Employment Visas: What Are My Options?
Looking for A Specific Post? Search Below
Obtaining an employment-based visa requires proper planning and coordination between the foreign worker and the U.S. employer. Our experienced immigration lawyers at Kriezelman Burton & Associates, LLC have years of experience helping both the employers in the Chicago area and their prospective foreign-born employees in applying and securing employment-based visas. We also help employers seeking immigration law services in Indiana, Wisconsin, and Michigan.
One of the decisions an employer or foreign worker must make, or both must make is whether to pursue a temporary work visa or a permanent one. The decision will make a difference in what needs to be done and how long it will take for the visa to be issued.
Immigrant Work Visa
Before an employer petitions to have a foreign worker be authorized to work for them on a permanent immigrant visa, the employer must first obtain labor certification approval from the U.S. Department of Labor. Once the labor certification is obtained, the employer can then submit their petition to the U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS) to have that agency approve the petition, and then only after that can the prospective employee apply for their immigrant visa.
There are five categories under which a U.S. employer can petition to have a foreign worker obtain an immigrant visa through employment, and these are:
- Employment First Preference (E1): Priority Worker and Persons of Extraordinary Ability. There are three sub-groups within this category, and these are:
- -Those with extraordinary ability in the sciences, athletics, education, arts, or business
- -Outstanding professors and researchers who are recognized internationally and have experience of at least three years
- -Multinational executives or managers who have worked overseas for at least one year for a branch, affiliate, parent, or subsidiary of the U.S. company
- Employment Second Preference (E2): Professionals who hold advanced degrees or have exceptional ability in their respective professional fields.
- Employment Third Preference (E3): Skilled, professional, and other workers with the requisite minimum training and education
- Employment Fourth Preference (E4): This is a category for special immigrants who meet the criteria for that category.
Non-Immigrant Visas
A non-immigrant visa is issued to an individual who is interested in coming to work in the United States but on a temporary or fixed period. There are several of these types of non-immigrant temporary work visas, but the most common are:
- H Visa. These visas are for those coming to the U.S. to work in an occupation that requires specialized education or knowledge.
- L-1 Visa. This is a visa for an individual to come and work for their employer in the United States at a branch, affiliate, parent, or subsidiary office of the current employer in a qualifying position.
- O Visas. The O-1 visa is a category for individuals who have extraordinary ability in the sciences, athletics, arts, education, or business or who have demonstrated extraordinary achievement in their field.
For superb representation in seeking and obtaining any of these temporary or permanent employment-based visas, contact our office and talk to one of our experienced employment-based immigration attorneys. Although we are based in Chicago, we also take cases in Indiana, Wisconsin, and Michigan.
What Our Clients Say
5-Star Rating | Based on 200+ Satisfied Customer Google Reviews
Highly recommend attorney Kevin Raica and attorney Agata Bigdanowicz. They were super helpful, responded on time, and won my case in record time. It took about a month and half in total for me to get my approval after filing!
Brittni Rivera and her team (Carina Lopez) are fantastic! They are responsive, efficient and beyond compassionate. Brittni Rivera and her team treated me with dignity and respect as they patiently answered all of my questions. They didn't move on without making sure I understood each step. Their work ethic was impressive. It felt like they were an extension of my personal team. I can't say enough to convey my gratitude…
We hoped and prayed for this day, not knowing if it would ever come. Deportations are incredibly scary and overwhelming. We wanted to give a very special thank you to Jennifer Peyton of Chicago for securing this victory for us! With Jennifer on our side we were able to get our loved one back. On behalf of our family, thank you. When we started this journey, we had hoped and…
Matthew Kriezelman, first of all, thank you very much; you and your team are the best immigration lawyers in Chicago. I had a great experience—your professionalism was outstanding, and you were always there whenever needed. I give you five stars for the wonderful work you and your team did. Thanks again.
Hay momentos en la vida en los que una familia siente que el mundo se detiene. Nosotros vivimos uno de esos momentos y, en medio de la incertidumbre y el miedo, tuvimos la fortuna de encontrar a la abogada Sheila McNulty y al paralegal Rafael Rodríguez . Nos escucharon con empatía, nos guiaron con paciencia y defendieron nuestro caso con un profesionalismo, una dedicación y una calidad humana realmente excepcionales.…
We would like to take a moment to sincerely thank Khiabett for her exceptional work and dedication in handling my husband’s removal proceedings case. We also want to thank Agata for her great communication during the gathering of all documents. Khiabett we are incredibly grateful for your expertise, guidance, and persistence throughout the entire process. I can't thank you enough for your empathy and standing by me during such a…
Justin Burton is extremely professional knowledgeable and helpful. I’m extremely thankful for his help and patience with my case. I strongly advise to use his services and refer him to anybody in need of legal help. Thank you.
I wanted to share my experience and say that attorney Britney Rivera is extremely competent in her work. I had heard from friends that she was a very strong lawyer, and she certainly proved to be one. She won our case in a very short time, and my family and I are incredibly grateful to her!🌹And a big thank you to her team as well!🌹🌹🌹
Huge thanks to Attorney Matthew for his incredible support on our immigration case! 🙏 He was professional, responsive, and his expertise led to a successful outcome. We truly appreciate his hard work and highly recommend his service.
I’m deeply grateful to God for leading us to this law firm; it is a true blessing to work with such professional and passionate individuals. Their dedication and commitment help make a difficult situation far less traumatic. In our case, we received 100% support from Attorney Andrea Ochoa and paralegal Rafael. May God bless them and allow them to continue this wonderful work. Thank you—a thousand thanks.
Schedule A Consultation!
Libertyville
Attorney Advertising. This information is designed for general information only. The information presented should not be construed to be formal legal advice nor the formation of a lawyer/client relationship. Past results and testimonials are not a guarantee, warranty, or prediction of the outcome of your case, and should not be construed as such. Past results cannot guarantee future performance. Any result in a single case is not meant to create an expectation of similar results in future matters because each case involves many different factors, therefore, results will differ on a case-by-case basis. By providing contact information, users acknowledge and give explicit consent to be contacted via the methods of communication provided, including SMS. Message and data rates may apply. Message frequency may vary. Reply STOP to opt out.
NUVEW | Copyright 2026 All Rights Reserved | Accessibility Notice | privacy policy