FAMILY AND INDIVIDUAL IMMIGRATION
Miller Mayer attorneys have over 25 years of experience in guiding U.S. businesses, individual clients, and families through the immigration process. We help employees and employers in start up companies, hospitals, universities, and financial and tech industries in our region and across the United States. We assist individuals in securing green cards for their life partners and family members, in naturalizing, and in obtaining a valid immigration status based on their talents and entrepreneurial endeavors. Simply put, we help our clients succeed.
Immigration is about people who make a difference. We appreciate the difference our clients make—to their employers, to their businesses, and in the lives of their children and families. We tailor services to the needs of our clients, with a high level of awareness of the challenges faced by physicians, researchers, teachers, athletes, artists, technology workers, and American families in the immigration process. We are proud to make a difference in the lives of our clients.
We are devoted to reuniting and keeping families together.
We have assisted thousands of individuals in successfully gaining green cards for family members.
Our expertise has resulted in U.S. citizenship for a multitude of grateful clients.
You can trust in our reputation and results to help you and your family through the immigration process.
WE CAN ASSIST WITH:
International entrepreneurs and foreign-born professionals have some self-sponsored options, including the National Interest Waiver or Extraordinary Ability green card pathways in addition to company sponsored visas and work authorizations such as STEM OPT, E, H, L, O, or TN. With proper preparation, waiting times are short for these types of applications.
O-1A non-immigrant visas are for individuals who possess extraordinary ability in several different categories including the sciences, arts, education, business, or athletics. The O-1B non-immigrant visa category is for individuals with extraordinary ability in the arts or extraordinary achievement in the motion picture or television industry. There is also a similar green card category for people who have extraordinary ability.
Foreign business owners and employees have additional work visa options for their multinational transferees in the non-immigrant L-1 category and the permanent EB-1-C category.
We work closely with medical institutions and medical professionals on immigration issues, ranging from immigration compliance issues to navigating the complex Conrad State 30 J-1 waiver process. We advise and file J waivers, H-1B, O-1, and green card applications for these specialized employments.
Study in the United States: F-1 visas allow foreign student to study in the United States. F-1 visas are sponsored by U.S. schools for academic studies at the primary, secondary, and university level. To gain F-1 sponsorship from a qualifying school, a foreign national must satisfy admission, tuition, and other requirements. After satisfying these requirements, an admitted or continuing foreign student receives sponsorship documents from the school (Form I-20) and applies for an F-1 visa at a U.S. consulate abroad. Successful F-1 visa applicants must also demonstrate ties to their home country. We advise on F-1 visa success and compliance.
F-1 OPT: Under current immigration law, most foreign students in degree programs in the United States with an F-1 student visa are eligible for a one year work permit for optional practical training (“OPT”), which provides a foreign student with work authorization to engage in employment that is directly related to his/her major area of study. Students in Science, Technology, Engineering, or Mathematics (“STEM”) degree programs may also qualify for a two year extension of the OPT period.
Professors and researchers may qualify for a number of non-immigrant or immigrant visa categories, depending on the facts and circumstances.
Foreign spouses of U.S. citizens are eligible for permanent residence (green card) based on a valid marriage without being subject to a quota delay. The only delay they face in obtaining permanent resident status is due to processing times. Visas are also available for fiancé(e)s of U.S. citizens. Foreign spouses of permanent residents are also eligible for green cards based on a valid marriage, but are subject to a relatively short quota delay.
Permanent residents (green card holders) can apply to become naturalized U.S. citizens five years obtaining green cards, or after a three year period for spouses of U.S. Citizens.
U.S. citizens and green card holders can sponsor their children for green cards. The length of time it will take varies, depending on the child’s age and whether he or she is married or unmarried. Parents can also sponsor adopted children and stepchildren in certain circumstances. U.S. citizen adults can sponsor their parents for green cards.
U.S. citizens can sponsor their foreign-born brothers and sisters for green cards. There is a lengthy wait for such green cards, however, because of annual quota caps.
ARTIST, ATHLETE, AND ENTREPRENEURIAL IMMIGRATION
- Our attorneys craft original and custom immigration solutions for clients who work “outside the box.”
- Our track record includes dancers, actors, coaches, trapeze artists, cigar rollers, bands and band members, and many others.
- Our entrepreneurial clients run restaurants, oversee manufacturing companies, and own ship management companies in a variety of immigration statuses including H-1B, E-2, and EB-5.
Our immigration planning is as creative and successful as our clients.
MEET THE IMMIGRATION ATTORNEY TEAM
WE ARE HERE TO HELP YOU!
To start a conversation about working with us, please contact the Miller Mayer Immigration Practice Group.
RECENT IMMIGRATION ARTICLES AND NEWS
Attorney General’s Decision Opens Door to Indefinite Detention of Asylum Seekers
A new decision by Attorney General William Barr holds that a person who is transferred from expedited removal proceedings to full removal proceedings after establishing a credible fear of persecution or torture is ineligible for...
Acting Secretary of Homeland Security Announces New Office for Targeted Violence and Terrorism Prevention, New CBP Commissioner
Kevin McAleenan, formerly head of U.S. Customs and Border Protection (CBP) and the new Acting Homeland Security Secretary, has replaced Kirstjen Nielsen, who was forced to resign recently amid President Trump’s declarations that...
State Dept. to Issue Final Rule on “Discontinuing” Granting Visas When Country is Sanctioned
The Department of State published a final rule, effective April 22, 2019, modifying current regulations to reflect that consular officers are to discontinue granting visas to individuals from certain sanctioned countries. Under the...
New USCIS Policy Guidance Clarifies Marijuana-Related Activities Bar on Naturalization
U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS) recently issued policy guidance to clarify that certain marijuana-related activities generally bar naturalization even if they are decriminalized under applicable state laws. Such an...
Visa Bulletin Shows Slight Forward Progress in Some Backlogged Preference Categories
The Department of State’s Visa Bulletin for May 2019 shows slight forward progress for EB-1 for all chargeability areas except China and India, EB-2 for China and India, EB-3 and Other Workers for China, India, and the...
Miller Mayer’s Steve Yale-Loehr Quoted Regarding EB-5 Visa Program, Trump’s Immigration Policy and Visas for International Student-Athletes
Stephen Yale-Loehr was quoted by Mercury News in “South Bay Pair Gamed EB-5 Visa Program for Millions in Profit from Wealthy Investors.” Mr. Yale-Loehr noted that the United States issues 10,000 EB-5 green cards each year....