Confidence In Your Business Growth
Employers need to be able to hire the best of the best, regardless of where those highly qualified employees are in the world. Knudson & Associates offers sound advice and reliable legal services to represent your company in transferring your valued employees to the United States, whether it is for a special project, a company initiative, a temporary assignment or a permanent position.
Our immigration laws provide opportunities to petition to bring foreign workers on a temporary or more permanent basis. Some of the more common temporary categories include:
- H-1B for individuals in “specialty” or professional occupations. These visas are available in limited quantity one time per year and may be gone in just one day, so it is essential to plan carefully
- L-1A for intracompany transferees who have been employed abroad by an affiliate of the U.S. company and are coming to work in executive or managerial positions
- L-1B for employees who have been employed abroad for at least one year at an affiliate company and have “specialized knowledge.” This category is particularly difficult to obtain because U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services scrutinizes these petitions at length. Johnson Knudson has the experience and knowledge to get these tough cases approved
- P-1 for athletes and entertainers with international reputations
- E for entrepreneurs and investors, who have either made a substantial investment in the U.S. or are engaged in trade with a country that has a treaty of friendship and commerce with the U.S. E visas may provide the opportunity to come to the United States to start or continue running a business without needing a U.S. employer as a sponsor
- TN for certain employees from Canada and Mexico coming to perform services for U.S. companies
- O for individuals with extraordinary ability in their field
- H-2B for temporary or seasonal workers
- H-2A for seasonal agricultural workers
There are also categories of benefits available for certain employees to become lawful permanent residents of the U.S.
Do You Want To Grow With Employees Who Have Extraordinary Ability?
Knudson & Associates specializes in bringing individuals of Extraordinary Ability — those who have risen to the very top of their respective fields — to the United States as lawful permanent residents. The categories are as follows:
- EB-1A, for individuals of extraordinary ability in science, art, athletics, business or education. Individuals of extraordinary ability are considered first preference under our immigration laws due to their high level of achievement and recognition nationally or internationally. They may petition for themselves, without the need for a job offer, or may have a U.S. employer petition for them. U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services awards this classification sparingly. Johnson Knudson prepares thorough and extensively documented petitions to provide its clients with the best chance of success.
- EB-1B for outstanding researchers who have risen to the very top of their fields and have achieved sustained international recognition. This category does require a U.S. employer.
Employers may also petition for their employees to gain lawful permanent residence. We advise on important timing and strategy determinations to provide the most benefit to the company. Some of the other classifications available for permanent employees are as follows:
- EB-1C for multinational managers and executives who have been employed abroad at an affiliate for at least one year and who are coming to the United States to fill a manager or executive position. These employees are also afforded first preference status under our immigration laws, and generally do not have to wait as long to become lawful permanent residents.
- EB-2 for exceptional ability employees in the arts or sciences, or those with advanced degrees or five years of comparable progressive experience. These petitions generally require following strict procedures and working with multiple government agencies to determine if there are qualified U.S. workers to fill the position before being allowed to sponsor the foreign employee. There are some exceptions to the recruitment requirement. Employees may get a National Interest Waiver if their work would be of substantial benefit to the country. Professional athletes are also exempted from the recruitment requirements.
- Other EB-3, Skilled and Other for employees with bachelors’ degrees or less education to become lawful permanent residents. Johnson Knudson helps navigate the complex process of obtaining a PERM labor certification and qualifying the foreign employee for the U.S. position.
Contact Us For Trusted Immigration Solutions
We will help you match business goals with immigration solutions. Contact us today to schedule a consultation.