Germany Visa Service

Germany is the world’s 5th largest economy and most favorable country to move to. Germany has opened door for skilled migrants who can contribute to the country. Over the past decade, Germany performed well in economy, employment opportunities, and educational system. As a center of research and innovation offer a distinct scope of opportunities for qualified specialists. With a growing economy and a high standard of living, that’s the reason it becomes foreigners highly desirable place to visit to build their life here and settle as a family. To visit to Germany, you need to have an accurate reason. There are several ways that foreign citizens can move to Germany. This includes the following reasons as below.

• For education
• For employment
  • General employment
  • Specialist professional
  • Self-employed
• For entrepreneurs
• For family reunions
• For residence permits

Following are the categories of German Visa:

• Visitor/Tourist Visa
• Study Visa
• Training/Internship Visa
• Job Seeker Visa
• Business Visa
• Working Visa
• Guest Scientist Visa

Need a Germany visa or Not?

This could be the first question may click in your mind when you plan for a trip to Germany. If you are a citizen of below mentioned 62 countries then you can enter to Germany without visa for the purpose of visiting/tourism and business doing, for periods shorter than 90 days within a 180-day period. If you are not a citizen of any of the below mentioned 62 countries that have established a visa-free regime with the European Union, then you will need to have a visa first, in order to enter into Germany. Contrary, if you are a passport holder of any of the below listed countries, but your purpose is other than visiting/tourism or business, and you need to stay in Germany for more than 90 days within a 6-month period, then you will still need to have a visa.

The following countries falls under the visa-waiver program are:

Albania	Andorra	Antigua and Barbuda	Argentina	Australia
Bahamas	Barbados	Bosnia and Herzegovina	Brazil	Brunei
Canada	Chile	Colombia	Costa Rica	Dominica
El Salvador	Georgia	Grenada	Guatemala	Honduras
Hong Kong	Israel	Japan	Kiribati	Macao
Malaysia	Mauritius	Marshall Islands	Mexico	Micronesia
Moldova	Monaco	Montenegro	New Zealand	North Macedonia
Nicaragua	Palau	Panama	Paraguay	Peru
Saint Vincent	Saint Lucia	Saint Kitts and Nevis	Samoa	San Marino
Serbia	Seychelles	Solomon Islands	South Korea	Singapore
Taiwan	Timor Leste	Trinidad and Tobago	Tonga	Tuvalu
Ukraine	United Arab Emirates	United States of America	Uruguay	Vanuatu
Vatican City	Venezuela

Over the past decade, important efforts and measures have been taken place by the German government to understand outsiders. More than any other country in Europe, it is more valuable tourism attraction. Germany is place to many palaces, forts, and a lot of statues which remained part of the German and European history i.e.; Neuschwanstein Castle, Cologne Cathedral, Brandenburg Gate, Bamberg and many other German attractions are must-see tourists’ spots for Europe’s visitor.

To visit Germany, many countries civil may need a visa. Germany as an EU Member State also became a member state of the Schengen Area, migrants can come to Germany with a Schengen Visa. In the year 2018 Germany issued a total of 1,838,775 uniform Schengen visas from 2,056,296 visa applications derived at German consulates and embassies around the world but visa rejection rate was 9.1%.

Migrants always play a leading role in Germany’s economic development. Skilled employees need has brought more well-qualified migrants to Germany. Just to reduce the effects of demographic change, Germany will likely to make it simple for skilled immigrants to find jobs in the country

Many Reasons to Settle in Germany

After the United States, Germany is the 2nd most famous migration place in the world; so there could be many reasons to settle down in Germany:

• Great job opportunities for professionals in several field like IT, engineering, and manufacturing sectors
• Comparatively high salary packages from other nations
• Creating better opportunities to skilled workers in several sectors
• From business purpose, Germany is an increasingly attractive destination for business to grow as increased in the population due to acceleration in migrant activity
• Free healthcare and education benefits for residents
• Advanced educational systems and increased in Universities
• One of the immediate visa decisions in a top economy, allowing you to plan for better growing future in German

For Education

In general, most of the people don’t know that Germany also offers free education. This means that dissimilar places like the U.S, which have excessive education fees but universities in Germany are very low in fees or do not charge anything at all. That’s the reason Germany is a famous place to immigrate for education purposes. To immigrate to Germany for completing a university degree, you need to have a visa to study in Germany.

To know more about requirements that what do you need and the process of applying to get such a visa feel free contact our expert.

Employment Opportunities in Germany

German always created opportunities and welcomed highly qualified migrant workers in the shortage occupations such as IT, technicians, engineers, scientists. This is only reason that more than 1.2m vacancies reported across the German job market in top Industries such as Automotive and Aviation, Chemical and Medical, Engineering, Machinery, Energy and Environmental Technology, Electronics and ICT, Consumer and Service.

Job Seeker Visa

Job Seeker Visa is the best option to migrate to Germany because it allows a long-term residence permits that you to look for a job for a period of 6 months. With this visa, you get the time to visit Germany, seek jobs, and attend interviews, which is quite much better process than applying for a job from abroad. Generally, it takes 4-6 months time to obtain Job Seeker Visa so the earlier you apply, the better it will be.

Process: First Step is to apply for Job Seeker Visa and move to Germany to get your desired job. Secondly apply for “EU Blue Card” from within Germany. Afterward apply for Germany Permanent Residence (PR) after concluding 5 years as an employee in Germany, and at last apply for German citizenship after completing 5 years as a PR Visa holder

Though, there are always omissions to the rule depending on your citizenship you may or may not be recommended to have a Schengen visa first in order to be allowed to enter the Schengen Zone, and Germany at the same time. The short-stay Schengen visa allows its holders to visit and reside in Germany for a maximum period of 3 months (90 days) within a 180 days period. However, during this time you are not designated to appoint yourself in paid activity.

When in Germany, you are allowed to visit all the other areas of the Schengen Zone: Austria, Belgium, Czech Republic, Denmark, Estonia, Finland, France, Greece, Germany, Hungary, Iceland, Italy, Lithuania, Latvia, Luxembourg, Malta, Norway, Netherlands, Portugal, Poland, Slovakia, Switzerland and Liechtenstein, Slovenia, Spain, Sweden,.

For Entrepreneurs

Which county don’t allow any investors to enter into their boundary. It is very obvious investor create opportunities and help in grow economy and Germany welcomed to investor to immigrate here. The approximate minimum amount need to invest that amount is around 250,000 Euros. Also, you will need to have a Self Employment Visa which declines under the category of Germany Working Visa. The following points need to be verified

• As per requirement, you have appropriate funds to make the investment
• Whatever investment you will invest that benefit the German economy
• Investment is demanded in the country

As an entrepreneur if you sustain your status in Germany, you will also be allowed unlimited extensions of your residence permit after 3 years. It means that you can enter and leave the country whenever you want.

For Family Reunions

There may be so many reasons for many people to visit another nation that is family reunions. You have to leave your family behind in your home countries. Spouse and children under 16 years old are allowed to apply for immigration to Germany to join their spouse or parents.

With required proof you will be allowed for the family reunion immigration. Spouse need to prove that they are married and children have to provide birth certificates. German language skills are not mandatory for the children under the age of 16 years since they are assumed to be able to learn it quickly. Vice-versa, for the children above 16 years, there must be satisfactory proof of German language proficiency and the ability to adapt and integrate.

Summary

Germany has one of the world’s most well coordinated and fastest immigration systems. It is a general rule that the German embassies around the world are the only adequate bodies to assess the applications, be obliged to process a German visa application for about 10-15 working days. There may be little bit delays depending on the number of applications, or in some cases, depending on the different situation of the applicant.

At last English knowledge is sufficient to qualify for the visa; however, but it is highly recommended that you learn the German Language to survive in Germany.

Let us allow to assist you for your trip to Germany. Contact us or send us an email for any queries.

France Visa Services

France is one of the biggest European countries with rich culture and great value for human rights. France has colorful records as one of the first global superpowers, and has long played an active role in global affairs. France is the largest country in the Western Europe. Euro (EUR) is the official currency of France. French is official language of France. There are various reasons for your visit to France as it is a place of opportunities for international talents and their families when dealing with the following administrative formalities:

• Work permit visa
• Residence permit
• Social protection
• Taxation
• Daily life aspects for finding accommodation, schooling, etc.

France is an origin member state of the European Union and the Schengen area so before proceeding further we need to understand that if you are an EU, EEA, or Swiss citizen then you don’t need to apply for a French visa or residence permit. Although, you may apply for an EU-citizen residence card if you wish so and vice-versa depending upon your current citizenship, a visa is required when planning to travel to France. All visas must be applied for prior to departure at the nearest French Embassy or French Consulate in the applicant’s country of residence.

Visa is needed to whom to enter France?

Not every alien and not every state of France applies the same visa policy. As such, visa exceptionally are greatly leveraged by divergent factors, where the major ones are: alien’s citizenship, the state of the France that the applicant seeks to visit, alien’s residence status in Schengen Area or precisely in France, the purpose of visit, as well as duration of stay. France also hosts many aliens from Spain and Italy and many immigrants from Algeria and Morocco, in addition to the other former French colonies in North Africa.

Currently, there are no business immigration programs to visit to France; however, it may be little difficult to acquire a residence permit in France due to the strict immigration policies. There is a significant variation in French law between a simple Visa and a long stay or a residence permit, also known as Stay Document. Undoubtedly, long stay Visa is required for any person who wants to apply for a Stay Document. Applicant has to continue by submitting an application with all supporting documents to a French Consular authority and receive an approval to travel to France. For the nationals of an Organisation for Economic Co-operation and Development (OECD) member states and the U.S.A. resident, however, long stay visa is not required to stay in France for a time period up to 90 days, but the for the period of short stays up to 90 days, a visa will be required.

Study in France

The French educational system consists of three stages: primary education, secondary education, and higher education so in order to come and study in France, students from outside countries of Europe must need a student visa and be in possession of a passport. Most French fundamental, secondary schools, and many universities are public institutions that have extremely centralized administrations. The educational program at primary and secondary schools are regulated across all schools for a given grade. For those students from Europe member countries, an identity card is sufficient. Every year, the enrolment period for the international students is between 1st December and 31st January. If you are planning to enroll for a course, find out more information from the cultural service of the French embassy in your country and from Centres. The status of admission is different depending on your citizenship, your country of residence and the nature of your studies.

Work Permit in France

If you want to move to France for work-related projects, you may need to apply for a French visa depending on your country of origin. The different types of visas and work permits you can apply for are dependent on your exact purpose of entry and length of stay in the country, among other things. There are many work permit and employment visa types for displaced persons who want to work in France depending on their situations. This division will touch on some of the different work permits and visas that are most applicable for professional workers.

For EU and EEA citizen there is no requirement of work permit to take up employment in France. You not need to obtain a work permit if you are a foreign employee who will work for less than three months in the following fields:

• Seminars and business conferences and trade programs.
• IT consulting, audit, finance, management, insurance, architecture, and engineering, under conditions of a service agreement or intra-company transfer agreement.
• Personal assisting workers and private workers working in France during their private employers’ stay in the country.
• Teaching by invited lecturers.
• Modeling, cinematic related audiovisual works, shows, and recordings artistic posing.
• Cultural, artistic, sporting, and scientific events.

You are exempted if you are the spouse of a French citizen, parent of a French child, or close family member of a French employee in occupation of a temporary private and family life residence permit. Otherwise, non-EU citizens usually need a work permit, no matter your length of stay. The only exception is that if you are in occupation of a long-stay visa equivalent to a residence permit visa or residence permit. These visas also count as a work permit.

Types of Work Permits

Your work permit for France is mainly need a job offer, the length of your contract, and even what you will do for a living. If you come under Talent Passport category, you may not required a work contract to qualify.

Talent Passport Permit

Talent Passport Permit is intended for non-EU citizens to live and work in France. It includes the following categories:

• Skilled graduate.
• Innovative company employee.
• Extraordinarily skilled worker (EU Blue Card holders).
• Employee need for mission related with a French work contract.
• Company counselor.
• Financial investor.
• Scientist/Researcher.
• Performer/Artist.
• International noted person in sports, arts, literature, education, science, etc.

Above all this permit allows 4 years renewable residence permit which approximately costs 269 EUR (320 USD) and it can be extended to immediate family members so that your family member receive resident permits allowing them to work and live in France too.. You may be qualified applicant for the talent passport permit as described above if your job devotes to France’s economic allure. With this visa, no further work permit is needed.

French Work Visas

List below are some of the employment-based visas available for France that a professional expatriate can apply along with applicable work visa cost and needs for France.

Short-Stay Work Visa

This is issued to alien worker who expect to work for less than 90 days in France. For EU/EEA/Switzerland nationals this visa is not needed. If you are from Antigua, Barbuda and Bahamas, Australia, Brazil, Canada, Israel, Mauritius, Mexico, Japan, Singapore, St Kitts and Nevis, Seychelles, US, South Korea, or Venezuela, you do not need a visa either. Yet work permit filed by your employer is still essential for you to lawfully work in France.

Long-Term Work Visa

For non-EU/EEA/Switzerland nationals with stay that exceeds 90 days, you will need to apply for a long-stay visa. This visa will be becoming to your specific reason and duration of stay. Worker who apply for this visa and have family members coming with them can have their employer start with family member procedure at the same time as the worker’s application. This visa can be issued for a variation including various work-related purposes.

Business Visa

You will need to have below mentioned documents in order to apply for a French visa for business purposes:

• French company’s invitation letter with their address and the dates of your visit
• Previous trade relations proof between both companies if relevant
• Last six months’ business bank statements
• Certificate from your employer allowing your business tour
• Trade License (issued and renewed)
• Proprietorship/Partnership agreement documents
• Article of Association and Memorandum in original certified copy (registered with joint stock companies).

Self-Employment Visa

Self-employed worker in France will be issued the long-stay visa equivalent to a visa long séjour valant titre de séjour “étudiant” (VLS/TS) residence permit. The self-employment visa will carry the statement “professional/entrepreneur libérale” (self-employed liberal profession). This visa must be approved within 15 days of your landing into France, after which it is valid for almost 1 year and it can be renewed.

Following documents are needed for self-employed visa:

• Passport
• Business license copy
• Income Tax Return proof
• Full application form
• Last six months company bank statements
• Accommodation proof
• Medical insurance proof
• Letter mentioning your self-employment activities and what you propose to do
• Clear criminal record

Business Setup

For business setup you must be able to testify to the economic activity of your proposed business/project. You must meet specific requirements to setup a business that your qualification and ability to run it with abundant capital to invest into. Approximately 30,000 EUR (35,500 USD) investment in the new business is needed, and you need to have somewhat a master’s degree or be able to show minimum 5 years of professional work experience. If you match with above mentioned conditions you will be allowed a long-stay visa carrying the statement. If you are staying for under 1 year, then you will be given a long-stay visa, equivalent to a visa long séjour valant titre de séjour “étudiant” (VLS/TS) residence permit, carrying the statement passeport talent.

Investor

Minimum 300,000 EUR (350,500 USD) or own minimum 10% of the company you are committed to, and plan to create jobs within 4 years following investment is needed to allow for this category. They must also be investing directly or via a company in which they have at least a 30% share. Investor will be allowed a long-stay visa carrying the statement “passeport talent” “investisseur économique” (Skilled residence permit – Investor), valid for 4 years. If you are staying for under 1 year, you will just be given a long-stay visa, equivalent to a (VLS/TS) residence permit, carrying the statement “passeport talent”.

Permanent Residency

Permanent residency card in France are also known as Carte de Résident (CR) with validity of 10 which is renewable, but in case any reason if you leave France continuously more than two years then you will lose permanent resident status. After 5 years, you have the chance to apply for the EU long-term resident card. This is for applicants who have the European Blue Card. This is also a renewable card, valid for up to 10 years.

Family Visa

In association to the temporary residency permit, non-French, non-EU, and non-EEA citizens with family ties to a French resident can be applied for the Carte de Sejour for Private and family life. This temporary residency permit grants family members to work which is valid for up to 1 year and it is renewable. This is also issued directly to family members of working expatriates under the “Talent Passport” permit. In association to the permanent residency permit, the CR is also applicable for spouses of French citizens or parents of a French-born child. It allows family members to work and it is valid for 10 years and also renewable.

• Satisfactory funds support
• Family member must have been living in France for minimum of 18 months (12 for Algerians) and had a valid 1 year residence permit.
• Sufficient conformity for you in France

Lawful immigration

All the requirements provided within French law need to be fulfilled in order to visit France lawfully. The main law authorities for the immigration of non-EU citizens in France, is the Code of Entry and Stay of Aliens and Asylum in France. There are certain options, depending on what purpose your visit is? Foreign French Ministry/Authorities is responsible for receiving, hearing visa applications and issuing approvals; however, in order to successfully apply for a visa you need to submit to the very specific Ministry, responsible for your country of residence.

Generally, French authorities have been very protective toward their domestic labor force and measure taken to put much constitutional interference in the way of companies wishing to recruit alien workers. However, in recent years the scenario has been changed a while due to lacks of professional especially in IT field which affected the performance of many French companies.

Summary

As per experienced and qualified team, Charlotte Area Immigration Services will provide a detailed guide aimed primarily at employers wishing to hire overseas workers in France. If you are an investor, agent, worker, or as person want to migrate to France you can consult with us. Feel free to contact us or send us an email using the details below.

Singapore Visa Services

Singapore is almost the dream place for many to live, work and explores different places with their family. Singapore is one of the top listed destinations for international migrants for those wishing to migrate to other parts of the world. Singapore has a strong economy, low cost of living, high quality of life, natural beauty and tourist attractions are yet another reason it looks attractive to many people to migrate to Singapore, some migrate for work, and others migrate to reunite with their families. Many people are becoming Singapore permanent residents every year, but not everyone go through the same application process. Some of them move here on long-term visit visas while others seek permanent residency. There are many ways people from these countries migrate to Singapore. This depends largely on why they want to move here.

Singapore has always an open-door policy towards migrants. In fact, the number of immigrants in this country has been increasing for many years.

Why Migrate to Singapore

Singapore offers world-class education and work opportunities in many ways. The country has a strong economy and found highest paid people in the world. There is no one particular reason why people like to migrate to Singapore. Coupled with a low cost of living lets Singaporeans enjoy a high standard of living. There are various other reasons to migrate to Singapore beside work is that people migrate to reunite with their families. Some of them move here on long-term visit visas while others look for permanent residency.

The Process of Migrating to Singapore

Most of Singapore’s migrant population comes from nearby countries. There are many ways people from these countries migrate to Singapore. This depends largely on why they want to move here.

• Migrating for Work
• Permanent Residency (PR)
• PTS Scheme
• Global Investor Program
• Foreign Artistic Talent Scheme
• Migrating for Work

Professional can choose between three different types of work visas to migrate to Singapore.

Entrepreneur Pass

Entrepreneur Pass is referred and intended for foreign entrepreneurs who want to migrate to Singapore and engage into new business activities in the country. This Pass is valid for a period of 1 year and may be renewed further.

Dependents can be taken to Singapore only after the pass has been renewed once. Thus, no dependents can be taken to Singapore in the first year. No duties or measures are applicable for an Entrepreneur Pass.

Following criteria must be met to be eligible for an Entrepreneur Pass:

• Must be at least 21 years old.
• Must have the admissible education and experience.
• Must own at least 30% of the new deal.
• Business must be able to provide local employment.
• Individual’s business must be certified with the Accounting and Corporate Regulatory Authority (ACRA) or businessman must have a plan to register it for receiving the Entrepreneur Pass.
• New business must meet one of the below 4 criteria-
  • Funded by an accredited VC
  • Work in collaboration with a premier research institution
  • Work with a government-supported incubator
  • Must have proprietary intellectual property

Employment Pass

A highly qualified professional is needed for an Employment Pass (EP) to migrate to Singapore. The company which is looking for employ then the individual with matching profile can apply for this. It is valid for up to 2 years as long as the same company employs the individual. If the individual switches jobs, the new company will have to reapply for an EP. An EP can be renewed for up to 3 years.

No duties or measures are applicable for EPs. Migrants earning more than $4000 per month may bring their spouse and dependent children to Singapore. Migrants earning more than $8000 per month may also bring their parents to Singapore.

Following criteria must be met to be eligible for an EP:

• First-time employee must be paid a minimum salary of $3,300 per month.
• Individual must have the educational qualifications necessary for the position.
• Minimum salary may increase based on the applicant’s experience.
• Individual must have relevant experience.

Personalized Employment Pass (PEP)

This is a kind of special visa which is reserved for high-earning professionals who want to migrate to Singapore and Employment Pass (EP) holders. The PEP gives the individual resilience in terms of shifting jobs as it is not correlated with any one particular employer. The visa is typically valid for 3 years and also allows the individual to stay in Singapore for up to 6 months without a job. This visa cannot be renewed. No duties or measures are applicable for the PEP. The applicant may bring his spouse, children and parents to Singapore as dependents

Following criteria must be met to be eligible for PEP:

• If the applicant is alien professional, he or she must have a minimum salary of $18,000 per month.
• If the applicant holds a valid EP, he or she must have a minimum salary of $12,000 per month.

S Pass

This visa is designed to be used by lesser qualified workers wanting to migrate to Singapore. The S Pass allows mid-level skilled staff to work in Singapore. Candidates must earn at least $2,500 a month and have the applicable qualifications and work experience. The company looking for employ the individual must apply for this visa. The S Pass is valid for a period of 2 years and may be renewed for another 3 years as long as the applicant is still employed by the same company. If the applicant earns more than $4,000 per month, the applicant’s spouse and children may also migrate to Singapore.

Following criteria must be met to be eligible for an S Pass:

• Applicant must earn a monthly salary of at least $2,200
• Company sponsoring the candidate must give health insurance

Moving to Reunite with Family

Migrants holding EP, PEP or S Pass may bring their legal spouse and dependent children to Singapore with a Dependent Pass. Stepchildren, a common law spouse and disabled children over the age of 21 years may migrate to Singapore with a Long Term Visit Pass (LTVP).

Dependent’s Pass

The company that sponsored the EP, PEP or S Pass visa for the applicant wishing to bring his or her dependents must apply for this. It is valid for up to 2 years subject to the validity of the EP, PEP or S Pass visa correlated with it. It may be renewed further. No duties or measures are applicable for a dependent pass.

Following criteria must be met to be eligible for a Dependent Pass:

• Applicant must earn at least$4,000 per month
• He or she must have a legal marriage certificate for the spouse
• As dependent children are allowed as long as they are below the age of 21 years.

Long Term Visit Pass

This pass is for an applicant who wants his or her common-law spouse, stepchildren and parents to migrate to Singapore. The company sponsored the EP, PEP or S Pass visa for the applicant wishing to bring their dependents must apply for this. It is valid as long as the EP, PEP or S Pass visa correlated with it. No duties or measures are applicable for a dependent pass.

Following criteria must be met to be eligible for a Long Term Visit Pass:

• Applicant must earn at least$4,000 per month to bring their spouse and children
• Applicant must earn at least$8,000 per month to bring their parents

Dependent’s Pass and Long-Term Visit Pass for Entrepreneur Pass Holders

Family members of an Entrepreneur Pass holder may migrate to Singapore under following visa criteria:

• Spouse and Children
  • Company must have spent at least $150,000
  • Company must have given employment for at least 4 locals
• Parents
  • Company must have spent at least $300,000
  • Company must have given employment for at least 8 locals

Permanent Residency (PR)

Permanent Residence (PR) application can be applied for by the whole family, i.e. the applicant himself plus the spouse and unmarried children under 21. Permanent residency can give a pleasure to gain Singaporean citizenship. The draw of gaining Singapore permanent residence through a variety of schemes has assured many foreigners of distinct backgrounds to set up home in the island-state, one of Asia’s most stable and developed countries. This includes the right to buy property in Singapore, higher preference in public schooling for their children and the right to live in the country without any restrictions from the government.

PTS Scheme

Generally, PTS scheme is used to gain permanent residence status in Singapore and facilitates foreign professionals working in Singapore under S Pass or Employment Pass to apply for permanent residence. Applicants already working in Singapore with a valid Entrepreneur Pass or Employment Pass can apply for permanent residency through this scheme. For the eligibility applicant must have worked in Singapore for at least 6 months.

Following aspects are considered when granting permanent residence status:

• Current employer and its diplomas
• Qualification and Education background
• Current professional career and employment history
• Financial background
• Charity/ Community involvement (Personal interests and inquiries)
• Income tax return history

Global Investor Program

Global Investor Program allowed an applicant to apply for permanent residency for himself/herself and their immediate family members under a condition of making a investment of minimum SGD2.5 million in a new or established business or in a GIP-approved fund. The applicant must also have an entrepreneurial background and a good business track record.

Foreign Artistic Talent Scheme

Foreign Artistic Talent Scheme was introduced in 1991 for outstanding international artistic talented people to become Singapore Permanent Residents (PR) in consideration of their cultural contribution. Anybody who is talented in arts such as music, dance, photography, theatre, literature or film wanting to migrate to Singapore can apply for permanent residency through this scheme. This scheme allows enabling committed and talented candidates to play a critical role in advancing the arts and cultural landscape in Singapore through the expand involvement with local communities. For eligibility candidate must be a well-known artist in his/ her own country and must acquired the necessary training. Candidate must also have made a important contribution to the art and cultural show in Singapore.

The Scheme is jointly conducted by the Singapore Immigration & Checkpoints Authority (ICA) and the National Arts Council (NAC). However, ICA continues the final authority on all PR applications.

Following criteria must be met to be eligible for Foreign Artistic Talent Scheme:

• Acquire significant education/training in their specific field of art
• Maintain admissible professional experience with outstanding achievements in the field of Visual Arts, Literary Arts, Performing Arts, Design and/or Media
• Have detailed future plans about the role as a Artist in which he/she will be involved in Singapore’s arts and cultural sector
• Have made important inputs to Singapore’s arts and cultural show including a strong track record of local engagements.

In Summary

The Government of Singapore always welcomes the arrival of professionals and other aliens who are able to make positive contribution to the country’s progress and economy growth in many different ways.

Apply For Singapore Visa with Us Today

Charlotte Area Immigration Services can assist applicants who wish to process for their Singapore visa. For more information and assistance in processing to Singapore call us or send us an email.

Immigration and other Visas to China

China Visas

Applying for a Chinese visa is a necessary requirement for almost all foreign nationals who wish to visit or immigrate to China for any length of time. In China, visas are broadly separated into tourist visas and business visas. However, various options exist under both categories and a range of other Chinese visas are also available.
At CAIS, our team of immigration consultants can help you obtain a wide range of visas for travel and work permits for a variety of destinations. We offer a complete range of immigration services and as a specialized immigration consultancy, we can manage your application from your initial inquiry through to receipt.

Eligibility Requirements

Chinese Tourist Visas

In China, immigration for the purpose of tourism is possible under two types of tourist or visit visas, for either single entry, or double entry. The maximum duration of tourist visas for China is a period of three months.

In all cases, candidates must travel to China within three months of being granted entry clearance.

Chinese Business Visas

Applying for a Chinese business visa offers a single entry option similar to that provided in tourist visa applications, but also affords a multiple entry variant, valid for 6 months, 1 year, or 2 years.

However, eligibility for these permits is based upon prior visits to China; a first-time applicant will be permitted a maximum of a double entry permit. A second-time applicant may receive 6 months multiple entry permit, a third-time applicant can get a 1-year permit, and the 2-year permit is available only to 4th-time applicants and beyond. In China, visas are given letter designations, with tourist visas being referred to as Chinese L visas and business visas as the Chinese F visa category. In addition to the types already covered, Chinese immigration also issues the following types of permit.

Chinese X Visa

This category is essentially a Chinese study visa, issued to those who wish train or study in China for a period of six months or more. A letter of acceptance must be provided from a Chinese educational institution.

Chinese Z Visa

• These are designed for those immigrating to China for an extended period of time in order to undertake a position of employment.
• Spouse immigration and dependent immigration are also provided for the family of candidates relocating to China through this route.
• Applications must include a letter of invitation from the host company or Government department.

Chinese G Visa

• In China, visa applications can be made for this category when a candidate will be entering Chinese territory for a very brief period en route to another destination.
• This category is effectively an airport transit visa. Candidates must be able to demonstrate valid entry clearance for their ultimate destination.

Chinese C Visa

This category is specifically designed for the crew members of international aviation, land transportation or navigation missions.

Chinese D Visa

These permits are intended for permanent residency. Applied for within China, this extended grant of leave is given to those who intend to live and work in China on a long-term or permanent basis.

Chinese J Visa

• These are issued to journalists and are subdivided into two categories, the J1 and J2.
• The former is intended for long-term correspondents whereas the latter is for conducting reports in China for a short period.

Processing Times and Fees

Although processing times are subject to change, applications will normally be processed within four working days. A next day service is available at a premium cost and applications may be processed on the same day for an extra charge. Costs vary based on the type of application being submitted and the nationality of the applicant and are also based on whether the application is a single entry visitor visa or a 2-year business permit.

Pre-Processing of Visa

On approval of your petition at the USCIS, you will receive an email or confirmation letter from NVC. The next step follows pre-processing of the visa with NVC. The detailed explanation of each of the steps to be followed has been given below:

1) Selection of an Agent

The most crucial step, to begin with, is to select an agent to receive the communication related to your application from the NVC. An agent may be an attorney, your petitioner, a close friend, immigration specialist, member of your family, or you yourself.

U.S. Department of State has a Consular Electronic Application Center. You need to complete the Choice of Address and Agent by filling up DS-261. Click on this link to choose your agent.

2) Pay Processing Fees

There are two types of processing fees which you need to bear. One is the Immigrant Visa Application Processing Fee and the other is the Affidavit of Support fee. The requirement for making payments is you need to have a checking account or savings account number from a U.S. bank and a bank routing number. Also while making payment; you will need to enter Invoice ID number and NVC Case number. Click on this link to make payment.

Those who wish to make an offline payment may draw a cashier’s check or money order from a U.S. bank which is payable to U.S. Department of State. The NVC case number must be mentioned on the memo line of the check or money order. The money order or check must be sent to the address below:

NVC Fee Processing Center
P.O. Box 790136
St. Louis, MO 63179-0136

3) Submission of Visa Application Form

On payment of fees, the form DS-260 (Application for Immigrant Visa and Alien Registration) is to be filled in the Consular Electronic Application Center.

View the sample form here. Kindly note that for filling up DS-260, you will require NVC case number, Invoice ID number from NVC welcome letter, and Beneficiary ID number.

Once the form has been submitted, make sure you print the confirmation page as you need to carry it at the time of your interview.

4) Collection of Financial Documents

This step involves collecting financial documents. The documents include an affidavit of support form and financial evidence. An affidavit is a document which is between the petitioner and the immigrant visa applicant. This document is to establish that the petitioner has enough funds to support the applicant(s), if necessary. To know more about Affidavit of support, click here.

In addition to the Affidavit of Support, certain financial documents may be requested by the consular officer at the time of the interview. The evidences include the transcripts of IRS taxes filed, evidence of income, proof of relationship, proof of domicile, proof of U.S. status, Social Security Administration Earnings Statement, and proof of assets. For more information on financial documents, click here.

5) Collection of Supporting Documents

After collecting the financial forms and evidence, the civil documents are collected in this step. Once you collect all the civil documents, the photocopy of each of the documents must be sent to NVC. Also, photocopies and originals (or certified copies) should be sent to U.S. consulate or embassy.

Those documents which are not written in English need to be translated. Each of the documents that are written in a foreign language must be translated into English and its translation must be attached to it. Thereafter, the translation must be signed by the translator who should also state that the translation is accurate and that he/she is competent to translate. For more details about the required civil documents, click here.

6) Submission of Collected Documents

The steps 4 and 5 mainly involve collecting financial and supporting documents. Once the documents have been collected, they must be submitted to the NVC in this phase. Make sure that you submit all the documents together in one package to avoid delay in processing.

In case your NVC case number begins with any of the prefixes: SAA, MEP, GZO, KDU, AMM, DMS, or AKD; you will need to scan and email all your documents (along with translations, if any) to nvcelectronic@state.gov with your case number mentioned in the subject line of the email.

Note that the attachments must not exceed 5 megabytes and each email must contain no more than one case.

If your NVC case number is MTL (any immigrant visa category), GUZ (CR1, CR2, F1, F2A, F2B, F3, F4, IR1, IR2, or IR5), or (BNS, FRN, HNK, RDJ, or SYD – visa category being either of IR1, IR2, IR5, CR1, or CR2); the documents can be sent via email or mail processing. However, make sure that you use only one method.

If none of the above cases applies to you, kindly mail all the documents together (in one package) to the address mentioned below:

National Visa Center
Attn: DR
31 Rochester Ave. Suite 100
Portsmouth, NH 03801-2914

Interview

Note that it takes around 30 working days for NVC to review your forms and documents. Once your application has been checked for completeness and approved, the NVC along with the U.S. Embassy or Consulate schedules an appointment for your interview.

The interview appointment letter is sent to the sponsor or petitioner, attorney (if any), and you. This letter contains the details such as the date, time, and location of the interview. On scheduling the interview, the NVC forwards all the documents received from the applicant to the appropriate U.S. Embassy or Consulate.

Once you get the letter of interview appointment, you must start preparing for the visa interview. Read more for FAQ’s.

Keep all the original forms and documents (translations, if any) handy. You will need them at the time of visa interview. In addition to this, you (family members, if any) need to take a thorough medical examination with authorized physicians. Those who are sponsored by their spouses need to learn about their rights in the United States by reading the Rights and Protections Pamphlet. This pamphlet will give you an insight into the rights such as domestic violence, sexual assault, protection extended to you, or child abuse. Also make sure that you are well-versed with the interview instructions at the U.S. Embassy or Consulate.

Life Acts & Amendments

The Legal Immigration and Family Equity (LIFE) Act and amendments, effective since April 1, 2001, created new categories of nonimmigrant visas, including three V Visas, the K-3 Visa, and the K-4 Visa. This Act generally highlights on those certain individuals who are presently living in the United States who would not normally qualify to apply for adjustment of status in the United States to obtain a green card (permanent residence) regardless of the way they entered into the United States, working in the United States without approval, and failing to continuously maintain lawful status since their entry into the United States. These extremely helpful visas help ease the immigration process for thousands of individuals and reunite families separated during the lengthy immigration approval process.

Note: To qualify for this rule, you must be the recipient of a labor certification application (Form ETA 750) or immigrant visa petition (Forms I-130, Petition for Alien Relative or I-140, Immigrant Petition for Alien Worker) filed on or before April 30, 2001. This Act has come into existence when it was signed by President Clinton, on December 21, 2000, and it contains the LIFE Act and the LIFE Act Amendments (with the extension of Section 245(i), the new V and K visas, the late sanction provisions, and the NACARA/HRIFA technical amendments). Refer to Section 245(i) of the Immigration and Nationality Act (INA).

Section 245(i): The Legal Immigration and Family Equity Act of 2000 (LIFE Act) extends Section 245(i) by replacing the old eligibility of finish date (January 14, 1998, the “grandfather” date) with a new date of April 30, 2001. Accordingly, eligible people have until April 30, 2001, to file an immigrant petition or labor certification application to be eligible to adjust their status in this country. The LIFE Act supplemented a new ‘physical presence’ condition that people need to prove that they were actually in the U.S. on the date of completion of this measure, December 21, in order to be qualified to use Section 245(i). Under the changes made by the LIFE Act, Section 245(i) will be available for any recipient of a genuine immigrant visa petition (an I-130, I-140, or I-360) or application for labor certification that is filed on or before April 30, 2001. Recipients of immigrant petitions or labor certifications that are filed after the old cutoff of January 14, 1998, but before the new cutoff of April 30, 2001, will be needed to prove that they were physically present in the United States on December 21, 2000, the date that the new deadline became law. All eligible recipients will be ‘grandfathered-in’ under Section 245(i) despite they don’t actually apply for adjustment of status (by submitting form I-485) until after the April 30, 2001, cutoff, as long as a genuine immigrant petition or labor certification application is filed before that date.

Eligibility Criteria

There are certain eligibility criteria to receive a green card through Section 245(i) if:

• You are currently the recipient of a qualifying immigrant petition (either the original Form I-130 or I-140 through which you are grandfathered or through a subsequently filed immigrant petition).
• You were physically presented in the United States on December 21, 2000, if you are the principal recipient and the petition was filed between January 15, 1998, and April 30, 2001.
• You are the recipient of an eligible immigrant petition (Form I-130 or I-140) or application for labor certification (Form ETA-750) filed on or before April 30, 2001.
• You are admissible to the United States.
• You have a visa directly available to you.

Similarly, the qualifying immigrant visa petition or the qualifying application for labor certification must have been ‘properly filed’ (signed and submitted with the correct fees) and ‘permissible’ (deserving based on the facts and ‘non-volatile’) when filed.

Based on such conditions, a spouse or child of a grandfathered individual may also be a grandfathered or may be qualified to adjust their status as a dependent under Section 245(i) of the Immigration and Nationality Act (INA).

Application Process

To access a permanent residence (green card), you have to file Form I-485, Application to Register Permanent Residence or Adjust Status. You also have to file Form I-485, Supplement A, with fees at the same time unless you meet an exemption. For more information on exemptions, please see the instructions for Form I-485, Supplement A.

Additional Information

The new categories created by this act allow the issuance of non-immigrant visas to spouses, children and, in some cases, grandchildren of both lawful permanent resident aliens and spouses of U.S. citizens. Beneficiaries may apply for admission to the U.S. as non-immigrants and then remain in the U.S. until the visa petition is approved or denied.

The LIFE Act is specifically aimed at spouses and children for whom an immigrant visa or adjustment of status is not available as a result of processing delays or the lack of openings due to annual visa limitations.

M-1 Visa

The M-1 visa is a type of student visa for vocational and technical schools. The M-1 visa offers students the opportunity to train in a positive U.S. environment while strengthening their technical and non-academic skills (this visa does not apply to language training). The M-1 visa is offered to students who wish to pursue full-time study at a USCIS-approved vocational or non-academic school in the U.S. Under M-1 visa status a candidate may study in the U.S. and engage in vocational training provided by various approved institutions including Trades Schools and Flight Schools. To apply for M-1 visa to enter the United States, a student must present a signed Form I-20 at a United States embassy or consulate in the owned home country. Form I-20 is presented by a designated school official, and afterward, the student has to fulfill school’s admissions requirements and presents proof regarding financial capabilities.

M-1 student is allowed to enter the United States for a fixed time period, but the length of stay totally depends on their training program plus any Optional Practical Training, plus a thirty-day grace period at the end of their training. Student holding M-1 status may not work on or off campus while studying and also not change their status to F-1. Student stay may not exceed for one year except that he/she is allowed an extension for medical reasons. If a student found to infringe the status, i.e., not performed a full course of study then he/she may be terminated for the grace period.

Eligibility Criteria

The M-1 visa is advised for those candidates who wish to move to the U.S. in order to participate in a course of vocational training. To qualify for M-1 status, a candidate must meet the following requirements mentioned below:

• Candidate must have adequate knowledge of English language to fulfill the course, or special language tuition arrangements in place at the institution to receive language tuition.
• Candidate must be admitted to a full-time course by an institution, which is approved by the United States Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS).

• Candidate must have sufficient funds to pay the fee for the entire course and be able to access funds to bear all the expenses during the stay.

• Candidates must assure that he/she intends to return back to their home country upon completion of their course and expiry of their U.S. study visas.

Note:  M-1 visa is generally granted for the time that will be taken to complete the course plus an additional 30 days of grace period, or one year, depending on whichever is less.

Application Procedure

There are different universities having different admission policies. After determining your academic eligibility or completion of the application by the university, then you will be issued an I-20 form to enable you to apply for your student (M-1) visa. Application procedure of applying at the consulate for your student (M-1) visa:

• Firstly, you have to pay a non-refundable application fee. It means that if your visa does not get approved, you will not get your money back.
• An application Form DS-156 (Nonimmigrant Visa Application) has to be completed and signed. This form is free at all U.S. consular offices.
• Form DS-157 for all males aged at 16-45.
• A valid passport with a validity date of at least six months needed to enter the U.S. and beyond the applicant’s intended period of stay in the U.S. (unless country-specific agreements provide exceptions). If more than one person is included in the passport, each person who needs a visa must complete an application for that.
• One 2 x 2 photograph is needed for each applicant.
• For the ‘F’ status an applicant, a Form I-20A-B is to be filled.  For the ‘M’ status applicant, a Form I-20M-N is to be filled.

Documentation

There are some necessary documents which required for providing you an M-1 visa:

• A current valid passport as well as old passport if any, is needed.
• One 2 x 2 photograph is needed.
• Form DS-160 online submitted confirmation page with CEAC (Consular Electronic Application Center) barcode is needed.
• Fees paid in advance before making an appointment, that application fee payment receipt is needed.
• Original interview appointment letter and one copy are needed.
• SEVIS (Student Exchange and Visitor Information System) generated Form I-20 (Certificate of Eligibility for Nonimmigrant Student Status) both bar-coded pages and one copy of Form I-20 are needed, which is obtained from a U.S. college, school, or university and signed by you and a school official.
• Your spouse or dependent (everyone who will accompany you and apply for the U.S. visa) must be registered in SEVIS (Student Exchange and Visitor Information System). Your school is liable to enter your information for the Form I-20 into SEVIS.

Note: Form I-20 does not be sealed into an envelope; however you have to carry Form I-20 along with you during travel as it will be checked by the immigration officer at the port of entry in order to enter into the U.S.

Duration of Stay

The M-1 visa applicant may remain in the United States for the period of time to complete the course of study as indicated on the I-20M plus 30 days, or for one year, whichever is less.

If you want to stay longer in the United States, then you have to apply for an adjustment of status or extension of stay from the U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services having jurisdiction over your residential place in the United States.

Spouse and Children

Your spouse and unmarried children under the age of 21 may join you in the U.S. if they have nonimmigrant M-2 status. Although M-1 and M-2 visa holders are not allowed to work, M-1 holders may apply for an extension of up to six months for practical training. If you lose your status, your spouse and children will also lose their status. M visa holders (M-1) and dependents (M-2) are allowed to remain in the country for the same duration as the principal (M-1) applicant and to pursue studies if they wish.

K Visa

Under the Legal Immigration Family Equity Act (LIFE Act) and its amendments, the K visa allows the spouse and unmarried children (below the age of 21 years) of a U.S. citizen to enter, live, and work in the U.S. as a nonimmigrant until they receive Lawful Permanent Resident status. The K Visa is classified into K1, K2, K3, and K4. K1 and K2 Visas are for a U.S. citizen’s alien fiancé and their accompanying children. K3 and K4 are for a U.S. citizen’s alien spouse and accompanying children. The K-1 visa grants the US citizen’s fiancé to come to the US to marry the US citizen. The K-3 visa grants the alien spouse to come to the U.S. and live with their spouse.  Therefore, children of U.S. citizen fiancés belong to the K-2 category, and Children and spouses of U.S. citizens belong to the K-4 category.

K-1 Visa (Fiancés of U.S. Citizens):

• The U.S. citizen must first file an I-129F petition with the US Citizenship and Immigration Services (CIS). When the petition is approved, the alien fiancé may go for a K visa at the American Consulate abroad.
• Prior to filing the I-129F petition, both the alien fiancé and U.S. citizen must have met personally at least once in the two years.
• Both the U.S. citizen and the fiancé must stay as unmarried until the alien fiancé reaches the U.S.

K-2 and K-4 Visas (Children of U.S. Citizens’ Fiancés and Children of U.S. Citizens’ Spouses):

• The child must be unmarried and remain under the age of 21 years.
• The child must be from outside the U.S. and will attach to K-1/K-3 visa applicant or holder to come to the U.S.

K-3 Visa (Spouses of U.S. Citizens):

• You have married a U.S. citizen
• The alien spouse must be outside the U.S.
• Your U.S. citizen spouse has filed Form I-130 (Petition for Alien Relative) with USCIS for you.
• You want to enter the U.S. to wait for the approval of the petition to become a Lawful Permanent Resident.
• An immigration petition for the benefit of the spouse must have been filed before the I-129F (K visa petition) is filed;
• If marriage occurs outside the U.S., the K visa must be issued by the U.S. consulate in the country where the marriage occurred.
• You have forwarded an approved Form I-129F (Petition for Alien Fiancé) to the U.S. Consulate (which issues immigrant visas) in the country where you were married. If you were married in the U.S., the approved petition has to be forwarded to a consulate which has jurisdiction over the area where you reside.

Advantages to having a K-3/K-4 non-immigrant visa:  you are allowed to work in the U.S. while waiting for your Permanent Resident status. However, in order to do this, you must have a work permit. To apply for a work permit, submit Form I-765 (Application for Employment Authorization) to the USCIS center in Chicago.

Note: You will not need to apply for a work permit after you have become a Lawful Permanent Resident of the U.S. because you will receive a permanent resident card which allows you to permanently live and work in the U.S. Your valid K-3/K-4 non-immigrant visa allows you to travel outside of and return to the U.S., even if you are still waiting for your Permanent Resident status.

K-1 Visa

A K-1 visa is a dual decisive visa issued to the fiancé or fiancée of a United States citizen to enter the United States. Individuals interested in entering the United States to marry an American citizen and reside in the U.S. should apply for a K-1 Visa. A K-1 visa requires a foreigner to marry his or her U.S. citizen petitioner within 90 days of entry. Once the couple gets married, the foreign citizen can accommodate his/her status to become a lawful permanent resident of the United States (Green Card holder). The K-1 Visa (also known as the “fiancé(e) visa”) grants the holder conditional permanent resident status. K-1 visa holders are allowed to work in the U.S., but must re-apply for a work permit after receiving permanent status. The dependent children of K-1 visa holders may come along with the visa holder under K-2 status. A K-1 visa is legally classified as a non-immigrant visa, which mainly leads to important immigration benefits and is therefore often treated by the Immigrant Visa section of United States embassies and consulates worldwide.

Note: In case a K-1 visa holder does not marry his/her U.S. citizen petitioner within 90 days of entry into the U.S., and then he/she must leave the United States within 30 days.

Eligibility Criteria

The K1 visa entitles the visa applicant to enter the U.S. to marry an American citizen over there for which an applicant needs to fulfill eligibility criteria as below:

• Visa applicants need to demonstrate to the Consular officer that they are doubtful to become public charges in the United States.  Generally, this is accomplished by the petitioner filing an Affidavit of Support (Form I-134) showing that he/she has an income or assets that are above that of the poverty line in the petitioner’s state of residence.
• Both fiancé(e)s must be qualified to be lawfully married in the state of residence of the petitioner.
• You and your fiancé(e) must be free to marry which means that both of you should remain unmarried or be having the end of any past relationship through divorce, cancellation, or death.
• U.S. citizen who will be getting married to a foreign national in the United States must file a petition for a fiancé(e) classification (K-1) for their fiancé(e).
• You have also met with your fiancé(e) in person within the last two years before the beginning of the K-1 Visa petition process (filing the Form I-129F).
• This requirement can be deferred only if the meeting with non-US Citizen’s fiancé(e) in person would oppose long-established customs, or if it would create extreme hardship for the U.S. Citizen.

Documentation

You as a foreign-citizen fiancé(e), and eligible children applying for K-2 visas will be required to bring the following forms and documents to the visa interview:

• One Nonimmigrant Fiancé(e) Visa Application, Form DS-156K required.
• One Application for Immigrant Visa and Alien Registration, Form DS-230, Part I, you need to complete, but you do not need to complete Part II.
• Two Nonimmigrant Visa Applications, Form DS-156 (prepared in duplicate).
  Note: K-1/K-2 visa applicants should not fill in Form DS-160, Online Nonimmigrant Visa Application.

There are some different applications form requirements depending on K Visa applicants where he/she applied at (U.S. Consulate General Montreal and U.S. Consulate General Ciudad Juarez). The differently required documentation are as below:

• A valid passport with a validity date of at least six months needed to enter the U.S. and beyond the applicant’s intended period of stay in the U.S. (unless country-specific agreements provide exceptions).
• Divorce or death certificate(s) of any previous spouse(s) for both of you and the U.S. citizen sponsor is required.
• Police records from your presently living country are needed, and all countries where you have lived for 6 months or more since age 16 (Police records are also needed of your accompanying children, age 16 or older).
• Medical examination certificate may be required from both.
• Proof of financial support (Form I-134 Affidavit of Support, may be requested).
• Two 2×2 photographs. See photograph requirements for more information.
• Relationship proof with your U.S. citizen fiancé(e).

Note: The Consular Officer may ask for additional information, such as photographs, ID cards (to prove their identity), as well as divorce orders or cancellation records to prove that they both qualify to marry with each other, and other proof that the relationship with your U.S. citizen fiancé(e) is genuine. Documents in foreign languages or other than the language of the country in which the application takes place should be translated. Applicants should take to the visa interview clear, clear photocopies of civil documents and translations, such as birth and divorce certificates are required.

How to Apply

The application process for K-1 status begins when both applicants have fulfilled the eligibility criteria, and then an American is liable to file a petition for the foreign fiancé(e) by fulfilling certain forms as mentioned below:

• Applicant (sponsor) must file Form I-129F [petition for the alien fiancé(e)] with the USCIS office that serves the area where you live. For more information on where to file the petition visit Direct Filing Addresses for Form I-129F, Petition for Alien Fiancé(e). Further information is available on the USCIS website under Fiancé(e) Visas.
  Note:  Form I-129F cannot be filed at a U.S. Embassy or Consulate, or USCIS office abroad.
• After the petition gets approved by the USCIS, it is sent to the National Visa Center (NVC) of the State Department, which in turn forwards it to the Embassy or Consulate where your fiancé(e) will apply for a K-1 nonimmigrant visa.
• No attorney or other agent is necessary to petition someone for a K-1 visa, however, some prefer to hire an attorney to handle the paperwork and facilitate the process.
• Once the U.S. Embassy or Consulate where you (sponsor) will apply and receive the petition from NVC, it will provide specific instructions to you, including where to go for the required medical examination. At the time of your interview, digital fingerprint scans will be taken. Some visa applications may need further administrative processing, which takes additional time after the visa applicant’s interview by a Consular Officer.
• K-1 visa applicants’ children may apply for K-2 visas. Separate applications must be submitted for each K visa applicant accompanying them, and fee must be paid for each K visa applicant differently.

Processing Time

For Form I-129F [petition for an alien fiancé(e)], you can visit the USCIS website to check the status of your petition. Anyway, once your case has been received from NVC by the U.S. Embassy or Consulate that will process it, the length of time differs from case to case accordingly. Some cases are deferred because applicants do not follow instructions carefully or supply incomplete information.

Note:  Most importantly applicant should provide correct postal addresses and telephone numbers.

Additional Information

A K-1 visa is printed on a self-adhesive label, similar to a tourist visa, but defined with the name of the petitioner. This label applied onto the fiancé(e)’s passport which is valid for one entry into the United States within six months of the date of the proceeding. After the marriage, they may file for Adjustment of Status (to become a Legal Permanent Resident of the US). After filing for Adjustment of Status they may live in the U.S. beyond the 90 day K-1 Visa validity while their Adjustment of Status application is adjusted.

K-3 and K-4 Visas

K visas are open to spouses of U.S. citizens who are the beneficiaries of an immigrant visa petition. The spouses’ unmarried children under the age of 21 are also eligible. After arriving in the U.S. under K status, these visa holders must apply for an immigrant visa or adjustment of status. K visa holders may seek employment regardless of whether their permanent status has been approved. K visas are valid for up to two years.

J-1 Visa

A J-1 visa is a non-immigrant visa issued by the United States to provide educational and cultural exchange programs, and to promote the sharing of individuals, knowledge, skills in education, the arts and sciences, and especially to obtain medical or business training within the U.S. This visa allows people to participate in an exchange visitor program/internship program in the United States. All applicants must meet the eligibility criteria and be sponsored either by a private sector or government program.

The J-1 visa creates great opportunities for those students who need practical training that is not available in their home country to complete their academic program. The training must be exactly related to the academic program. The J-1 visa constrains the student to return to their home country for a minimum of two years after the end of their studies in the U.S. before being qualified to apply for an immigrant (permanent) visa.

Note:  J-1 visa holders include students, trainees involved in on-the-job training, visiting scholars, researchers, and consultants. Although many J-1 visa holders come to the U.S. for paid on-the-job training, exchange students who visit the U.S. under this status are not permitted to work.

 

Eligibility Criteria

The Immigration and Nationality Act (INA) is very specific about the requirements, which must be met by applicants to qualify for the exchange visitor (J-1) visa. The consular officer will conclude whether you qualify for the visa. Applicants must formally judge that they properly meet the requirements to be issued an exchange visitor visa, including the following:

• Applicant plans to stay in the U.S. for a temporary, specific, and limited time period.
• Sufficient funds required to stay and cover all their expenses in the United States.
• Based on necessitating social and economic ties abroad, and other binding ties which will assure their return abroad at the end of the visit.

 

Documentation

Each visa applicant must submit to the U.S. Embassy or Consulate the following:

• A SEVIS (Student Exchange and Visitor Information System) generated Form, DS-2019, is provided by your program sponsor to you (for each family member), after that sponsor enters your information and your family members information in the SEVIS system. Under the 2011 Pilot Summer Work Travel Program participants’ Form DS-2019, certificate of eligibility for exchange visitor status will be sent by your U.S. program sponsor directly to the U.S. embassy or consulate where you will apply for your visa. All pilot program participants will be placed in jobs in the United States by the appointed U.S. sponsor before the DS-2019 is emitted.
• All exchange visitors (J visa), trainee or intern visa applicants, must also present training/internship placement plan when applying for a visa, Form DS-7002.  If your Form DS-2019 is issued prior to July 19, 2007, a Form DS-7002 is not required.
• Fill the DS-160 (online nonimmigrant visa electronic application) for yourself and each family member you have. After finishing the form filling process you must print the confirmation page with a good printer (laser is preferred) as it contains a bar-code. Prefer Internet Explorer to print properly all the DS-160 form pages. Visit the DS-160 website to learn more about the DS-160 online process.
• A valid passport with a validity date of at least six months needed to enter the U.S. and beyond the applicant’s intended period of stay in the U.S. (unless country-specific agreements provide exceptions). If more than one person is included in the passport, each person who needs a visa must complete an application for that.
• One 2 x 2 photograph is needed. See photograph requirements for more information.
• Applicants must show to the consular officer that they have binding ties to a residence in a foreign country which they have no purpose of relinquishing and that they are coming to the U.S. for a temporary duration. It is difficult to define the exact form of evidence that should be taken since applicants’ circumstances change greatly.

 

Interview

An interview as a part of the visa application process is required visa applicants from age 14 through 79 at the embassy consular section. Generally, persons, younger (age 13) and older (age 80), do not need to go through an interview, unless requested by embassy or consulate. The waiting time for an interview appointment for applicants can fluctuate, so early visa application is strongly encouraged. Visa Wait Times for interview appointments and processing time information for each U.S. Embassy or Consulate worldwide is available at Visa Wait Times and on most embassy websites. If you are officially recognized by your sponsor to be accompanied by your spouse (husband or wife) and children, they will also be provided a Form DS-2019 that they can also apply at the same time.

At the time of visa application process, commonly at the interview, an ink-free, digital fingerprint scan will be taken quickly. Some applicants will need additional screening and will be informed when they apply. You may request for your visa at an Embassy or Consulate any time before the beginning of your exchange program. See Bureau of Consular Affairs for a comprehensive overview of the Exchange Visitor (J-1) Visa.

 

How to Apply

• Visit U.S. embassy website and start to apply for a visa. You will receive a user and password that will enable further procedures.
• Fill form DS-160 for yourself and each family member you have. Make a print of confirmation page for your evidence at the end of the process.
• Must get Form DS-2019 from your host for each family member and a letter of invitation. The first thing you do after receiving these files is paying SEVIS, best with the electronic version as you get the receipt immediately http://www.ice.gov/sevis.
• You might also have to fill some other document in your user’s environment. You will see that when you log in.

 

Duration of Stay

J-1 visitors may stay in the United States until the end of their exchange program, as specified on form DS-2019. Upon ending of J-1 visitor’s program, he/she may stay in the United States for an additional 30 days, often referred to as a ‘grace period,’ in order to get prepared for departure from the country. Once a visitor departs from the United States in between these 30 days, the visitor may not be allowed re-entering with the J-1 visa.

The minimum and maximum duration of stay are decided by the specific J-1 category under which an exchange visitor is admitted into the United States. As with other non-immigrant visas, a J-1 visa holder and their dependents have to leave the United States at the end of the duration of stay.

 

Spouses and Children

Your spouse and/or unmarried children under the age of 21 may apply for entry under J-2 status. Spouses and/or children may come along or join the principal exchange visitor (J) visa holder in the United States for the duration of his/her stay need exchange visitor visas (acquired J visas). Dependents of J-1 visa holders may work in the U.S. if they can prove that they are able to provide for their own expenses. The application procedure remains same as that for a primary visa applicant.

The sponsor must acknowledge the attendant of the spouse and/or children, and each will be issued their own Form DS-2019. This form is used to get the required visa, which allows spouses and dependents to enter the U.S. at the same time as the principal exchange visitor or at a later date.

 

Additional Information

Employment while in ‘J’ exchange visitor status totally depends upon the terms of the program. Under this exchange program, candidates may provide for on-the-job training, research, teaching, or other activities which involve paid employment may accept such employment. Candidates in exchange programs which do not include work may not accept outside employment. The ‘Q’ international cultural exchange program particularly approves paid employment as a part of the program.