Employment-Based Visa Attorneys in Houston

The U.S. government allows foreign workers, specialists, and other professionals to obtain employment-based visas. In some cases, these visas allow the beneficiary to become a lawful permanent resident once they enter the United States. Other visas are in the nonimmigrant category but have dual intent, allowing beneficiaries to obtain temporary lawful status but ultimately work toward a green card.

Obtaining an employment-based visa can be a serious undertaking, but Toppins Law Firm, P.C. is here to make this process as painless as possible. With 40+ years of combined experience, our attorneys are proud to provide Houston and surrounding communities with a nearly 100% case success rate. Since 2003, we have served both workers and employers from all around the world, and we look forward to helping you accomplish your business goals.

Give us a call at (346) 701-4723 or reach out to us online. We can get started with a complimentary consultation, and we offer services in both English and Spanish.

Nonimmigrant Work Visas

Most work visa categories grant nonimmigrant (temporary) status to recipients, allowing them to complete qualifying activities for a certain amount of time before returning to their country of origin.

At Toppins Law Firm, P.C., we can help you obtain any of the following work visas and more:

• H visas. H-1B, H-2, and H-3 visas are for specialty workers, temporary or seasonal workers, and certain trainees and special education visitors.
• L visas. L visas are for intracompany transferees. A manager, executive, or specialized employee at an international company can use the L visa to transfer to a U.S. location (or come to the U.S. specifically to develop a new U.S. location).
• O visas. Individuals with extraordinary abilities or who have made outstanding contributions to their fields can qualify for O visas, which allow them to work, perform, compete, teach, or carry out other qualifying activities in the U.S.
• J visas. This category is for individuals who have been approved to participate in exchange visitor programs in the U.S.
• TN NAFTA visas. This category allows qualifying Canadian and Mexican citizens to visit the U.S. to participate in professional-level business activities.

These visas vary from each other in many ways. Our attorneys can help you determine which visa is right for you and successfully navigate the complex application process.

Employment-Based Immigration

Depending on your job offer and qualifications, you may be able to obtain an employment-based immigrant visa. These visas are organized by preference. 

For example, the EB-1 visa is a first-preference employment-based visa, reserved for:

• Individuals with extraordinary abilities
• Outstanding researchers and professors
• Multinational managers and executives

If you successfully obtain an EB-1 visa and enter the U.S., you will become a lawful permanent resident, and USCIS will mail you your green card. The EB-1 visa is difficult to obtain, however, as you will need to include substantial evidence demonstrating your skills, achievements, qualifications, and more.

Obtaining an employment-based immigrant visa is not the only way to become a permanent resident through your work. Some nonimmigrant visas have dual intent, which means you can obtain temporary status even though your ultimate goal is to move to the U.S. permanently. The H-1B, O-1, and L-1 visas are a few examples of dual intent visas, and they allow you to adjust your status to permanent residence during your stay (supposing you have a willing sponsor and meet all other requirements).

Ready to learn more about employment-based visas? Schedule your complimentary consultation with our attorneys by calling (346) 701-4723 or contacting us online today.