Albany Immigration Lawyers

Immigration Lawyers in Albany, New York

The immigration lawyers in Albany, New York at The Towne Law Firm, P.C. are here to help you if you need help with a green card, visa, citizenship, temporary worker visa, investor visa, or business immigration law matter. Our immigration attorneys in Albany, New York handle a wide range of immigration issues and questions, and we are here to help you, and your family, navigate the immigration process. The Albany immigration lawyers at The Towne Law Firm, P.C. can review your situation and help you find the best path forward given your unique immigration situation.

How Can I Apply for a Green Card?

There are many ways individuals can apply for a green card. Your immigration process will depend on the type of green card eligibility category for which you qualify. Green card eligibility categories include:

Family-Based Green Cards. Family-based green cards are available for U.S. citizen spouses, unmarried children under age 21 of U.S. citizens, and parents of U.S. citizens if the parents are 21 years old. Family-based green cards include fiancé green cards, and other green cards that may be available to extended family members of U.S. citizens through family-based immigration.
Employment-Based Green Cards. Certain immigrant workers may be eligible for employment-based green cards. If you have extraordinary ability, research skills, or are a multinational manager or executive, you might qualify for an employment-based green card. Physicians who work in underserved areas may also qualify for employment-based green cards. Finally, immigrant investors who make investments in commercial enterprises which will create jobs for up to 10 employees can also qualify for an employment-based green card if their investment meets investment requirements. New laws have changed the minimum investment required, linking minimum investment amounts to inflation. Other immigrant workers may also be eligible for green cards as second preference or third preference immigrant workers with advanced degrees, exceptional abilities, or as a skilled or professional worker.
Special Immigrant Green Cards. Certain individuals qualify for special immigrant green cards. These include religious workers, underage individuals who need protection, Afghanistan or Iraq interpreters, international broadcasters, and NATO employees and their family members.
Refugee or Asylum Green Cards. If you qualify for refugee or asylum status, you could also receive a green card through the U.S.’s refugee and asylum programs.
Green Cards for Victims of Human Trafficking. If you have a visa as a victim of human trafficking, you may be able to apply for a green card.
Green Cards for Abuse Victims. If you came to the U.S. on a spousal or family visa and were abused, you could qualify for a green card for abuse victims, even if your family ties have changed.
Registry Green Cards. If you have lived in the U.S. since before January 1, 1972, you may qualify for a green card through the registry green card process.
And Other Green Card Eligibility Methods. There are other green card application methods available for specific groups, including certain victims of abuse, diversity visa lottery winners, Liberian refugees, American Indians born in Canada, certain Cuban natives, and people facing certain diplomatic situations.

How you apply for a green card will depend on your specific situation. If, for example, you plan to apply for a family-based green card, your family member will need to file an application for you. How you’ll apply for a green card will also depend on whether you are within the United States. If you are within the U.S., you’ll need to apply for an adjustment of status. If you are outside the U.S., you’ll need to go through Consular Processing with the U.S. Department of State. When adjusting your status, it is important that your status is valid (in some situations applying for a green card could trigger other immigration actions or require you to leave the U.S. to adjust your status). If you are not sure about your status or whether applying for a green card could jeopardize your current status, you may want to speak to a green card lawyer in Albany, New York at The Towne Law Firm, P.C.

How Can I Get a U.S. Visa?

If you plan to travel to the U.S., you may need to get a visa before you arrive. Individuals who want to come to the U.S. to study, to receive medical treatment, to conduct business, or to ultimately immigrate to the U.S. may need a visa. Individuals from Canada do not need a visa if they just want to visit the U.S. Individuals from other countries and in other situations may need a visa. If you are not sure about whether you need a visa, you may want to speak to the visa lawyers in Albany, New York at The Towne Law Firm, P.C. Our attorneys can review your situation and help you explore your visa options.

Here are some U.S. visa options available:

Tourism Visa. Individuals can usually apply for a tourism visa through the U.S. Embassy and Consulate in their home country. You may need to submit a photo, application, and may need to appear for an interview before your visa will be granted. You may be required to submit additional documentation, including proof that you intend to return home, proof that you can pay for your trip, and evidence of ties to your home country. If you enter the U.S. on a visa, you must leave before the visa expires, or you risk losing the ability to get a visa in the future.
Student Visa. If you will be attending university, college, or high school in the U.S., you’ll need to apply for a student visa. Individuals attending lower schools (elementary and middle schools), conservatories, seminaries, or other academic institutions may also qualify for student visas. Students must gain admission or enroll in school before their visa can be granted. Individuals with spouses and families may also qualify for spousal or family visas tied to their student visas.
Business Visa. If you want to enter the U.S. to conduct business, you can apply for a business visa that would allow you to enter the U.S. to attend a meeting or consultation, attend a business conference or convention, or come to the U.S. to negotiate contracts. Individuals from certain approved countries may be able to travel to the U.S. without first getting a business visa. Some of the approved countries include many European nations, Japan, South Korea, Australia, and New Zealand. You may still need to take steps to travel without a visa even if you live in an approved country. If you have questions about the business visa application process and about the process for traveling if you do not need a visa, you may want to speak to the Albany, New York visa lawyers at The Towne Law Firm, P.C.
Immigrant Visas. The U.S. grants visas to family-based immigrants and to other special groups. If you have questions about how you might be able to immigrate to the U.S. on these visas, consider reaching out to the visa lawyers in Albany, New York at The Towne Law Firm, P.C.
Temporary Employment Visas. Some workers protected under treaty and other classifications may qualify to come to the U.S. on temporary worker visas. These include investor visas, NAFTA visas, and more. If you have questions about whether you might be able to work in the U.S. on a temporary employment visa, you may want to reach out to the Albany, New York visa attorneys at The Towne Law Firm, P.C.
Other Visas. Individuals might also be able to apply for visas for medical travel, religious worker visas, and may be eligible for visas under certain humanitarian or special circumstances. The Albany, New York visa lawyers at The Towne Law Firm, P.C. may be able to help you if you are facing unique visa situations or questions.

These are just some of the visa categories available. Every case is unique, and the visa you’ll apply for will depend upon why you want to visit, travel, or work in the U.S. If you have questions about visas, reach out to the Albany, New York visa attorneys at The Towne Law Firm, P.C.

How Can I Apply for U.S. Citizenship?

If you have been a U.S. permanent resident for anywhere from 3 to 5 years, are 18 or older, meet the standards of “good moral character,” are able to pass a U.S. government test, and can speak basic English (required for most applicants), and are able to show that you have continuously resided in the U.S., you may be able to apply for U.S. citizenship. Applying to become a U.S. citizen is a big step. U.S. citizens gain the right to vote, along with gaining other important protections and responsibilities. Individuals will need to fill out citizenship specific applications, submit documentation, pass citizenship exams, and may need to take additional steps depending on their situation.

Applying for U.S. citizenship isn’t right for everyone who meets the above criteria. For example, certain criminal records, issues with immigration status, or other issues can affect not only your U.S. citizenship application but also your current immigration status if you apply for citizenship. If you have questions about whether applying for U.S. citizenship is right for you, or what your next steps should be, reach out to The Towne Law Firm, P.C., Albany citizenship attorneys.

Who Qualifies for a Temporary Worker Visa?

Different groups of workers and individuals from certain countries may qualify for a temporary worker visa which would allow these workers and individuals to work in the U.S. temporarily. Who is eligible to receive a temporary worker visa? Here are some categories of temporary workers who may qualify:

Individuals who work in certain specialty jobs, who meet standards for education or training may qualify for an H-1B temporary worker visa.
People from countries who work in certain industries where the countries have a free trade agreement with the U.S. may qualify for a temporary worker visa.
If you are a temporary agricultural worker or seasonal worker, you may qualify for a temporary worker visa.
Intracompany Transfers. If you work for a company with a branch in the U.S., you may be able to receive a temporary worker visa if you are transferred to a U.S. branch of the company.
Extraordinary Ability or Achievement. Individuals with extraordinary abilities or achievements may qualify for temporary worker visas.
Athletes and Entertainers. Support personnel for these groups may also qualify for temporary worker visas.
Teachers, coaches, and other participants in specialty cultural programs may also be able to apply for a temporary worker visa.
Cultural Exchange Program Participants.

These are just some of the categories of temporary worker visas available. Some individuals applying for temporary worker visas may require labor certifications, may need to earn a specific salary in their intended job, and may face additional documentation requirements. Different temporary worker visas also have different application requirements. If you have questions about whether you are eligible for a temporary worker visa, or how to apply, reach out to the temporary worker visa lawyers in Albany, New York at The Towne Law Firm, P.C.

How Can I Get an Investor Visa in Albany, New York?

Investors who invest a minimum amount of money on a commercial enterprise that will create at least 10 new jobs may qualify for the EB-5 investor visa. Currently U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services lists the minimum capital investment for applications at $1,050,000 (or $800,000 in a targeted area). Targeted employment areas include areas with high unemployment, rural areas, and other areas that have been identified as “high need.” Periodically, the minimum capital investments required will be revised to match inflation. To qualify for the job creation requirement, the job must be a full-time job, requiring 35 hours of work a week, employing U.S. citizens, lawful permanent residents or immigrants who are permitted to work in the U.S.

The process for applying for an EB-5 investor visa will require you to provide documentation of the source of your investment funds (namely you’ll need to show that the money was obtained legally, is not obtained from a loan, or can be traced to assets). The EB-5 investor visa is one path for wealthier individuals (and their families) to move and work in the United States. If you have questions about how you can apply for an investor visa, reach out to the Albany, New York investor visa lawyers at The Towne Law Firm, P.C.

How Can I Immigrate to the U.S. Through Business or Entrepreneurship?

The EB-5 investor visa isn’t the only path through which investors and entrepreneurs can immigrate to the U.S. Individuals can also enter and conduct business in the U.S. through the temporary business visitor visa. There are also other ways you can immigrate to the U.S. for business purposes, including through intracompany transfer, demonstration of extraordinary ability, and through other entrepreneurial visas.

Every person’s situation is unique. The business immigration lawyers in Albany, New York at The Towne Law Firm, P.C. can review your situation and help identify different paths to immigration, green cards, permanent residency, and visas. Contact our business immigration attorneys today to learn more.

How Can I Reach an Immigration Lawyer in Albany, New York?

The immigration lawyers in Albany, New York at The Towne Law Firm, P.C. can be reached at 518-452-1800 or by filling out our online contact form.