The topic of who a green card holder or a U.S. Citizen may sponsor seems to be a very popular one. Thus far, it has drawn the most comments and questions to date. I wrote the original post in December 2007 to help folks identify which relatives they could sponsor.  That information has not changed, so make sure you read that post. What does change from time to time are the current wait times. Current wait times or "priority dates" are updated every month by the State Department in a document known as the Visa Bulletin. Times can advance, but they can also go backwards which can be very ...

Congratulations! You've finished your studies and you've finished your optional practical training period (OPT). What now? This is the first part in a three-part series. Non-Immigrant Visas - The H-1B Skilled Worker Option An H-1B visa is a nonimmigrant visa which allows U.S. employers to employ highly skilled temporary workers. H-1B workers are admitted for an initial period of three years, which may be extended for an additional three years. In some cases an extension beyond the six-year limit is allowed. Basic Requirements 1) The position must be a "specialty ...

    The U.S. State Department has announced an increase in the application fees for a U.S. non-immigrant visa. Effective January 1, 2008, fees will increase from $100 to $131. The increase is related to the cost of new security measures. The full text of the State Department's release is provided below:     Application Fees for Non-Immigrant Visas to Increase On January 1, 2008 Effective January 1, 2008, the application fee for a U.S. non-immigrant visa will increase from $100 to $131. This increase allows the Department to recover the costs of security and ...

NOTE: After you read this post, see the February 2009 update with current wait times from the Visa Bulletin.   The answer depends on whether you are a permanent resident (green card holder) or a U.S. Citizen. U.S. Citizens can sponsor additional family members that green card holders cannot sponsor. Additionally, U.S. Citizens can petition for a fiance/fiancee to come to the U.S. to be married, while a green card holder is not given the same privilege. The person filing the petition is called the Petitioner. The person you are filing for is called the Beneficiary. Your ...

Why Become a U.S. Citizen? Some permanent residents have held their green cards for decades and for various reasons have not applied for citizenship through the process known as naturalization. One client had been wavering back and forth for about 30 years as to whether or not he should apply. When he came to meet me for his immigration consultation he brought in the various versions of the forms that changed over the decades and showed me a history of the fee increases over time. He had finally felt it was time to become a citizen after seeing how the forms had only gotten longer and ...

Buying your first home can be an exciting experience. It can also be a stressful experience, but it doesn't have to be. Understanding how the process works, can help make the process a smooth one. Here are some tips and information regarding the closing process for the first-time home buyer (or a short refresher for those who haven't bought real estate in a while). The Offer and Acceptance Assuming that you are working with a real estate agent or realtor, after you find a property that you like, your agent or realtor can help you write up an offer on the house or condo. Typically a ...

The nonimmigrant classifications and visa categories are often referred to as an "alphabet soup". For example visitor visas are known as "B" visas, fiance(e) visas are known as K1 visas, and temporary workers in specialty occupations are known as H1B visas. But there many types of visas that may not be as well known which may be a viable option for those that qualify. Below is a list of nonimmigrant classifications.   Nonimmigrant Visas General Information on Nonimmigrant Benefits   Nonimmigrant Classifications and Visas Government ...