About the F-1 Student Visa / Temporary Worker Visa Options
Many options exist for students, temporary workers, business people, and others to come to the United States and stay on a temporary basis. The list include the following visa types:
F-1 Visa (for students)
B-1 Visa (for business visitors)
H-1B Visa (for specialty occupations)
H-2A Visa (for seasonal agricultural workers)
H-3 Visa (for training and education)
L Visa (for intra-company transfers)
O Visa (for those with extraordinary ability)
P Visa (for professional athletes, artists or entertainers)
R Visa (for religious workers)
TN Visa (for skilled workers from Canada and Mexico, as part of the NAFTA agreement)
How we help you with the F-1 Student Visa and Temporary Worker Visa Applications and process
We guide you through the entire F-1 student visa or temporary worker application process, including form submission for the varying visa types.
We explain the time lines, deadlines and processes in clear terms.
We keep track of your case with the Dept. of State, UCIS, and other agencies.
F-1 Visa for Students
Our lawyers help with you understand and navigate eligibility and application processes for student F-1 visas, visas for temporary workers and others looking to come to the United States temporarily.
The F-1 student visa is the most common for students wishing to study in the United States. The selected program must be an accredited academic educational institution or program, a language-training program, or a vocational program. There are several steps that involve first visiting usembassy.gov to confirm the requirements based on the specific U.S. embassy or consulate where you will submit your application.
Requirements: Fill out the Form DS-160 (Online Nonimmigrant Visa Application). Print this application form confirmation page and bring it to your F-1 student visa interview.
How We Help at Border Pathways: We provide guidance and legal counsel to applicants for the F-1 student visa, including discussing options for stay extensions.
B-1 Visa
Not technically a “worker” or employment visa the B-1 business people foreign countries to come to the United States for different legitimate business and economic activities. Business visitors may attend meetings, conventions, conferences, short-term training, or negotiations on behalf of a foreign employer. The typical visa granted is from 1 to 6 months, depending on the purpose.
How We Help at Border Pathways: We provide guidance and legal counsel to clients about the parameters of the visa, and options for extensions or changes in status.
H-1B Visa
The H-1B visa allows professionals to come to the United States temporarily to work in a field that requires a specific specialization or skill. U.S.-based employers must sponsor foreign nationals for that particular position. We have more details available on our H-1B visa page.
H-2A Visa
An H-2A visa permits foreign nationals to come to the United States to work in agriculture. The individual must be sponsored by an employer, so he or she cannot self-petition for an H-2A. The United States employer must demonstrate the link to agriculture and can be self-employed, a partnership, corporation, or agricultural association.
How We Help at Border Pathways: We provide guidance and legal counsel to employers wishing to sponsor a foreign national for an H-2A visa. We also navigate the application and laws regarding related H-4 visas for spouses and children.
H-2B Visa
Employers can hire foreign nationals to perform seasonal (peak-load) or one-time-only work that is non-agricultural. To qualify, business owners must demonstrate that there are no unemployed United States citizens willing or able to do the job. As with the H-2A visa, the foreign national must be sponsored and the employer must pay the prevailing wage.
How We Help at Border Pathways: We provide guidance and legal counsel to employers wishing to sponsor a foreign national for an H-2B visa. We also navigate the application and laws regarding related H-4 visas for spouses and children.
H-3 Visa
Foreign nationals can enter the United States on an H-3 visa as either a:
Trainee to receive training in any field of endeavor (non-graduate medical education or training) if that training is not available in the foreign national's home country
Special education exchange visitor where he or she receives practical training and experience in the education of children with physical, mental, or emotional disabilities.
If approved, a period of stay is allowed for up to 2 years.
How We Help at Border Pathways: We provide guidance and legal counsel to training and education programs wishing to sponsor a foreign national for an H-3 visa. We guide those organizations through the H-3 visa application and process.
L Visa
An L visa allows for executives managers, and employees with a specialized skills to be transferred temporarily to a division, branch, affiliate, subsidiary, or parent of an international company in the United States. To be eligible, there are a number of requirements for this visa, including the employee having a particular specialized knowledge or skill set. The transferring company must also continue to do business overseas during the entire period of the foreign national's stay in the United States with L-1 status.
The L visa is very popular for many reasons, one of which is that it allows foreign nationals to legally live and work in the United States as well as travel in and out of the U.S. as long as the L visa valid. This visa also grants the foreign national's spouse and children under the age of 21 L-2 visa status, in which the latter can remain in the United States for the duration of L-1 visa holder's status.
How We Help at Border Pathways: We provide guidance and legal counsel to companies and businesses wishing to sponsor a foreign national for an L visa. We guide those organizations through the L visa application, eligibility, and ongoing requirements.
O Visa
Both the O-1 visa and the employment-based visa (EB-1) apply to those with extraordinary ability. The difference is that the O-1 visa is for a temporary stay while the EB-1 is for permanent residency (green card). Typically, the O-1 visa is issued to foreign artists, athletes, entertainers, educators, scientists, and business people of extraordinary ability who wish to come work in the United States temporarily. In particular, it’s a visa focused on those who are recognized nationally or internationally for his or her achievements in their specialty. O visa beneficiaries must be sponsored and cannot self-nominate.
How We Help at Border Pathways: We provide guidance and legal counsel to companies and businesses wishing to sponsor a foreign national for an O visa. We guide those organizations through the O visa application, eligibility, and ongoing requirements.
P Visa
The P-1 visa allows artists, entertainers, and athletes, who want to come to the U.S. to temporarily perform or compete (either solo or on a team) at a specific event. Exceptional athletes can apply for this P-1 visa in order to compete in the United States in an individual event, competition, or performance. However, the athletes or entertainers cannot complete the application and must be sponsored by a U.S employer or organization to go to the U.S to perform or compete.
How We Help at Border Pathways: We provide guidance and legal counsel to companies and businesses wishing to sponsor a foreign national for an P visa. We guide those organizations through the P visa application and petition to the U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS) agency, and advise those organizations on eligibility, and ongoing requirements.
R Visa
The R visa allows for temporary foreign religious workers to come to the United States and work in a professional capacity for religious organizations. An individual is considered a “religious worker” if he or she who engages in an activities that is related to a traditional religious function (e.g., ministers, cantors, rabbis, liturgical workers, imams, priests, religious translators, nuns, monks, missionaries, etc.)
How We Help at Border Pathways: We provide guidance and legal counsel to religious organizations wishing to sponsor a foreign national for an R visa. We guide those organizations through the eligibility process, R visa application, and any ongoing requirements.
TN Visa
TN visas apply to skilled workers from Canada and Mexico under the North American Free Trade Agreement (NAFTA). The TN visa allows skilled workers from Canada and Mexico to temporarily enter the United States to work in a NAFTA-approved occupation. In this way, Canadian or Mexican nationals use TN visas to bypass caps on H1-B visas. One thing to note is that there a different requirements for those coming from Canada versus Mexico. Unlike the H-1B visa, a TN visa doesn't require sponsorship or petition by an employer.
How We Help at Border Pathways: We provide guidance and legal counsel to Canadians and Mexicans wishing to enter the U.S. on a TN visa. We guide individuals through the eligibility process, TN visa application, and any ongoing requirements.
Why Choose Our Student Visa / Temporary Worker Visa Legal Services
Whether you’re an employer, a student, or a foreign national seeking to temporarily live and work in the United States, understanding the eligibility requirements for the various visa types can be complex. At Border Pathways, we’re experienced immigration lawyers who will personally handle your visa application and guide you the application process so you have a seamless experience. We’ve handled dozens of successful student visa and temporary worker visa submissions and will work to ensure we file exactly what’s needed to give you the best chance of success.
Our Fees for Student Visa / Temporary Worker Visa Legal Services/ How We Bill
Whether you’re an employer, student, or temporary worker, we know you want to search for cost-effective pathways for come to the United States to study, work, and live. As such, our fees will always be transparent and reasonable. Contact us for a free consultation and we can discuss the case and the costs.
Contact Us for a Free Consultation on the Student & Temporary Worker Visas Processes
Tell us a little about yourself
Whether you’re in the Washington, D.C. area (DMV), or you’re just looking on Google in the D.C. Metro area for “an immigration lawyer near me,” our office is located at 2111 Wilson Blvd, Arlington, VA 22201. We’re happy to serve those living in the District, Northern Virginia (Arlington, Alexandria, Falls Church, Fairfax, McLean), Maryland (Montgomery County - Bethesda, Rockville, Silver Spring, Chevy Chase, etc.), Oxon Hill, College Park, Laurel, Baltimore, and more.
* Consultation is free for the purpose of discussing your specific immigration law case, and the various options available to you at a high level. Consultation is no obligation.