A Los Angeles Immigration Lawyer is a legal professional who specializes in immigration policies and guidelines. These attorneys interface with foreign nationals who need help in their plans to travel to the United States for a specific purpose. In addition, permanent residents and U. S. citizens also use specialized attorney services when they plan to petition for U. S. residency for their loved ones.

The amount of paperwork and effort associated with petitions is often enormous and can cause frustration and confusion for the applicant. Regardless of the client’s specific purpose, making use of a Los Angeles Immigration Lawyer will smooth-the-way for filing and processing the maze of needed documents for travel in the United States.

When foreign nationals enter the United States, they are required to present themselves to the immigration section of their port of entry. For example, the two most common ports of entry into the United States are the Los Angeles International Airport and the John F. Kennedy International Airport in New York City. Every Los Angeles Immigration Lawyer is aware that each foreign national must go through the immigration section of the airport and present the U. S. visa that is related to their travel.

The immigration officer then takes the foreign national’s visa information so that the immigration database can include data such as the traveler’s arrival date. Immigration Lawyers commonly advise foreign nationals to strictly follow the inclusive dates for entry into the United States—to avoid unnecessary deportation or detention at major U. S. airports. Foreign nationals entering the United States are apprised that immigration officials pay close attention to such details, including the type of visa used.

One of the non-immigrant visas generally issued to foreign nationals who travel to the United States for research and scholarship is the J-1 visa. This specific visa is based on the existence of a training program at an institution of higher education. A immigration lawyer recognizes that J-1 visas are different from student or F-1 visas, especially with regard to the visa holders’ level of education. For example, a foreign national who holds a medical degree plans to pursue medical residency training in the United States. 

On the other hand a Ph.D. holder intends to undergo post-doctoral training in the United States and thus receives a J-1 visa to attend that training. Despite the specificity of the J-1 visa, Immigration Lawyers in Los Angeles understand that the J-1 visa also can have other particular restrictions.

In order to be awarded a J-1 U. S. visa, the foreign national needs to present a letter of acceptance from a university, medical school, government agency or private company that has offered a training or fellowship position to the client. The letter should state the inclusive dates of the program as well as the amount of salary or stipend the institution will provide. Immigration Lawyers in Los Angeles know that, similar to tourist and student visas, J-1 visas expire at a specified date. Lawyers advise the foreign national to be cognizant of such conditions for entering the United States.

Professionals holding higher degrees can proceed with their training in their respective fields for at least one and, at most, for five years in the United States. The J-1 visa is renewed annually, depending on the endorsement of the training institution of the specific foreign national. Immigration lawyers understand that J-1 visas can be active for a maximum of five years after which the foreign national needs to either change status or leave the United States.

A J-1 visa can only be converted into a working visa after the foreign national receives a J-1 waiver. A J-1waiver signifies that the foreign national has no current obligations to his or her home country. Without the J-1 waiver, the J-1 visa cannot be changed into another kind of U. S. visa. Given the complexity of the research-scholar J-1 visa, foreign nationals will benefit greatly from consulting a Los Angeles Immigration Attorney about how to maneuver through those complexities when changing your immigration status.

About the Author:

Are you a J-1 visa holder? Immigration Attorney Los Angeles Paul Young Choi and his group of Los Angeles immigration attorneys can help you apply for a J-1 waiver!  These Immigration Lawyers in Los Angeles understand the needs and restrictions associated with acquiring the J-1 visa and are here to help you acquire or change your J-1 visa into a working visa. To arrange a meeting with a Los Angeles Immigration Lawyer, go to PChoiLaw.com now!