The Houston Business Law Lawyers at Umatiya Law welcome the opportunity to provide Business Law services to local and international businesses, investors, individuals, families, workers and students. Although the Business Law Attorneys at Umatiya Law practice in Houston Texas, they represent clients from around the world.

NONIMMIGRANT VISAS

A Nonimmigrant Visa authorizes a specific duration of stay in the U.S. to visit or study or work temporarily. Common types of Nonimmigrant Visas include the following:
·        B-1/B-2 Visitor Visa. Available to visitors coming into the U.S. for business or pleasure.
-        E-1 (treaty trader) and E-2 (treaty investor) visas are issued pursuant to bilateral treaties of friendship, commerce and navigation between the United States and various other countries.
·        E-3 Visa. This is a visa option for Australian nationals if they have a job offer in the U.S. and a bachelor’s degree.
·        F-1 or Student Visa. Applicable to persons entering the U.S. for full-time study at a school or college in the U.S.
·        H-1B Professional Employment Visa. Persons with at least a bachelor's degree may be eligible if their U.S. employer is willing to file the H-1B petition. This is by far the most common nonimmigrant employment-based visa category.
·        H-1B1 Visa. Citizens of Chile and Singapore with a U.S. job offer and bachelor’s degree may qualify under free trade agreements.
-       The H-2B foreign national is defined as one who has a residence in a foreign country which s/he has no intention of abandoning and who is coming temporarily to the United States to perform other temporary service or labor if unemployed persons capable of performing such service or labor cannot be found in this country.
·        K-1 Fiancé(e) Visa. Marriage to the sponsoring U.S. citizen must be concluded within 90 days of entry into the U.S.
·        L-1 Intracompany Transfer Visa. Available to executives, managers, or persons with "specialized knowledge" who are transferring to the U.S. branch, subsidiary, or affiliate of their foreign employer.
·        O-1 Extraordinary Ability Visa. This petition requires an employer and “extraordinary ability” in the field.
·        TN Status under the North American Free Trade Agreement. This category is similar to the H-1B visa and applicable to nationals of Canada and Mexico.

IMMIGRANT VISAS (“Green Card”)

U.S. Business Law laws allow Business Law applications through the Employment ("EB") based category, the Family ("FB") based category, and the Diversity ("DV") visa lottery program.
·        Employer Sponsorship. An offer of employment by a U.S. employer is usually required, and a "Labor Certification" (also known as PERM) must normally be obtained from the Department of Labor. There are exceptions to the labor certification process for highly qualified persons.
·        Family Sponsorship. Applicable to persons who want to obtain a Green Card based on sponsorship from a spouse or relative who is either a U.S. Citizen or Permanent Resident.

NATURALIZATION (Citizenship)

In general, an Lawful Permanent Resident may apply for status as a citizen after s/he has maintained LPR status for five (5) years (or three (3) years if married to a U.S. Citizen), has been physically present in the U.S. for at least half of that time, and has not been absent from the U.S. for a continuous period of six (6) months or more during the five-year period.