
NONIMMIGRANT: TEMPORARY STATUS
- B-1 For Business/B-2 For Visitor
Individuals who wish to enter the United States quickly and for brief periods of time for business, pleasure or medical purposes must first obtain a visa, such as a nonimmigrant visa for temporary stay.
- E-1 - Treaty Trader / E-2 -Treaty Investors
The United States has entered into reciprocal treaties with countries which permit foreign nationals to obtain E-1 and/or E-2 visas in order to develop and direct businesses in the United States.
Foreign nationals enrolling in a full course of study at an educational institution in the United States may be eligible for F-1 status for the course of their study and a period for optional practical training in their field.
- H1B - Specialty Occupation
It is available for professionals with at least bachelor's degree or its equivalent in work experience. An H-1B petition may be valid initially for up to three years, and may be extended for another three years. Extension beyond six years is permitted in certain circumstances for foreign nationals applying for permanent resident status.
- H-2B - Non-agricultural Workers
H-2B visas are available for workers performing certain nonagricultural short-term, peakload, and seasonal employment. The H-2B visa is granted in one-year increments, and can be extended up to a maximum of three years.
Foreign nationals coming to the U.S. through an approved exchange program may be eligible for the J-1 Exchange Visitor's visa. These are students, scholars, job trainees, faculty, professors and research scholars, specialists, medical residents, government visitors, etc. Sometimes, a J-1 program will require that the beneficiary spend at least two years outside of the U.S. before being permitted to switch to a different nonimmigrant visa or to permanent residency.
- K - Fiance of U.S. Citizen
The Fiance of a U.S. citizen is eligible for a nonimmigrant visa in order to marry within 90 days of entry to the U.S.
- L - Intra Company Transferee
Executives, managers, and specialized knowledge employees of multinational organizations are eligible for L-1 visas.
- O-1 - Extraordinary Ability
The O-1 is available for foreign nationals with extraordinary ability in the arts, sciences, athletics, education, or business.
- P-1, P-2, P-3 - Athletes and Group Entertainers
For athletes, artists, and entertainers.
- R - Religious Vocation or Profession
The religious worker visa category is for foreign nationals coming to the United States to work in a religious capacity for whom have taken religious vows, as well as religious professionals such as choral directors, teachers of religion, and so forth.
- TN - Trade NAFTA Professionals
A special visa category for nationals of Canada / Mexico under the North American Free Trade Agreement (NAFTA).
IMMIGRANT: PERMANENT STATUS, EMPLOYMENT BASED
Persons of Extraordinary Ability
Outstanding Professors and Researchers
Multinational Executives and Managers
The second preference employment-based category includes persons of exceptional ability and professionals holding advanced degrees. The second preference generally does require a job offer and a labor certification, but if the applicant's work is found to be in the national interest of the United States, then the position is exempt from the labor certification process.
Skilled Workers, Professionals and other Workers. Most EB3 candidates must have a job offer and the employer must complete the PERM process.
- EB4 - Fourth Preference - Special Immigrants
The EB4 is available for foreign nationals such as Religious Workers.
- EB5 - Fifth Preference - Employment Creation Investors
10,000 investor visas are available each year. The foreign national must invest in and actively manage or establish a new commercial enterprise.
IMMIGRANT: PERMANENT STATUS, FAMILY BASED
U.S. citizens can petition for parents, spouses, siblings, and children. Permanent Residents (LPR) can petition for spouses and children only. There is no quota or limit and, therefore, no waiting list for "Immediate Relatives" of U.S. Citizens - Unmarried children under 21, Spouse, Parent, Widow / Widower (under certain circumstances). Relatives in the following "preference" categories are subject to limits on the number of visas that can be issued each year:
First: Unmarried Sons and Daughters of Citizens: 23,400 plus any numbers not required for fourth preference.
Second: Spouses and Children, and Unmarried Sons and Daughters of Permanent Residents: 114,200, plus the number (if any) by which the worldwide family preference level exceeds 226,000, and any unused first preference numbers:
A. Spouses and Children: 77% of the overall second preference limitation,
of which 75% are exempt from the per-country limit;
B. Unmarried Sons and Daughters (21 years of age or older): 23% of the overall second preference limitation.
Third: Married Sons and Daughters of Citizens: 23,400, plus any numbers not required by first and second preferences.
Fourth: Brothers and Sisters of Adult Citizens: 65,000, plus any numbers not required by first three preferences.
CITIZENSHIP MATTERS
CONSULAR PRACTICE
OTHER IMMIGRATION MATTERS
