Generally, visas fall in one of these categories:

1. Nonimmigrant Visa- for  temporary stay in US
2. Immigrant Visa- for permanent stay in US

The specific types of visas available through the USCIS include:

1. B-1 Business Visa – The USCIS offer B-1 Business Visa to foreign nationals working for a foreign company. Foreign citizens wanting to visit the United States for most business purposes are eligible to apply for a B-1 Business Visa.

2. B-2 Tourist Visa – Foreigners wanting to tour the U.S. for leisure purposes, on holiday, for a vacation for medical treatment should apply for B-2 Tourist Visa.  Citizens of countries qualifying for the Visa Waiver Program also need a B-2 Tourist Visa, if they plan to stay in United States for more than 90 days.

3. H-1B Work Visa – This type of Visa allows college-educated professionals with special skills (like doctors, engineers, scientists) to enter the U.S., in order to make “valuable contributions” to American development.  A maximum of 65,000 H-1B Visas are issued in one year.  Professionals with H-1B Visa can stay in the U.S. for a maximum of three years, but that can be extended if required.  The maximum period of stay cannot exceed more than six years. A huge advantage for H-1B Visa holders is that they can apply for Permanent Immigrant Status (Green Card), if their company sponsors them.

4. H-2B Work Visa – An H-2B Visa is a different type of work visa and is issued to skilled and unskilled workers (for non-agricultural jobs).  A maximum of 66,000 H-2B Visas are issued each year. Workers with an H-2B Work Visas come to U.S. for a temporary or seasonal job (non-agricultural) offered by US employers.

5. C-1 Transit Visa – Persons who need to enter the U.S. in order to transit to another country would seek an C-1 Transit Visa.  People with C-1 Transit Visa are allowed to travel (for a maximum of 29 days) in U.S. if their destination is another country.  Citizens from countries eligible for Visa Waiver Program do not need a Transit Visa.

6. F-1 Student Visa – An F-1 Student Visa is for foreign students seeking higher studies in the U.S.  Foreign students seeking F-1 Students Visa must have a valid educational purpose for coming to the U.S.  Only students participating in full time educational programs are eligible to apply for F-1 Student Visa.  Students with an F-1 Visa can stay in the U.S. through the completion of their educational session. An F-1 Visa is multi-entry visa, allowing those students to enter the U.S. States many times. Those students can also travel freely anywhere in the United States and can do practical trainings to gain work experience.  In many cases, students obtaining a bachelor or master’s degree can be sponsored by their employer and obtain an H-1B Work Visa. This is the biggest advantage attached in first obtaining an F-1 Students Visa.

7. J-1 Exchange Visitor Visa – An J-1 Exchange Visitor Visa allows individuals to participate in exchange visitor programs organized by Education and Cultural Institutions or Business Houses. J-1 Exchange Visitor Visa helps industrial trainees, students, teachers, research assistants, scholars, and people on cultural missions who are participating in a program of studies, training, research, or a cultural enrichment program designed for such individuals by the United States Department of State, through its Bureau of Educational and Cultural Affairs.

Tiffany U. Vivo is an Indianapolis immigration lawyer.  She also practices family law.  Ms. Vivo appears before the Immigration Court (EOIR), the United States Citizenship & Immigration Service (USCIS), the Board of Immigration Appeals (BIA) and state and federal courts in Indiana and Illinois.  She is a member of the Indiana State Bar, the Indianapolis Bar Association, and the national and local chapters of the American Immigration Lawyers Association (AILA).

When you need to find an Indiana attorney (or one in another area) to help you with your family law problems, make sure to consider these factors and use these helpful hints:

• Ask a family member or trusted friend for a referral.
• Ask your business or estate planning attorney for a referral.  Get two to three names.  Interview all of them on the phone.
• Choose a family law attorney close to your home or office, or an attorney whose officwe is near the courthouse.  This can make appointments easier or keep your fees down.
• Call the family law attorneys referred to you and interview them on the phone.  Remember, however, that good attorneys are busy and in high demand.  Most good attorneys do not offer free initial consultations.
• Bring all important documents or previous agreements to your first consultation.
• Take notes, ask questions, and research any resources the attorney gives you.
• Ask your Indiana family law attorney how many cases she has handled that are similar to your case.
• Ask how many years experience your family law attoreney has?  Does her area of practice concentrate on family law in Indiana?
• Does your attorney seem aggressive yet compassionate?  Does she show concern for your children?
• Do you think your family law attorney understands what you are trying to accomplish?
• Is your attorney patient with you in answering your family law questions?
• Most importantly, does your attorney understand what you are looking for?  How comfortable do you feel with her experience and personality?

If you find an Indiana family law attorney but don’t feel comfortable with him or his advice, you have the right to a second opinion.

Click this link to view the Bulletin.

Section 201 of the Immigration and Nationality Act (INA) sets an annual minimum family-sponsored preference limit of 226,000.  The worldwide level for annual employment-based preference immigrants is at least 140,000.  Section 202 prescribes that the per-country limit for preference immigrants is set at 7% of the total annual family-sponsored and employment-based preference limits, i.e., 25,620.  The dependent area limit is set at 2%, or 7,320.

Tiffany U. Vivo is an Indianapolis immigration lawyer.  She also practices family law.  Ms. Vivo appears before the Immigration Court (EOIR), the United States Citizenship & Immigration Service (USCIS), the Board of Immigration Appeals (BIA) and state and federal courts in Indiana and Illinois.  She is a member of the Indiana State Bar, the Indianapolis Bar Association, and the national and local chapters of the American Immigration Lawyers Association (AILA).