At Chodorow Law Offices, we help businesses, families, and others with temporary (nonimmigrant) visas. This includes, but is not limited to:
- L-1 intracompany transferees
- O-1 extraordinary ability
- E-2 treaty investors
- H-1B professionals
- H-3 trainees
- F-1 students
- J-1 exchange visitors
- B1/B2 visitors for business, pleasure, or medical treatment
- Etc.
In addition, our firm has unparalleled experience and resources on the ground for representing clients with regard to temporary visa issues before the U.S. Consulates in China (Beijing, Guangzhou, Shanghai, Chengdu, Shenyang, and Hong Kong). We make it our business to know each consulate’s policies, practices, and procedures.
For introductory information about temporary visas, see:
- Quick Reference to Nonimmigrant Visas
- Visa vs. I-94 (Departure Record): What’s the Difference?
- Admission to the U.S., and Your Rights and Responsibilities as a Nonimmigrant
- Proving Nonimmigrant Intent for a U.S. Visa.
Highlights
Proving Nonimmigrant Intent for a U.S. Visa
Contents1. Introduction1.1 Nonimmigrant Intent Requirements for Common Nonimmigrant Visa Classifications1.2 The Burden of Proof1.3 Were You Refused Under Section 214(b)? The Issue May Not Be Nonimmigrant Intent2. The Nonimmigrant Intent Requirement Explained2.1 Unabandoned Foreign Residence2.2 Coming to the U.S. “Temporarily”2.3 Factors Considered by the Consular Officer3. Dual Intent: Can a Person Who Seeks to Immigrate…
U.S. Visas for Medical Treatment
More Chinese patients are checking into travel abroad for healthcare needs, spurred by a rising demand for specialty care and sophisticated treatments. Below, I look at the driving forces behind the increase in so-called medical tourism, some differences between the U.S. and Chinese health care systems, the doctor-patient relationship in the U.S., and the U.S. visa requirements for healthcare…
H-1B Stateside Visa Renewal Pilot Program
The State Department today formally announced a new pilot program to renew H-1B visas within the U.S. for certain H-1B workers. Stateside visa processing was discontinued in 2004, except for diplomats, because a fingerprint requirement had been put into place after 9-11, and the State Department lacked the capabilities to gather fingerprints. The new program…
Update: Entry Suspended for Chinese Students and Researchers with Military-Civil Fusion Links
The President has issued a May 29, 2020, Proclamation on the Suspension of Entry as Nonimmigrants of Certain Students and Researchers from the People’s Republic of China.The proclamation appears to be counter-productive, a distraction from real measures needed to fight Beijing's theft of sensitive technologies, and an attempt to boost Trump's electoral odds by stoking…
Visas for Parents to Accompany F-1 Student to the U.S.
The B-2 (visitor for pleasure) visa is as flexible as a world-class gymnast. The State Department has announced that a B-2 visa may be used by parents to accompany a minor with an F-1 (student) visa to the U.S. As background, its well known that an F-1 student’s spouse and children (under age 21) can get…
Can I Enter the U.S. as a Visitor Then File a Form I-485, Application to Adjust Status?
Can you enter the U.S. as a visitor, then become a lawful permanent resident (LPR), i.e., green card holder, by filing with U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS) a Form I-485, Application to Adjust Status, instead of waiting abroad for an immigrant visa appointment?
State Dep’t Limits B (Visitor) Visa Validity for Communist Party Members
On Dec. 2, the State Department issued new restrictions on B1/B2 (visitor for business or leisure) visas for members of the Chinese Communist Party (CCP) and their families. While other Chinese citizens may obtain multiple-entry visas valid for entry within 10 years, under a 2014 reciprocal agreement between Presidents Obama and Xi Jinping, CCP members…
“Administrative Processing”: a Black Hole for Visa Applicants
For the uninitiated, “administrative processing” (AP) is State Department-speak for a temporary visa refusal pending further investigation of a visa application. (9 FAM Appendix E, 404). The applicant typically learns of the temporary refusal when, at the conclusion of the interview, the consular officer issues a written notice stating that under section 221(g) of the Immigration…
“Birth Tourism” Restricted by New State Department Rule
The State Department has published a Jan. 24 rule taking aim at birth tourism. The rule prohibits issuance of a B-2 (visitor for pleasure) visa if the applicant’s primary purpose for traveling to the U.S. is to gain citizenship for a child by giving birth in the U.S. The new rule will not prohibit pregnant…
Can I Visit the U.S. While Waiting for My Immigrant Visa?
Here’s a question I’m often asked: I am married to a U.S. citizen. He has started the process for me to get a green card by filing a Form I-130, Petition for Alien Relative. Once it’s approved by USCIS, I will apply for an immigrant visa at the U.S. Embassy in my home country. Can…
Electronic Visa Update System (EVUS) Enrollment Required for Chinese with 10-Year B1/B2 Visas
Chinese nationals holding 10-year B1/B2, B1, or B2 visitor visas are required to enroll online in the Electronic Visa Update System in order to enter the U.S. on or after Nov. 29, 2016.
Video: Tips for Your U.S. Visa Appointment
View on YouTube: https://youtu.be/T80jKsfxruY. This video is for you if you are a client of our law firm and the time for your visa appointment at a U.S. consular post is approaching. It’s an important moment for you. It’s also important to our law firm. This video provides tips to help you get ready. The…
Nonimmigrants: Admission, Rights, and Responsibilities
This article discusses the requirements and procedures for admission to the U.S. as a nonimmigrant. It also covers your responsibilities in order to maintain legal nonimmigrant status.[1] It’s important to be familiar with these responsibilities because a violation may make you ineligible for extension of status or change of status, ineligible for adjustment to lawful…