Entering the United States with the intent to work and/or become a lawful, permanent resident will require complex and demanding paperwork, and while no one should be discouraged by this fact, they will, in most cases, need some legal assistance and representation so that they can get all this paperwork done correctly. A work visa, for example, is one way in which a guest to the United States can get authorization to start work, and becoming a lawful resident of the nation may require some assistance, such as finding the best immigration attorney in one’s area for guidance on how to get all this done. After all, failing to get the paperwork done right can slow down the process even further, and a person may find themselves in legal trouble and even find themselves in immigration court of things go wrong. But if a person finds the best immigration lawyer they can afford, or if they get work visas without any trouble, they can begin a productive life in the United States.
Getting a Work Visa
Some guests to the United States seek citizenship, and they fill out a great quantity of paperwork and they will eventually obtain their green card if nothing goes wrong in this process. Other times, a guest to the United States is looking for not citizenship, but for business immigration status; that is, an employer authorizes them to reside in the United States so that they can go to their job. This may also involve getting a work visa, and there is a set process for getting such paperwork done. Getting a work visa is a major step for any guest to take so that they can have a productive life in the United States.
According to The Balance Careers, all United States employers must prove that all of their employees are legally able to work in the United States for one reason or another. Often, naturally born citizens have the full legal to work within the country, but anyone who is not a citizen or a lawful permanent resident will need paperwork, such as a work visa, so that they may haw lawful employment. An Employment Authorization Document, an EAD, can prove eligibility to work in the United States. Both an employer and an employee are required to have proof that the employee is legally allowed to work in the United States for that employer.
The broad categories for all people permitted to work in the United States include American citizens, non-citizen nationals of the United States, lawful permanent residents, and aliens who are authorized to work in the United States. In particular, the types of foreign workers allowed to have employment in the United States are temporary non-immigrant workers (those who enter the country temporarily and for a specific purpose), permanent immigrant workers authorized to live and work in the country, and student or exchange visitors. In that last category, students will have to provide paperwork from their school’s officials known as Designed School Officials. Exchange visitors, meanwhile, use an exchange visitor visa program to work in the United States.
A work permit such as an EAD is issued by the United States Citizenship and Immigration Services, or USCIS, and will prove that its holder is authorized to work in the United States. This is a plastic card that lasts for one year and may be renewed or replaced if need be. It should be noted that American citizens and permanent lawful residents don’t need a worker permit or an EAD for employment, aside from permanent residents who have green cards. Some types of guests who will need to apply for an EAD may include asylum seekers, refugees, the fiances or spouses of American citizens, dependents of foreign government officials, or minor children of exchange visitors.
Someone whose EAD will soon expire may file to renew it with form I-765, an application for Employment Authorization. Filling out this form should also be done if someone’s work visa or work permit is lost or stolen, or if it contains incorrect information. If a USCIS processing center made the error, fees might not be applied.