If you want to come to the United States to join a family member or spouse, you may need to apply for a visa which is sponsored by a US citizen. Depending on your circumstances, we can advise you on the best route for you to join your loved ones in the US.

K Visas are a non-immigrant category designed for US citizens to petition for their fiancé(e), spouse, children, or the spouses of their children to enter the US. It is important to note that each category has numerous rules and eligibility criteria that an applicant must meet.

• K-1 Visa – Fiancé(e) Visa: Allows an eligible engaged partner of a US citizen come to the US to marry their partner within 90 days of arrival
• K-2 Visa – K-1 Dependents: Allows the children of the US citizen’s fiancé(e) to enter the US (if the parent qualifies for the K-1 visa)
• K-3 Visa – Spouse Visa: Enables spouses of US citizens that are not currently residents in the country to come to the US
• K-4 Visa – K-3 Dependents: Enables the children of K-3 visa recipients to enter the US

The family-based green card is one of the ways to become a US lawful permanent resident (LPR). There are 226,000 of these green cards issued every year and competition is high. Some people may have to wait years for their application to be accepted.

Having a legal expert to guide you through the process and ensure that your application is completely accurate can be a major help and may save you time and money in the long term.

• Unmarried Children: The Family First Preference Visa allows unmarried children of US citizens and their dependent children to come to the US
• F-2A Visa – Spouses & Children: The Family Second Preference Visa (A) allows dependent children under 21 years and spouses to join an LPR resident in the US
• F-2B Visa – Adult Children: The Family Second Preference Visa (B) allows unmarried children to join the LPR sponsor
• F-3 Visa – Adult Children: The Family Third Preference Visa is for married children of US citizens and their offspring under the age of 21
• F-4 Visa – Brothers & Sisters: The Family Fourth Preference Visa is designed for siblings of US citizens, as well as their children under 21 years and any spouses, to come to the US

One of the first steps in applying for a family-based green card is petitioning USCIS. The sponsor (who must be a US citizen or LPR), submits Form I-130 on behalf of their ‘alien’ relative to come to the US.

If this petition is approved, the applicant may begin the application process to come to the US. It’s important to note that this is the first stage in a multi-step application and can take a significant period of time from the date of the initial petition to the granting of the visa.

The US is an attractive destination for many workers who wish to take advantage of the many opportunities in multiple industries. There are a number of routes available for those who wish to seek employment in the United States.

One option is to work in the US on a temporary basis on a non-immigrant visa. Some of these categories are outlined below:

• E-1 Visa – Treaty Traders: Treaty traders and some qualified employees
• E-2 Visa – Treaty Investors: Treaty investors and some qualified employees
• E-3 Visa – Australian Professionals: Some specialty professions from Australia
• H1-B Visa – Specialty Workers: Workers in a specialty occupation
• H2-B Visa – Temporary Workers: Temporary and non-agricultural workers
• H-3 Visa – Exchange Visitors: Trainees in a field other than medicine or academia
• 01 Visa – Extraordinary Ability: For people with extraordinary abilities in the sciences, arts, education, business, athletics or media production industries
• I Visa – Journalists and Media: Representatives of international press or foreign media
• L-1 Visa – Intra-company Transfer: Individuals who are being transferred to a US branch of a multinational organization
• P-1 Visa – International Athletes: People who are internationally recognized athletes
• P-3 Visa – Artists and Entertainers: Individuals who are part of a group or individually coming to the US to perform, teach, or coach on a culturally unique program
• R-1 Visa – Religious Workers: Eligible workers in a faith-based or religious organization
• TN Visa – NAFTA Professionals: Temporary professionals coming from Mexico or Canada under the North American Free Trade Agreement

For those who qualify, it is possible to apply to live and work permanently in the US on an employment-based immigrant visa. The five main categories are outlined below:

• EB-1 Visa: First Preference Visa for applicants with extraordinary abilities in the sciences, arts, education, business or athletics sectors. This also includes notable professors, researchers, multinational executives and managers
• EB-2 Visa: Second Preference Visa for people who hold advanced degrees in a specific profession, or have exceptional abilities in the arts, sciences, or business industries
• EB-3 Visa – Workers Green Card: Third Preference Visa for professionals, skilled workers, and some other workers
• EB-4 Visa: Fourth Preference Visa for those termed ‘special immigrants.’ This category includes some religious workers, employees of US foreign services, retired employees of international organizations, and some classes of non-citizens
• EB-5 Visa – Investors Green Card: Fifth Preference Visa for business investors who can demonstrate an ability to invest a minimum of $1.8 million in a commercial enterprise employing US workers