Immigration and Visa Law: Welcome to America!

What is immigration and what is a visa?

US immigration law is comprised of national government policies that intend to control immigration. It governs the legal status of non-citizens in the United States. Every year, the United States government conducts what’s called the Diversity Visa Lottery. This lottery grants citizens of other countries legal entry into the US. In fact, the US government allows over a million aliens to become legal permanent resident every year – that’s more than any other country in the world.

Visas are non-immigrant – or temporary – passes into the United States. They last shorter periods of time, and don’t confer on the visa holder the same kinds of benefits enjoyed by permanent residents. Tourism, work, and study are some of the reasons that somebody would seek a visa. Contrarily, immigrants would not just want non-immigrant visas; they would want visas that give them permanent residence as immigrants.

What are immigration and visa law services?

Immigration and visa lawyers are credentialed professionals who are licensed to practice immigration law, and advocate for visas on behalf of their clients.

They studied immigration law and graduated from law schools. They are regulated by state and federal governments. Their work covers US immigration, naturalization, visas, and consular law.

Immigration and visa lawyers help their clients understand US immigration laws, and help them apply for legal status. They also assist their clients in analyzing the facts of their particular cases, and explain to them all the benefits for which they may be eligible.

These lawyers can recommend the best ways their clients can obtain legal resident status, and they can help them complete and submit paperwork and applications.

They stay on top of their field: They are knowledgeable about all the newest immigration laws, especially those that could affect their clients’ cases.

This kind of professional help contributes to clients avoiding delays and problems involved with their applications.

Additionally, immigration and visa lawyers discuss their clients’ status, file appeals for them, speak on their behalf in conversations with the Department of Homeland Security, or represent them in court.

The two kinds of visas immigrant lawyers can help with are, as stated above, non-immigrant and immigrant visas.

Non-immigrant visas include North American Free Trade visas for Canadians and Mexicans; Free Trade Agreement visas for Chileans and Singaporeans; visas for those with extraordinary abilities in science, education, the arts, business, and athletics; entertainment visas; foreign media visas; exchange visitor visas; foreign medical worker visas; student visas; and religious worker visas.

Immigrant visas include labor certifications; visas for outstanding professors and researchers; visas for those with “exceptional ability”; investor visas; and green cards, or permanent resident status visas.


Who should look into these services?

For those who wish to study or to work in the United States, these lawyers can help work through any legal road-blocks that could hinder the client’s success in obtaining temporary, non-immigrant visas, and immigrant visas.

Certainly, for immigrants who wish to permanently reside and work in the United States, a specialized lawyer in the field could help expedite the paper work so that the application is received on or ahead of time.

Some people have non-immigrant visas but would like to extend their stays. A consultation with an immigration and visa lawyer can help move this process along, and at least answer any questions the foreign visitor may have concerning the extension of his or her stay.

Then there are those situations when a family member wishes to join his or her relatives who have been living and working in the United States for some time.

The pros and cons:

Immigration and visa lawyers analyze each client’s case individually. Many of them also speak a foreign language. And if one lawyer does not speak a client’s language, it’s very possible that another lawyer in the firm does. This is because immigration and visa law practices offer consultations in a variety of languages in order to meet the needs of their diverse clientele.


There are a number of things a potential client should beware of when on the search for immigration and visa legal services. Anyone who guarantees to get the client an immediate visa for a fee is very likely not a legitimate, licensed lawyer, and could be running a scam.

Lawyers from other countries who offer services as lawyers of US immigration and visa law are cause for suspicion. This is illegal in the US, and would thereby not lead to the successful and legal obtainment of any visas.

Additionally, one must beware of anybody who claims to have an inside connection, or who wants money to bribe immigration officials.

The bottom line:

There are many different kinds of immigrant and non-immigrant visas. A person foreign to the United States may have many reasons for seeking either type of visa. An immigration and visa lawyer can help to determine which type of visa to choose, and how to apply for it..