Can I Work in the U.S. If I’m Not a Resident?
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There are strict immigration compliance laws that require employers to make sure they hire only persons authorized to work in the United States. Work authorization does not require you to be a permanent resident of the U.S., but it does require you to have the proper visas before you can lawfully work and earn a living.Â
At Kriezelman Burton & Associates, we can review your circumstances and offer you advice on what your options can be to legally work in the United States. We can then assist with all necessary paperwork if you qualify to apply for a visa that allows you to work. Never hesitate to reach out for a consultation today.Â
Employment-Based Visas
Employment-based visas are divided into two broad categories – temporary and permanent, and each category has numerous subcategories.
Temporary employment work visas are visas given to foreign nationals to work in the United States for a specific period, after which they are required to leave the United States unless they can renew their visa or change their status to some other valid immigration status.
The range of visas available under this category is wide, but the most common ones are as follows:
- H1B. This is a visa for individuals who seek to work in what is known as “specialty occupation.” The visa typically requires possession of at least a bachelor’s degree and an offer of employment from a US employer. There are other specific requirements that both the employer and prospective employee must meet before the petition for the visa is approved, as well as before the application for the visa itself is approved.
- H2B. This is a visa for temporary workers where the petitioning employer must show that there are not enough U.S. workers who are able, willing, qualified, and available to do the temporary work. The employer must also show that employing an H2B worker or workers will not adversely impact the wages and working conditions of similarly employed U.S. workers. If these and other requirements are met, then the prospective non-resident worker can be hired.
- I Visa. This is a temporary nonimmigrant visa available to individuals who can show that they are representatives of a foreign media company. The individual must be coming to the United States to work for that media company and the media company specifically and only must have a home office in their native country.
There are other types of temporary work visas for which you might qualify – discuss your eligibility with an immigration attorney.
Permanent Work Visa
The range of permanent work visas available is also wide, but the most important thing to know is nearly all of them require a job offer and what is known as labor certification.
A job offer may be easy to get, but obtaining a labor certification can be difficult, especially if not handled by an experienced immigration lawyer. If you have an employer willing to sponsor you for a permanent work visa or green card, then contact Kriezelman Burton & Associates immediately. Our employment-based immigration lawyers will review your facts and circumstances and tell you how best you can meet your immigration objectives.
What Our Clients Say
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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.
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 for standing by me during such…
I used their services for my case, and everything went smoothly. Rafael and Matthew are very knowledgeable and helpful, and answered all my questions. I highly recommend them!
I have used their services since 2022, and my experience was great. My own case was successfully finished this year. I want to say Matt and Raf were of great help throughout, and also Jennifer, who attended the interview with me. I would highly recommend their services.
Mr. Jeffery and Mr. Kevin Racia were the attorneys handling a complex immigration case of mine. On the assurance of both attorneys that the case is going to be presented in a systematic way, I went ahead with confidence. I was able to become a legal permanent resident. I highly recommend Kriezelman Burton & Associates, LLC for all your immigration needs.
Thank you, thank you, thank you to the remarkable team of Khiabett Osuna, Brittani Rivera, and Rafael Rodriguez, who were responsible for the successful release from detention of one of our parishioners, husband and father of four, after over 10 weeks of incarceration. From his detention to the payment of his bail and from Immigration Court to his reunion with his family, there were blessings aplenty made possible through the…
I would like to express my sincere gratitude to my attorney, Brittni Rivera, for her professionalism and support during a very difficult time. I was in detention for 6 months, and thanks to her hard work and filing a habeas corpus petition, I was finally released. In addition, when I was released, ICE did not return my documents. Brittni did not ignore this issue — she took action and successfully…
My aunt was recently detained by ICE and sent to El Paso, Texas to the East Montana Detention Facility. This place is essentially a prison in the middle of the desert, and the majority of the detainees here get deported. My family and I interviewed a dozen immigration attorneys around the country to help my aunt, and we decided to hire Kevin Raica, an attorney with Kriezelman Burton and Associates.…
Our case was very difficult, and at times it felt like there was no way out. My wife was detained for a long period of time, and it was an extremely challenging experience for our family. Kriezelman Burton & Associates, LLC truly changed our situation. I would especially like to thank our attorney, Brittni Rivera, as well as Natalia. They were attentive, honest, and always ready to help. It was…
I cannot recommend Kevin Raica highly enough. He helped me successfully obtain my U.S. green card, and the entire process was smooth and stress-free because of his expertise and dedication. From start to finish, Kevin was professional, organized, and extremely knowledgeable about immigration law. He made sure every document was prepared correctly and took the time to explain each step clearly. Anytime I had questions, he responded promptly and made…
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