If you are a citizen of a foreign country who wishes to visit the United States, you must obtain a U.S. visa, unless you meet specific requirements for visa-free travel. Choosing the right type for your needs among the many types of visas and following the applicable process is extremely important. At Kiang Immigration Law, we apply more than 30 years of immigration law experience to guide you through the visa process from start to finish. Based in Alhambra, California, we serve individuals and families throughout the Greater Los Angeles area and Southern California, across the United States, and around the world.

Our Extensive Experience and Focus on Clients

Navigating the visa requirements and process can be an intimidating and bewildering experience, if you do not have trustworthy guidance from a knowledgeable immigration attorney. Over more than three decades of immigration law practice, Kiang Immigration Law established a reputation as a preeminent immigration law firm in the community. Helping clients obtain visas is an important part of our comprehensive immigration legal services.

Our attorneys, William Kiang and John Kiang, focus exclusively on immigration law, which enables us to devote our full attention to each client’s immigration needs. Our extensive knowledge of immigration law includes thorough familiarity with the types of visas and the associated application requirements and processes. In addition, our dedication to providing the highest level of client service means that we always answer questions, address concerns, and maintain ongoing communication with a client throughout the entire course of a visa matter.

Visa Basics

A visa permits a non-U.S. citizen to request permission to enter the United States. While a visa does not guarantee entry into the U.S., it does allow you to enter the country if you meet all the other requirements that apply. A visa is not the same as a green card, which grants lawful permanent resident status to an immigrant.

There are many different types of visas. The purpose of your travel is the primary factor that determines the type of visa you need. Visas fall into two main categories: immigrant visas and nonimmigrant visas. Immigrant visas are issued to those seeking permanent residence, such as family-based or employment-based. Nonimmigrant visas include tourist visas, student visas, temporary work visas, and exchange visitors. Each type of visa has its own specific requirements and process.

If you plan to travel to the United States, Kiang Immigration Law can help you determine the correct type of visa you need, review the requirements with you, and help you navigate through the details of the process.

Certain non-U.S. citizens may be eligible to travel to the United States without a visa if they meet the requirements for visa-free travel. Our attorneys help clients determine whether they may qualify for visa-free travel, in addition to assisting with obtaining all types of visas.

Specific Visa Types

The visa practice at Kiang Immigration Law includes helping clients with all types of visas. Some types of nonimmigrant temporary worker visas that we often assist with include:

• L-1A, Intracompany Transferee Executive or Manager: This classification permits a United States employer to transfer an executive or manager from an affiliated non-U.S. office to an office of the employer in the U.S. The classification also enables a non-U.S. company without a U.S. affiliated office to send an executive or manager to the U.S. for the purpose of establishing a U.S. office.
• H-1B, Specialty Occupations: This classification applies to persons who perform services in a specialty occupation, services of exceptional merit and ability relating to a Department of Defense (DOD) cooperative research and development project, or services as a fashion model of distinguished merit or ability.
• O1, Individuals with Extraordinary Ability or Achievement: The O1 classification is for persons who have extraordinary ability in the sciences, arts, education, business, or athletics, or who have a record of extraordinary achievement in the motion picture or television industry and have been recognized for those achievements nationally or internationally.
• E1 / E2, Treaty Traders and Treaty Investors: These classifications apply to citizens of foreign countries with which the United States maintains treaties of commerce and navigation. The individual must be traveling to the U.S. to 1) engage in substantial trade on their own behalf, including trade in services or technology, in qualifying activities, primarily between the U.S. and treaty country, 2) develop and direct the operations of a business in which they have invested substantial capital, or 3) fill a supervisory or executive role or provide skills essential to operations of a qualifying E-1 or E-2 business. Certain employees of the individual may also be eligible.

Extend or Change a Visa

Every nonimmigrant visa has an expiration date. If specific criteria are met, an individual may request to extend their stay or otherwise change their status to a different category by filing a formal request before the authorized stay expires. The best approach is to initiate the request as soon as you know you need an extension or change. Kiang Immigration Law helps clients review the requirements and complete the process to extend or change a visa.