Posts Tagged ‘L-1’
No New H Or L Visa Appointments At The U.S. Consulate In Mumbai
Due to the aging infrastructure of the current Consulate building in Mumbai, the U.S. Consulate has closed several interview windows. This limits the number of visa interviews the Consulate can handle. At the present time, the Consulate will continue allowing H and L visa appointments that are already scheduled, but will not allow individuals to schedule any new H or L visa appointments. If you need to obtain an H or L visa in India, you may visit any other U.S. Consulate in India or the Embassy in New Delhi.
Please note that the U.S. Consulate in Mumbai is undergoing a multi-million dollar construction project to fix the aging building and should re-open for new H and L visa appointments later this year.
Tags: H-1B, L-1, New Delhi, U.S. Consulate Mumbai, visa appointment, visa interview
Posted in Alerts, Nonimmigrant Visas | Read More »
Reminder to File Work Visa Petitions by December 22, 2010
The USCIS has issued several new immigration forms for work visas (H, L, O, etc.) that will be required starting December 22, 2010. These new forms ask questions about off-site employment, work itineraries, and export control laws, none of which are required by the current forms. In order to take advantage of the current simpler forms, petitions and applications must be filed by December 22, 2010.
Please contact our San Francisco Immigration Law Office if you need assistance with a work visa petition.
Tags: export, H-1B, I-129, L-1, USCIS, work visa
Posted in Alerts, Nonimmigrant Visas, USCIS | Read More »
Do I qualify for L-1A status as a professional or functional manager?
L-1A status is available to managers or executives who are being transferred from a foreign company to a U.S. subsidiary, branch or parent of that foreign company. The person must have worked abroad for at least one year within the three years preceding the filing of the petition in an executive or managerial role.
There are two ways to qualify as an L-1A manager. The first involves showing that the L-1A applicant will manage a professional employee or employees (i.e. is a professional manager). Professional typically means that the employees have a minimum of a Bachelor’s degree in a relevant field. The second way to qualify is by demonstrating that the L-1A applicant will manage essential functions of the U.S. company (i.e. is a functional manager). This could be a division, department, operations, etc.
The USCIS has been scrutinizing L-1A functional manager petitions more closely in recent years. It is best to demonstrate that the L-1A manager will oversee professional employees and manage essential functions of the company, rather than solely rely on functional manager duties.
Please contact our immigration law firm if you’d like assistance with your L-1A petition or have questions about this category.
Tags: executive, functional manager, L-1, L-1A, manager, professional manager
Posted in FAQ L-1 | Read More »
ALERT: DEPARTMENT OF STATE REDUCES VISA PERIOD FOR MEXICAN CITIZENS
The U.S. Department of State (DOS) has reduced work visa validity periods for Mexican citizens after Mexico increased its visa fees for U.S. citizens. Starting February 22, 2010, any Mexican citizen applying for a U.S. work visa in the categories of H-1B, H-2B, E-1, E-2, TN or L-1 will receive a one-year validity period only. Multi-year work visa approvals are no longer available until further notice. This change applies to Mexicans seeking to come to the U.S. and those already in the U.S. filing extension petitions with the United States Citizenship and Immigration Service (USCIS). If you have any questions about this recent and sudden change, please don’t hesitate to contact our immigration law firm.
Tags: Department of State, H-1B, L-1, Mexican citizens, TN
Posted in Alerts, FAQ - TN, H-1B | Read More »
Am I an intermittent H-1B or L-1 visa holder?
Intermittent status applies to H-1B and L-1 visa holders who reside in the U.S. for fewer than 6 months in a one year period. If an H-1B or L-1 visa holder maintains a residence abroad and is only needed periodically in the U.S. (not to exceed 6 months) the individual is an intermittent H-1B or L-1 employee not subject to standard time limitations.
Typically, a person may hold H-1B status for a maximum period of 6 years with limited exceptions going beyond 6 years. For L-1A status (managers/executives), the maximum time period is 7 years. For L-1B status (specialized knowledge professionals), the maximum time period is 5 years. These H-1B and L-1 time limitations do not apply to intermittent H-1B and L-1 visa holders and these individuals can renew their status indefinitely.
Filing for intermittent status is the same as filing for regular status, with a notation made that the individual resides abroad and is therefore an intermittent employee. Intermittent status is an attractive option for individuals stationed abroad and due to its flexibility, should be utilized whenever possible to avoid the standard categorical restrictions of H-1B and L-1 status. Please don’t hesitate to contact our immigration law firm if you would like to discuss intermittent status in detail.
Tags: H-1B, intermittent, L-1
Posted in FAQ H-1B, FAQ L-1, H-1B | Read More »
