Law Office of Kalpana V. Peddibhotla

Temporary Visas

The artist must create a spark before he can make a fire, and before art is born, the artist must be ready to be consumed by the fire of his own creation.

Auguste Rodin

Each year, the Department of State issues millions of visas, allowing individuals to enter and remain temporarily in the U.S. to work, visit friends and family, or engage in an artistic, scholastic, or religious project.

Depending on the purpose and the length of stay, some visas are more difficult than others to obtain. Most visas place certain restrictions on the person to whom the visa has been issued. Noncompliance with certain of these restrictions, even if inadvertent, may have devastating consequences for the visa-holder. Penalties for noncompliance could range from a fine to being permanently barred from entering the U.S.

Our attorneys will not only help you choose the right visa category, but will also assist you in understanding the common pitfalls that could result in violations of the terms of your stay. In addition, we can help you navigate through the often confusing and complicated processes of changing your status from one visa category to another, or changing your status from nonimmigrant to immigrant.

The following is a list of the most commonly used temporary visa categories:

B1/B2: For a visitor temporarily here for business or pleasure.
H1-B: For those in “specialty occupations,” such as technology professionals, professors and researchers, lab technicians, physicians and nurses, fashion models, gourmet and ethnic chefs, and many others.
L-1 Transfers: For intercompany managers, executives, or those with “specialized knowledge” from overseas offices;
E-1/E2: For those who intend to engage in substantial trade or investment based on a bilateral trade or an investment treaty with the United States;
O-1: For those who can demonstrate extraordinary ability in the sciences, arts, businesses, education, or athletics;
R-1: For those who intend to engage in a religious occupation for an established religious organization in the United States; and
TN: For Canadian or Mexican professionals.

There are many other means to temporarily live and work in the United States. Contact us today for a consultation to learn about the available range of your options.