How to Get a Green Card on an L-1 Visa
An L-1 visa allows executives, managers and employees with specialized knowledge who work in an overseas company (that also has U.S. facilities) to move to the U.S. to work in the company’s U.S. location.
If you are in the U.S. on an L-1 visa, getting a green card may be easier for you than other nonimmigrant visa holders since you are already covered by the doctrine of dual intent and you have professional qualifications that allow you to avoid the labor certification process in obtaining a green card.
What is the Dual Intent Doctrine?
Most nonimmigrant visa applicants must state that they are not planning to apply for a green card as a condition of receiving their visa. Most visas require that an applicant coming to the U.S. on a nonimmigrant visa stay here for only a specified length of time and then return to their native countries.
However, if you have an L-1 visa, you are allowed to come to the U.S. as a nonimmigrant and still apply for a green card — known as dual intent. You may receive a green card based on your employment, your relationship to a family member who is a permanent resident or U.S. citizen, or other qualifying factors.
The Employment-Based Green Card
As a professional manager, you can apply for a green card using the EB-1 category (employment-based first preference).
Your U.S. employer must file a visa petition on your behalf, using the USCIS Form I-140.
The petition must be accompanied by several documents, including (1) proof of your L-1 visa status, (2) proof that you have worked for at least one out of three years for your company before you arrived in the U.S. and have a similar position now with the same company, (3) your job description, (4) financial statements and tax returns from the company, and more.
Upon approval of the visa application, an application may be filed for a green card or an adjustment of status. You will then be scheduled for an interview as the final step in the process.
We can help you understand the process for obtaining permanent resident status in the U.S. Contact one of the experienced Florida immigration attorneys at Jurado & Farshchian, P.L. by calling (305) 921-0440, or email us at info@jflawfirm.com.
Share
The post How to Get a Green Card on an L-1 Visa appeared first on Jurado & Farshchian, P.L. Business Lawyer, Real Estate Lawyer, Immigration Lawyer.
No comments:
Post a Comment
Note: Only a member of this blog may post a comment.