Immigration services
Helm Immigration can provide assistance to individuals seeking non-immigrant visas to visit the United States for business or pleasure, attend school or participate in an exchange program, invest in a new or existing business, or engage in temporary work.
We also assist individuals with immigrant visas, those who want to become permanent residents (“green card” holders) of the United States through a relationship with a qualifying family member, a job offer, or an investment.
Non-Immigrant Visas
Non-immigrant visas are issued to those who intend to enter the US for a temporary stay and who intend to depart the US at the end of their stay.
US law establishes separate classifications of non-immigrant visas for tourism, business, temporary employment, study, transit, investment, training, and other purposes.
- A – Diplomatic Personnel and their Families (A-1/A-2/A-3)
- B – Temporary Visitors for Business/Pleasure (B-1/B-2)
- B-1 “Business” Visa includes visas to the US to attend conventions, conferences, consultations and other legitimate activities of a commercial or professional nature. This may include taking steps to establish a branch office of a foreign company or to set up an investment in the United States
- B-2 “Tourist” Visa includes visits to the US for pleasure involving recreation, tourism, amusement, visits with friends or relatives, rest, medical treatment, and social networking
- C – Visitors in Transit
- D – Crew Members
- E-1 & E-2 Treaty Trader & Treaty Investor
- E-1 “Treaty Traders” are persons engaging in substantial trade between the US and their home country
- E-2 “Treaty Investors” are persons coming to the US to develop and direct enterprises in the US in which they are investing a substantial amount of capital
- L – Intracompany Transferees
Available for employees who have been employed by a multinational company abroad that seeks to open new business operations in the United States or transfer the employee to an existing business that is related to the company abroad
- L-1A for Managers/Executives
- L-1B for Employees with Specialized Company Knowledge
- L-1 regulations also recognize a visa may be issued for opening a “new office”
- H – Temporary Workers who fill an immediate and temporary need for labor
- H-1B Specialist/Professional
- H-1B1 for non-immigrant professionals from Chile & Singapore
- H-1C for Registered Nurses
- H-2A for Temporary Agricultural Workers
- H-2B for Temporary Non-Agricultural Workers
- H-3 Trainees
- H-4 for spouses and children of persons in the other H classes
- O – Persons with “Extraordinary Ability” in the fields of Science, Art, Education, Business, or Athletics
- P – Internationally Recognized Athletes, Artists, or Members of Recognized Entertainment Groups
- Q – Participants in International Cultural Exchange Programs
- F – Academic Students
- J – Exchange Visitors
- G – International Organization Representatives
- K – Fiancé(e)s and Spouses of US Citizens
- M – Vocational or Non-Academic students seeking to enter the US temporarily to pursue a full course of study at an established or recognized vocational or other non-academic institution
- R – Religious Workers
Other categories of visas are available depending upon individual/corporate needs
Immigrant Visas
Immigrant visas are issued to those who intend to reside permanently in the US (“Green Card” holders). Under US law, immigrant visas are generally reserved for individuals who are close relatives of either US citizens or Lawful Permanent Residents (LPRs) in the United States, or for people hired to work in jobs in which it has been determined that there are not enough skilled Americans to perform.
Employment Based Immigrant Visas
Foreign nationals who are skilled or educated and who have job offers have the possibility of immigrating to the United States. Typically, the prospective employer must first obtain a labor certification and approval of a petition. An approved Labor Certification (LC) is a document issued by the US Department of Labor (DOL) certifying that: (1) An employer needs the foreign worker’s skills and abilities; (2) The employer has tried to recruit US workers for the position; (3) The employer has offered the position at the normal or prevailing wage; and (4) The employer has found no qualified workers.
- EB-1 Priority Workers
- EB-2 Advanced-degree Holders & Aliens of Exceptional Ability
- EB-3 Professional, Skilled and Other Workers
- EB-4 Religious Workers
- EB-5 Immigrant Investors
The EB-5 "Immigrant Investor" Visa
The US Congress created the EB-5 immigrant visa category in 1990 for immigrants seeking to enter to engage in a commercial enterprise that will benefit the US economy and create at least 10 full-time jobs. The basic amount required to invest is $1.8 million, although that amount may be $900,000 if the investment is made in a “targeted employment area.”
Family Based Immigrant Visas
US immigration laws provide a method for a US citizen or LPR to sponsor the immigration of a family member abroad. The length of time required to complete the process depends on the relationship of the family members, whether the sponsor is a US citizen or an LPR, and, sometimes, the country where the family member is located.
- Immediate Relatives – spouse, parent, minor child of adult US Citizens (USC’s)
Preference Categories:
- FB-1: Unmarried sons/daughters of USC’s
- FB-2A: Spouses/minor children of LPR’s
- FB-2B: Unmarried children of LPR’s
- FB-3: Married sons/daughters of USC’s
- FB-4: Brothers/sisters of USC’s