US Immigration Lawyer: Visa Advice and Application Help
Are you interested in moving to the United States but not sure which US visa fits, or worried about getting it wrong? Our US immigration lawyers tell you which route you qualify for, prepare your application, and keep you updated until you have a decision.
Working with a specialist US immigration lawyer can help maximize your chances of a successful application. Call Total Law on +1 844 312 4979 for a confidential discussion about how we can help you and your loved ones settle in the United States.
Moving to the USA: What You Need to Know Before You Apply
Moving to the USA starts with one question: which visa matches your reason for going? There is no single “USA visa”. Most people move through a job offer or their own skills, a close family member who is a US citizen or green card holder, an investment in a US business, or a course of study.
Each route has its own eligibility rules, forms, fees and waiting times, and some lead to a green card while others are temporary. Choosing the wrong visa, or filing with gaps in your evidence, can mean a refusal, lost time and a new filing fee.
Our US immigration lawyers help you choose the right route first, then prepare and file your application. We review your circumstances, tell you honestly how strong your case is, set out the full cost and timeline before you commit, and stay with you until you have a decision.
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Which US Visa Is Right for You?
Most US visas are built around why you are moving to USA. The route you choose shapes everything after it: how long you can stay, whether you can work, whether your family can join you, and whether you can later apply for permanent residence.
Some green card categories have annual limits, so waits can run from a few months to many years depending on the category and your country.
I Want to Work in the US
Most US work visas need a US employer to petition for you. A few permanent routes, such as EB-1A for people of extraordinary ability and some EB-2 national interest waiver cases, let you petition for yourself.
- H-1B visa for jobs that need a degree-level specialty
- L-1 visa for transfers within the same company (L-1A managers and executives, L-1B specialized knowledge)
- O-1 visa for extraordinary ability in the sciences, arts, education, business or sport
- TN visa for Canadian and Mexican professionals under the USMCA
- E-3 visa for Australian professionals in specialty occupations
- P-1 visa for athletes and entertainment groups, and H-2B for seasonal work
- EB-1, EB-2 and EB-3 for a green card through work
See all US work visas.
I Want to Join My Family or Partner
US citizens and green card holders can sponsor certain relatives. Spouses, parents and unmarried children under 21 of US citizens are immediate relatives and do not wait for an annual quota. Other relatives wait for a visa number to become available.
- Marriage green card (IR-1/CR-1) for spouses of US citizens
- K-1 fiancé(e) visa to enter the US and marry within 90 days
- Family-based green cards for parents, children, siblings and other relatives
- Petition for Alien Relative (Form I-130), the first step for most family cases
See all US family visas.
I Want to Study or Visit
Students and exchange visitors need a visa linked to an approved school or program. Visitors choose between business and leisure categories. Citizens of Visa Waiver Program countries can often visit for up to 90 days with an approved ESTA instead of a visa.
- F-1 visa for academic study and M-1 visa for vocational study
- J-1 visa for exchange visitors, including researchers, trainees and au pairs
- B-1 visa for business visits
- B-2 visa for tourism, visiting family and medical treatment
See all student visas and visitor visas.
I Want to Invest or Start a Business
Investor routes range from temporary visas for treaty-country nationals to a green card for those who make a qualifying investment that creates US jobs.
- E-2 visa for investors from treaty countries who run a US business
- E-1 visa for traders from treaty countries
- EB-5 visa for a green card through a qualifying investment
- L-1A visa to open a US office for your existing overseas business
I Want to Live in the US Permanently
A green card gives you the right to live and work in the US permanently. You can get one through family, employment, investment, the diversity visa lottery or a special category. After five years as a green card holder, or three if you are married to a US citizen, you may be able to apply for citizenship.
Immigrant and Non-Immigrant US Visas Explained
Every US visa is either an immigrant visa, which leads to permanent residence, or a non-immigrant visa, which lets you stay for a limited time for a specific purpose. Choosing the right type is the first decision in any US immigration case.
US Immigrant Visas
An immigrant visa is for people who want to live in the US permanently. Most are granted through a close family member, an employer or an investment, or through a special category such as the diversity visa lottery. Most immigrant visas need a petition filed by a relative or employer, and many are limited by annual numbers.
There are several options if you intend to immigrate to the US with the aim of becoming a permanent resident.
Immigrant visa categories
| Immediate Relative/ Family Sponsored Visas | Visa Category |
| Spouse of U.S. citizens | IR1, CR1 |
| Spouse of U.S. citizens waiting for approval of their I-130 immigrant petition. | K3 |
| Fiancé(e) Visa | K1 |
| Intercountry adoption of an orphan child by a U.S. citizen | IR3, IH3, IR4, IH4 |
| Certain family members of U.S. citizens | IR2, CR2, IR5, F1, F3, F4 |
| Certain family members of lawful permanent residents (green card holders) | F2A, F2B |
| Employer Sponsored/ Employment Visas | |
Employment based immigrants including the following:
| E1, E2, E3, EW3, C5, T5, R5, I5, S (multiple types) |
| Religious workers | SD, SR |
| Iraqi and Afghan translators/ interpreters | SI |
| Iraqis or Afghans who worked on behalf of the US government | SQ |
| Other immigrant visas | |
| Diversity immigrant visa | DV |
| Returning resident | SB |
US Non-Immigrant Visas
A non-immigrant visa is for a temporary stay, such as a vacation, a business trip, a course of study, a work assignment or an exchange program. The length of stay depends on the category, and some visas can be extended.
If a non-immigrant visa is an appropriate route for you, there are many options to choose from. It is important to note that if you qualify for a non-immigrant visa, you will likely need to prove to immigration officials that you do not intend to move to an immigrant category.
However, some non-immigrant visas can permit you to stay legally for a number of years. During this time, you may become eligible to apply for a partner or spouse visa or an immigrant employment visa.
However, this mustn’t be your intended purpose when traveling to the US on some non-immigrant visas.
Non-immigrant visa categories
| Purpose of Travel | Visa Category |
| Athlete, amateur or professional (competing for prize money). | B1 |
| Au pair (exchange visitor) | J |
| Australian professional speciality | E3 |
| Border crossing card (Mexico) | BCC |
| Business visitor | B1 |
| CNMI-only transitional worker | CW1 |
| Crewmember | D |
| Diplomat or foreign government official | A |
| Domestic employee or nanny accompanying a foreign national employer | B1 |
| Employee of a designated international organization or NATO | G1-G5, NATO |
| Exchange visitor | J |
| Foreign military personnel stationed in the United States | A-2, NATO1-6 |
| Foreign national with extraordinary ability in sciences, arts, education, business, or athletics. | O |
| Free trade agreement (FTA) professional: Chile, Singapore | H1, B1 |
| International cultural exchange visitor | Q |
| Intra-company transferee | L |
| Medical treatment, visitor | B2 |
| Media, journalist | I |
| NAFTA professional worker (Mexico, Canada) | TN/TD |
| Performing athlete, artist, entertainer | P |
| Physician | J, H1B |
| Professor, scholar, teacher (exchange visitor) | J |
| Religious worker | R |
| Speciality occupations in fields requiring highly specialized knowledge | H1B |
| Student (academic, vocational) | F, M |
| Temporary agricultural worker | H2A |
| Temporary worker performing other services or labour of a temporary or seasonal nature. | H2B |
| Tourism, vacation, pleasure visitor | B2 |
| Training in a program not primarily for work | H3 |
| Treaty trader/ treaty investor | E |
| Transiting the United States | C |
| Victim of criminal activity | U |
| Victim of human trafficking | T |
| Non-immigrant visa for spouse and children of a lawful permanent resident. | V |
What are the Requirements for Moving to the US?
The requirements for immigrating to the U.S. depend on the specific visa category that you are applying for. Each application is complex and requires a significant amount of information and documentation.
In general, some of the requirements for immigration include:
- Meet the age requirements of your chosen route.
- Meet the financial requirements of the immigration route.
- Demonstrate your relationship with your family relatives (where relevant).
- An approved petition from a family relative who is sponsoring you to come to the United States (where relevant).
What Documents are Needed to Move to the US?
Providing evidence is a key part of the application process and it is essential to ensure you provide documents such as:
- Medical certificate showing proof of health status, and any required vaccinations
- Documents related to criminal history or previous immigration status (where relevant).
- Passport or valid travel document
- Proof of a formal job offer (if applying via the employment route).
- Letter from your sponsor organization outlining the nature of your employment
You will need to provide certified translations of any official documents that are not in English.
Ways to Get a US Green Card
There are several ways that you can apply for a green card in the United States. The ‘green card’ is also known as holding lawful permanent residence (LPR) in the US.
This is not the same as US citizenship, but it gives the cardholder more rights than if they were on a visa. To apply for a green card, you should be able to show your suitability under one of the following routes:
Green card through family
You may be able to apply for a green card if you fulfil the eligibility criteria. You should be one of the following:
- The immediate relative of a US citizen
- Other relative of a US citizen or LPR (family-based categories).
- Fiancé(e) of a US citizen or the dependent child of the fiancé(e)
- Widow(er) of a US citizen
- Victim of abuse from a spouse, child, or parent of a US citizen
Green card through employment
Some of the primary routes for employment-based green cards include:
- Immigrant worker (preference system)
- Physician national interest waiver (for physicians agreeing to work-time in a designated underprivileged area).
- Immigrant investor (for eligible individuals intending to invest in a new commercial enterprise)
Green card as a special immigrant
You may be eligible to apply as a special immigrant if the following apply to your case:
- Religious worker
- Special immigrant juvenile
- Eligible Afghanistan or Iraq nationals
- International broadcasters
- Employee of an international organization or family member or NATO-6 employee or family member
- Asylee (persons granted asylum status at least one year ago)
- Refugee
- Victim of human trafficking
How a US Immigration Lawyer Helps With Your Application
US immigration rules are strict and change often. A small error or a missing document can lead to a refusal, a long delay or a new filing fee.
All of our lawyers are fully accredited with the appropriate legal bodies and you may be confident that the information we provide is fully accurate.
No matter how complex your case is, we can provide a tailored plan to help you achieve your goals. We work tirelessly on your behalf, attempting all legal options to assist you in immigrating to the US with your loved ones and do our best to ensure that your petition is approved.
We recognize that immigration and visa applications are major decisions in a person’s life and that they can impact many lives.
That is why we provide the highest care and attention to all of our clients and ensure that they are given all their legal options so that they may make an informed decision about their future and the future of their families.
Your dedicated immigration lawyer will work with you throughout the entire process, communicating with you regularly to answer your questions and advise on the next steps. At the beginning of the process, you can expect us to give you clear and accurate information about how much the process will cost and an anticipated timeline.
We advise on:
- Moving to the United States, for work, family, study, investment or permanent residence
- Work visas and employer sponsorship
- Family and partner visas, and family-based green cards
- Student, exchange and visitor visas
- Green cards, permanent residence and US citizenship
- Corporate immigration for employers and business owners
- Refused applications, appeals and removal (deportation) defense
If you have any questions at any stage, our friendly and professional client care teams can work directly with you so that you feel confident in the process. Call us on +1 844 312 4979 for a confidential discussion about how we can assist you with your immigration case.
How Our Process Works: From First Call to Decision
Here is what to expect when you work with our US immigration lawyer.
- Tell us your goals: A first session with immigration lawyer. We ask about your plans, your immigration history and the documents you hold.
- Get a recommended route: Your lawyer explains your options, your likely chances and the main risks, and tells you honestly if another route suits you better.
- We prepare your application: Your lawyer completes the forms, builds the supporting evidence and files with USCIS or the US Department of State.
- We support you to a decision: We prepare you for any interview, respond to requests for evidence and update you until the decision arrives.
Talk to a US Immigration Lawyer Today
Whether you are planning a move, have a deadline or have had an application refused, we can help you decide what to do next. Call us at +1 844 312 4979 for a confidential discussion about your case, or send your details and we will call you back.
Advice Package
Get clear, expert advice on your visa options, eligibility and application before you commit to applying.
Application Package
Let our immigration lawyers prepare, check and manage your application so you can apply with confidence.
Fast Track Package
Need to apply quickly? Get priority handling by our immigration lawyers from preparation to submission.
Appeal Package
Been refused or received an unfavourable decision? Get expert legal help to challenge it or determine your next step.
The Advice Package
During this Advice Session, an immigration lawyer will assess your circumstances, explain your options and tell you what you need to do to make a strong application.
We review your circumstances, explain the relevant requirements, identify potential problems or refusal risks, and advise you on the evidence and next steps.
The Application Package
With our Application Package, your dedicated immigration lawyer will assess your case, prepare your application, check your supporting documents and submit your forms on your behalf.
We check your application for missing information, inconsistencies and potential issues before submission, helping you avoid common mistakes that could affect your case.
The Fast Track Package
Our Fast-Track Application Package gives your case priority with our immigration lawyers, helping you get your application prepared, checked and submitted as quickly as possible.
Your case receives priority handling, including accelerated document reviews, application preparation, communication with your caseworker and submission support.
The Appeal Package
Our immigration lawyers will review the decision, explain why it was refused and advise on the strongest option available to you, including an appeal, review or fresh application where appropriate.
We will examine the reasons for refusal, identify weaknesses or errors, assess your available options and provide the legal support and representation your case requires.
Related pages for your continued reading.
Frequently Asked Questions
Our lawyers can help you with any aspect of immigration law, including family visa applications (and green cards). We can assess your eligibility for your chosen category and make recommendations if we believe there is a better option available for you to immigrate to the United States.
We provide all of the following services to help you apply for a family visa:
- Check that you have the required information and documents to submit with your application
- Complete all application forms on your behalf
- Monitor the family visa bulletins to check whether your visa application is current
- Liaise with you and your family members to keep you informed about your status
- Liaise with the visa application center and your U.S. embassy or consulate
- Contact you if your petition is approved or refused and outline the next steps
It can cost a lot of money to immigrate to the U.S and the amount will vary depending on your circumstances. Reach out to Total Law for tailored advice.
The knowledgeable team at Total Law are committed to help you and your loved ones in immigrating to the US.
We have a strong history in succeeding in applying for visas and immigration permissions and will work tirelessly on your behalf to achieve a positive outcome.
Our passion to providing high-quality advice is second to none and our dedicated USA immigration lawyers will work with you throughout the entire process,
It is possible to apply for a US visa without the assistance of an immigration lawyer. However, as US immigration law is extremely complex, with many rules that are updated regularly and which must be followed precisely, it can be difficult for a person without legal expertise to fully understand how to navigate the system.
As well as this, immigration applications can impact families lives and some people choose to rely on the expertise of an immigration lawyer to maximize their chances of a successful application.
If your application contains errors or inaccurate information (no matter how small), your entire application may be refused on this basis.
A qualified immigration lawyer will work with you to ensure that your application is submitted to the highest standard and contains no errors that could result in lost time or further expense.
Yes. We review the reasons for the US visa refusal and advise whether to reapply, respond, appeal or take a different route, then prepare the next filing. The options depend on the type of visa and the reason for the refusal.
Yes. We advise clients all over the world by phone, email and online, and we prepare applications that are handled by the US embassy or consulate in your country.
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