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Byrley Law Firm, LLC
10015 Old Columbia Road Suite B215
Columbia MD 21046
410-719-1501 (MD)
1-800-850-3996 (US)
240-295-0280 (Fax)
8:30 am - 5:00 pm, Eastern Time, Monday - Friday
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This form is for general inquiries. For more detailed information please click How to Get a Consultation.
US Immigration News
September 15, 2018
Today, September 15, was AILA Citizenship Day. This is a single-day nationwide event hosted by AILA chapters across the country and their local grassroots partners. The goal is to assist permanent residents with their naturalization applications, provide eligibility screening, and to see if there are any "red flags" that might cause a problem for applicants down the road, all for no charge. I was honored to participate at the Chesapeake Multicultural Resource Center in Easton, Maryland, along with several other attorneys, paralegals and interpreters. Possibly due to the recent Florence hurricane scare, not as many people showed up for this great service as expected. Nevertheless I truly feel we were able to provide much needed information and assistance to those who did come. Now that the applicants have been screened for eligibility, the next step will be for the MRC staff to complete and file the naturalization applications. Hopefully, in just a short 12-13 months from now, each person we met today will be taking their oaths of allegiance to become some of the newest citizens of our country. For more information, see https://www.aila.org/practice/pro-bono/find-your-opportunity/citizenship-day/become-a-citizen-find-assistance-in-your-community.
Non-Immigrant Visa Categories
| Foreign Government Officials | |
| A-1 | Ambassador, public minister, career, diplomatic or consular officer, and members of immediate family. |
| A-2 | Other foreign government official or employee, and members of immediate family. |
| A-3 | Attendant, servant, or personal employee of A-1 and A-2, and members of immediate family. |
| Visitors | |
| B-1 | Temporary visitor for business |
| B-2 | Temporary visitor for pleasure |
| Visa Waiver Program | |
| Aliens in Transit | |
| C-1 | Alien in transit directly through U.S. |
| C-1D | Combined transit and crewman visa |
| C-2 | Alien in transit to UN headquarters district under Section 11.(3), (4), or (5) of the Headquarters Agreement |
| C-3 | Foreign government official, members of immediate family, attendant, servant, or personal employee, in transit |
| C-4 | Transit without Visa, see TWOV |
| Crewmen | |
| D-1 | Crewmember departing on same vessel of arrival |
| D-2 | Crewmember departing by means other than vessel of arrival |
| Treaty Traders and Treaty Investors | |
| E-1 | Treaty Trader, spouse and children |
| E-2 | Treaty Investor, spouse and children |
| Academic Students | |
| F-1 | Academic Student |
| F-2 | Spouse or child of F-1 |
| For Foreign Medical Graduates (see individual categories H-1B, J-1, O-1, TN, E-2) | |
| Foreign Government Officials to International Organizations | |
| G-1 | Principal resident representative of recognized foreign member government to international organization, and members of immediate family. |
| G-2 | Other representative of recognized foreign member government to international organization, and members of immediate family. |
| G-3 | Representative of non-recognized or nonmember government to international organization, and members of immediate family |
| G-4 | International organization officer or employee, and members of immediate family |
| G-5 | Attendant, servant, or personal employee of G-1, G-2, G-3, G-4, or members of immediate family |
| Temporary Workers | |
| H-1B | Specialty Occupations, DOD workers, fashion models |
| H-1C | Nurses going to work for up to three years in health professional shortage areas |
| H-2A | Temporary Agricultural Worker |
| H-2B | Temporary worker: skilled and unskilled |
| H-3 | Trainee |
| H-4 | Spouse or child of H-1, H-2, H-3 |
| Foreign Media Representatives | |
| I | Visas for foreign media representatives |
| Exchange Visitors | |
| J-1 | Visas for exchange visitors |
| J-2 | Spouse or child of J-1 |
| Fiance(e) of US Citizen | |
| K-1 | Fiance(e) |
| K-2 | Minor child of K-1 |
| K-3 | Spouse of a U.S. Citizen (LIFE Act) |
| K-4 | Child of K-3 (LIFE Act) |
| Intracompany Transferee | |
| L-1A | Executive, managerial |
| L-1B | Specialized knowledge |
| L-2 | Spouse or child of L-1 |
| Vocational and Language Students | |
| M-1 | Vocational student or other nonacademic student |
| M-2 | Spouse or child of M-1 |
| N-8 | Parent of alien classified SK-3 "Special Immigrant" |
| N-9 | Child of N-8, SK-1, SK-2, or SK-4 "Special Immmigrant" |
| NAFTA | North American Free Trade Agreement (NAFTA) (see TN, below) |
| North Atlantic Treaty Organization | |
| NATO-1 | Principal Permanent Representative of Member State to NATO and resident members of official staff or immediate family |
| NATO-2 | Other representatives of member State; Dependents of Member of a Force entering in accordance with the provisions of NATO Status-of-Forces agreement; Members of such a Force if issued visas |
| NATO-3 | Official clerical staff accompanying Representative of Member State to NATO or immediate family |
| NATO-4 | Official of NATO other than those qualified as NATO-1 and immediate family |
| NATO-5 | Expert other than NATO officials qualified under NATO-4, employed on behalf of NATO and immediate family |
| NATO-6 | Member of civilian component who is either accompanying a Force entering in accordance with the provisions of the NATO Status-of-Forces agreement; attached to an Allied headquarters under the protocol on the Status of International Military headquarters set up pursuant to the North Atlantic Treaty; and their dependents |
| NATO-7 | Servant or personal employee of NATO-1, NATO-2, NATO-3, NATO-4, NATO-5, NATO-6, or immediate family |
| Workers with Extraordinary Abilities | |
| O-1 | Extraordinary ability in Sciences, Arts, Education, Business, or Athletics |
| O-2 | Alien's (support) accompanying O-1 |
| O-3 | Spouse or child of O-1 or O-2 |
| Athletes and Entertainers | |
| P-1 | Individual or team athletes |
| P-1 | Entertainment groups |
| P-2 | Artists and entertainers in reciprocal Exchange programs |
| P-3 | Artists and entertainers in culturally unique programs |
| P-4 | Spouse or child of P-1, 2, or 3 |
| International Cultural Exchange Visitors | |
| Q-1 | International cultural exchange visitors |
| Q-2 | Irish Peace Process Cultural and Training Program (Walsh Visas) |
| Q-3 | Spouse or child of Q-2 |
| Religious Workers | |
| R-1 | Religious workers |
| R-2 | Spouse or child of R-1 |
| Witness or Informant | |
| S-5 | Informant of criminal organization information |
| S-6 | Informant of terrorism information |
| T | Victims of a Severe Form of Trafficking in Persons |
| T-1 | Victim of a severe form of trafficking in persons |
| T-2 | Spouse of a victim of a severe form of trafficking in persons |
| T-3 | Child of victim of a severe form of trafficking in persons |
| T-4 | Parent of victim of a severe form of trafficking in persons (if T-1 victim is under 21 years of age) |
| North American Free Trade Agreement (NAFTA) | |
| TN | Trade visas for Canadians and Mexicans |
| TD | Spouse or child accompanying TN- |
| Transit Without Visa | |
| TWOV | Passenger |
| TWOV | Crew |
| U | Victims of Certain Crimes |
| U-1 | Victim of Certain Criminal Activity |
| U-2 | Spouse of U-1 |
| U-3 | Child of U-1 |
| U-4 | Parent of U-1, if U-1 is under 21 years of age |
| Certain Second Preference Beneficiaries | |
| V-1 | Spouse of an LPR who is the principal beneficiary of a family-based petition (Form I-130) which was filed prior to December 21, 2000, and has been pending for at least three years |
| V-2 | Child of an LPR who is the principal beneficiary of a family-based visa petition (Form I-130) that was filed prior to December 21, 2000, and has been pending for at least three years. |
| V-3 | The derivative child of a V-1 or V-2 |
| Humanitarian Parole | |
| Temporary Protected Status (TPS) | |
| TPS | Temporary Protected Status |
Visa Categories
Non-immigrant Categories
Foreign Government Officials |
|
| A-1 | Ambassador, public minister, career, diplomatic or consular officer, and members of immediate family. |
| A-2 | Other foreign government official or employee, and members of immediate family. |
| A-3 | Attendant, servant, or personal employee of A-1 and A-2, and members of immediate family. |
Visitors |
|
| B-1 | Temporary visitor for business |
| B-2 | Temporary visitor for pleasure |
Visa Waiver Program |
|
Aliens in Transit |
|
| C-1 | Alien in transit directly through U.S. |
| C-1D | Combined transit and crewman visa |
| C-2 | Alien in transit to UN headquarters district under Section 11.(3), (4), or (5) of the Headquarters Agreement |
| C-3 | Foreign government official, members of immediate family, attendant, servant, or personal employee, in transit |
| C-4 | Transit without Visa, see TWOV |
Crewmen |
|
| D-1 | Crewmember departing on same vessel of arrival |
| D-2 | Crewmember departing by means other than vessel of arrival |
Treaty Traders and Treaty Investors |
|
| E-1 | Treaty Trader, spouse and children |
| E-2 | Treaty Investor, spouse and children |
Academic Students |
|
| F-1 | Academic Student |
| F-2 | Spouse or child of F-1 |
For Foreign Medical Graduates (see individual categories H-1B, J-1, O-1, TN, E-2) |
|
Foreign Government Officials to International Organizations |
|
| G-1 | Principal resident representative of recognized foreign member government to international organization, and members of immediate family. |
| G-2 | Other representative of recognized foreign member government to international organization, and members of immediate family. |
| G-3 | Representative of non-recognized or nonmember government to international organization, and members of immediate family |
| G-4 | International organization officer or employee, and members of immediate family |
| G-5 | Attendant, servant, or personal employee of G-1, G-2, G-3, G-4, or members of immediate family |
Temporary Workers |
|
| H-1B | Specialty Occupations, DOD workers, fashion models |
| H-1C | Nurses going to work for up to three years in health professional shortage areas |
| H-2A | Temporary Agricultural Worker |
| H-2B | Temporary worker: skilled and unskilled |
| H-3 | Trainee |
| H-4 | Spouse or child of H-1, H-2, H-3 |
Foreign Media Representatives |
|
| I | Visas for foreign media representatives |
Exchange Visitors |
|
| J-1 | Visas for exchange visitors |
| J-2 | Spouse or child of J-1 |
Fiance(e) of US Citizen |
|
| K-1 | Fiance(e) |
| K-2 | Minor child of K-1 |
| K-3 | Spouse of a U.S. Citizen (LIFE Act) |
| K-4 | Child of K-3 (LIFE Act) |
Intracompany Transferee |
|
| L-1A | Executive, managerial |
| L-1B | Specialized knowledge |
| L-2 | Spouse or child of L-1 |
Vocational and Language Students |
|
| M-1 | Vocational student or other nonacademic student |
| M-2 | Spouse or child of M-1 |
| N-8 | Parent of alien classified SK-3 "Special Immigrant" |
| N-9 | Child of N-8, SK-1, SK-2, or SK-4 "Special Immmigrant" |
NAFTA -- North American Free Trade Agreement (NAFTA) (see TN, below) |
|
North Atlantic Treaty Organization |
|
| NATO-1 | Principal Permanent Representative of Member State to NATO and resident members of official staff or immediate family |
| NATO-2 | Other representatives of member State; Dependents of Member of a Force entering in accordance with the provisions of NATO Status-of-Forces agreement; Members of such a Force if issued visas |
| NATO-3 | Official clerical staff accompanying Representative of Member State to NATO or immediate family |
| NATO-4 | Official of NATO other than those qualified as NATO-1 and immediate family |
| NATO-5 | Expert other than NATO officials qualified under NATO-4, employed on behalf of NATO and immediate family |
| NATO-6 | Member of civilian component who is either accompanying a Force entering in accordance with the provisions of the NATO Status-of-Forces agreement; attached to an Allied headquarters under the protocol on the Status of International Military headquarters set up pursuant to the North Atlantic Treaty; and their dependents |
| NATO-7 | Servant or personal employee of NATO-1, NATO-2, NATO-3, NATO-4, NATO-5, NATO-6, or immediate family |
Workers with Extraordinary Abilities |
|
| O-1 | Extraordinary ability in Sciences, Arts, Education, Business, or Athletics |
| O-2 | Alien's (support) accompanying O-1 |
| O-3 | Spouse or child of O-1 or O-2 |
Athletes and Entertainers |
|
| P-1 | Individual or team athletes |
| P-1 | Entertainment groups |
| P-2 | Artists and entertainers in reciprocal Exchange programs |
| P-3 | Artists and entertainers in culturally unique programs |
| P-4 | Spouse or child of P-1, 2, or 3 |
International Cultural Exchange Visitors |
|
| Q-1 | International cultural exchange visitors |
| Q-2 | Irish Peace Process Cultural and Training Program (Walsh Visas) |
| Q-3 | Spouse or child of Q-2 |
Religious Workers |
|
| R-1 | Religious workers |
| R-2 | Spouse or child of R-1 |
Witness or Informant |
|
| S-5 | Informant of criminal organization information |
| S-6 | Informant of terrorism information |
Victims of a Severe Form of Trafficking in Persons |
|
| T-1 | Victim of a severe form of trafficking in persons |
| T-2 | Spouse of a victim of a severe form of trafficking in persons |
| T-3 | Child of victim of a severe form of trafficking in persons |
| T-4 | Parent of victim of a severe form of trafficking in persons (if T-1 victim is under 21 years of age) |
North American Free Trade Agreement (NAFTA) |
|
| TN | Trade visas for Canadians and Mexicans |
| TD | Spouse or child accompanying TN- |
Transit Without Visa |
|
| TWOV | Passenger |
| TWOV | Crew |
Victims of Certain Crimes |
|
| U-1 | Victim of Certain Criminal Activity |
| U-2 | Spouse of U-1 |
| U-3 | Child of U-1 |
| U-4 | Parent of U-1, if U-1 is under 21 years of age |
Certain Second Preference Beneficiaries |
|
| V-1 | Spouse of an LPR who is the principal beneficiary of a family-based petition (Form I-130) which was filed prior to December 21, 2000, and has been pending for at least three years |
| V-2 | Child of an LPR who is the principal beneficiary of a family-based visa petition (Form I-130) that was filed prior to December 21, 2000, and has been pending for at least three years. |
| V-3 | The derivative child of a V-1 or V-2 |
Humanitarian Parole |
|
Temporary Protected Status (TPS) |
|
| TPS | Temporary Protected Status |
Immigrant Visa Categories
Family-Based |
|
| Immediate Relatives (Spouses of US citizens (USCs), unmarried children under 21 years of age of USCs, and parents of USCs Note: A USC must be over the age of 21 to petition for his/her parent |
|
| First Preference (Unmarried sons or daughters over 21 years of age of USC) | |
| Second Preference (Spouses and children of Legal Permanent Resident, or LPR) | |
| Spouses and children | |
| Unmarried sons or daughters over 21 years of age of LPR | |
| Third Preference (Married children of USC) | |
| Fourth Preference (Siblings of adult USC) | |
Employment-Based
|
|
| EB-1 | First Preference Priority Workers |
| EB-2 | Second Preference Professionals with advanced degrees, and persons with exceptional ability |
| EB-3 | Third Preference Skilled workers, professional and other workers |
| EB-4 | Fourth Preference Certain special immigrants |
| SK-1 | Certain Retired International Organization Employees |
| SK-2 | Spouse of SK-1 |
| SK-3 | Certain Unmarried Sons or Daughters of an International Organization Employee |
| SK-4 | Certain Spouses of a deceased International Organization Employee |
| INV EB-5 |
Fifth Preference Employment creation (investors) |
Non-Immigrant Visa Classifications
Immigrant Visa Classifications
Employers
Couples and Families
Business People and Investors
Researchers and Scientists
Contact Us
Byrley Law Firm, LLC
10015 Old Columbia Road Suite B215
Columbia MD 21046
410-719-1501 (MD)
240-295-0280 (Fax)
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