Business Visas in Houston, Texas: The Basics
For employers seeking business visas in Houston, the U.S. immigration program offers many different types of work visas to fit the needs of employers and employees alike. However, when hiring foreign nationals, it is imperative that employers and employees have a clear understanding of the visa program and its process. Here are some of the most common visas in the U.S.
H-1B Visa:`
The H-1B visa is a temporary work visa that is offered to foreign nationals with a higher degree and a specialization in a particular field, such as engineering or computer science. By law, the number of allotted H-1B visas is 85,000 annually.
O-1 Visa:
The O-1 visa is reserved for those with extraordinary abilities. These individuals are usually athletes or artists, but applicants can also be businessmen, journalists or some other relevant area of expertise. The applicant can show proof of extraordinary abilities through awards or articles written in newspapers or magazines touting abilities.
L-1A Visa:
The L-1A visa is for employers who need to transfer a manager, executive or specialized employee from a foreign business to a U.S. branch. Employee must be with the company for one year.
TN Visa:
The TN visa is a work visa created through NAFTA for Mexican and Canadian workers. It is limited to certain types of positions. It is a more expeditious process and is a lower cost option visa.
EB-5 Visa:
The EB-5 visa is a program that provides permanent U.S. residency based upon the requirements that the applicant make an investment in a business on 1,000,000 (500,000 for rural areas) and create a minimum of 10 American jobs within 10 years.
Why use a business immigration attorney?
Our business immigration attorneys in Houston are essential for businesses to ensure that they are in compliance with all U.S. immigration laws. We advise all of our employers with all types of business visas, green cards, discrimination suits and audits by the government. Contact our expert attorneys today.