Investor, Religious Worker and Student Visas On this page, we discuss just a few of the many special visas: investor visas, religious worker visas, and student visas. E-2 Investor Visas These visas are for people who wish to come to America and invest in businesses. - Temporary: The investment must be at least 50 percent of what the business is worth, which can be as little as $20,000. The visa can be extended from year to year.
- Permanent: This requires an investment of between $500,000 and $3,000,000 depending on the local unemployment rate. The investment must generate 10 new jobs for American workers over a reasonable period.
Premium processing may be available by paying an additional filing fee of $1,000 to the immigration service. Religious Visas - R-1 temporary visas: These last up to five years. The applicant must apply for a religious position and prove that he or she has been a member of the same denomination for the preceding two years. The sponsoring agency must be a religious organization.
- I-360 permanent resident visas: The applicant must prove that he or she has been a member of the denomination for the past two years and has been employed in a religious position during that two year period immediately proceeding the filing of the application.
For both types of religious visa, there is no systemic delay, and labor certification is not required, but a background investigation is required. F-1 Student Visas - The applicant's chosen school must qualify with the Attorney General in the state in which the school is located. The school will give the prospective student an I-20 form after he or she pays a deposit against tuition. The student must present that form with certain other information (such as financial wherewithal). It may take four or five months to obtain the visa.
- The visa holder can maintain student status for up to 15 years as long as he or she remains enrolled in an approved educational institution.
- Once the student has been in student status for more than six months, the student may apply for "change in circumstances" certification to obtain permission to be employed.
K-1 Fiancé Visas We also assist in obtaining K-1 visas for fiancés of USCs. The parties must have been in physical contact with each other during the 12 months prior to filing for the visa. Once the alien comes to the United States, he or she has 90 days in which to marry the American. If he marries the American in that time, he can immediately apply for permanent residence. This process will take about three or four months. Contact the law firm of J. Bruce Weinman, Esq. to discuss your investor, family or employment visa matter. We offer free consultations by phone or in-office. We will also respond to e-mail inquiries. Se Habla Español J. Bruce Weinman, Esq.
352 7th Avenue
New York, NY 10001-5012 Phone: 212-947-3370
Fax: 646-417-7242
E-mail Attorney J. Bruce Weinman, Esq. represents immigration and naturalization clients in Midtown Manhattan and the boroughs of Manhattan, Brooklyn, the Bronx, Queens and Staten Island, New York City, New York, and throughout the U.S.
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