Non Immigrant-Visas

If you wish to live, work, study or visit the U.S. temporarily, you must consider a non-immigrant visa. The United States has established 79 categories of non-immigrant visas, 18 for government officials; 61 for non-governmental visitors.

Non-immigrant visas take less time and expense to obtain than a green card. But they have drawbacks:

• If you do not depart the U.S. before your visa expires then you jeopardize a return trip to the United States.
• The visa might last enough time for you to establish connections here that are difficult to sever when the visa expires and you must depart.
• You must not engage in activities beyond what the visa permits
• To obtain most non-immigrant visas, you must not have an ulterior motive to remain permanently in the United States
• Once in the United States, you cannot count on changing from one category of non-immigrant visa to another, or parlaying a non-immigrant visa into a green card.

Owing to the legal complications, pursuing a non-immigrant visa requires a candid, informed evaluation of your plans. The Law Office of Laurence E. Stevens will listen to your plans in confidence, and with respect, to see if there is an avenue in the immigration law that will lead to your desired outcome.