Immigration Lawyers & Attorneys

In many cases, if you would like to hire someone who does not have work authorization in the United States, you will need to sponsor the prospective employee for a work visa. The type of visa that is appropriate to your specific case will depend on the duration of the worker’s stay in the U.S. as well as his or her specialization and country of origin.

There are two categories of nonimmigrant visas for business-related travel to the United States. These are Business Visitor (B-1) Visas and Temporary Worker Visas. A B-1 visa is used for individuals traveling to the U.S. for a specific business-related purpose who will not be compensated for this travel by a U.S. company. If an employee will be paid by a company while in the U.S., a Temporary Worker Visa is most appropriate. 

H1-B Visas

One of the most commonly requested temporary worker visas is the H1-B visa for employees in specialized occupations. Learn more about H1-B visas. >>

E-1 and E-2 Visas

As a foreign founder in particular, the visas best suited to your needs may be the E-1 Treaty Trader Visa or the E-2 Treaty Investor Visa. The E-1 classification allows a citizen of treaty countries with the U.S. to work in the U.S. in international trade. The E-2 classification is similarly for citizens of treaty countries and specifically for individuals investing a substantial amount of capital in a U.S. business. Learn more about E Visas. >>

To permanently employ a foreigner in a U.S.-based company, you will need to complete the process to provide them with an Employment Based Visa (EB-1 through EB-5). Several of these visas require evidence of extraordinary ability in your field. 

These are only a few of the many employment-based visas available. Talk to a lawyer to understand the full suite of your options and determine which is most appropriate for your particular situation.

A Green Card holder is granted authorization to permanently live and work in the United States. There are several ways to obtain a Green Card. An individual may be sponsored by a family member or employer in the United States or may file individually, if eligible. The main ways to immigrate based on employment include a job offer, investment in a U.S. enterprise, self-petition or immigration for special categories of jobs.

There are also two categories of family-based immigrant visas: unlimited immediate relative immigrant visas and limited family preference immigrant visas. These visas may be practical alternatives to employment-based visas if your employee meets the visa requirements.