Services

Whether you are living in the United States or abroad, Amanda R. Goodman, Esq., is immediately available to assist you with your immigration needs and will work with you to: obtain your visa, become a citizen, defend against removal and deportation, or seek asylum in the United States. 

We represent Foreign Students, Exchange Visitors, Artists, Performers, NAFTA Professionals, Temporary Professionals, Aliens of Extraordinary Ability, Businesses, Religious Workers, Fiancées of U.S. Citizens, Removable Aliens, and Asylum Seekers.

Legal Expertise

B-1/B-2 Removal Defense H-1B
L-1 Asylum Seekers O-1/P-1
E-1/E-2 Family Based Immigration TN-1/TN-2
F-1/M-1 Fiancé/Fiancée Immigration J-1
National Interest Outstanding Researcher/Professor  
Diversity Lottery Extraordinary Ability  

Temporary Immigrant Visas

B-1 Business Visitors Visa permits entry into the United States for limited business purposes including conferences, meetings, contract negotiations, contract-service work and certain other programming.

B-2 Tourist Visa permits entry into the United States for recreation and pleasure with the intent to depart at the end of the visit and thus does not authorize working in the United States.

L-1 Intra-Company Transferee Visa permits entry into the United States for executives, managers, and specialized knowledge employees transferring from their foreign employer to its branch in the United States (parent, subsidiary, or affiliate)

E-1/E-2 Treaty Trader and Investor Visas permit entry into the United States to citizens of certain countries who are coming to the U.S. to conduct substantial trade between their country and the United States, invest a substantial amount toward an existing U.S. business, or establish a new business.

F-1 Student Visa permits entry into the United States for full-time academic study at an approved institution and can include additional time to pursue practical training (OPT) upon completion of the program.

M-1 Vocational Student Visa permits entry into the United States for full-time non-academic study at a recognized non-academic institution.

J-1 Cultural Exchange Visa permits entry into the United States for a specialized travel or work program applicable to students, researchers, professors, non-academic specialists, au pairs, and counselors, among others.  Many J-1 admissions carry a two-year home residency requirement upon the termination of the visa, which can be waived or delayed in certain circumstances.

TN-1 Canadian Professional Worker Visa permits entry into the United States for Canadian citizens with specialized knowledge or skill seeking to work in a professional capacity in the U.S. pursuant to NAFTA regulations.

TN-2 Mexican Professional/Consultant Worker Visa permits entry into the United States for Mexican citizens with specialized knowledge based on education or experience, seeking to work in a professional capacity in the U.S. pursuant to NAFTA regulations.

H-1B Professional Worker Visa permits entry into the United States for individuals with a Bachelor’s degree, equivalent or higher pursuant to an existing professional job offer and sponsorship from a U.S. employer.

O-1 Outstanding Ability Visa permits entry into the United States for individuals who have demonstrated extraordinary ability in the arts, sciences, athletics or business, that has earned them national or international acclaim.

P-1 Athlete and Entertainer Visas permits entry into the United States for individuals in the athletic and entertainment fields that have sustained international recognition.

Family Immigration

Family Immigration for Spouses, Children and Other Family.  Preservation of the family unit and reuniting family members is a high priority.  As such, the law allows for family of U.S. citizens and lawful permanent residents to obtain Green Card status.  Visas for Immediate Relatives of U.S. citizens are available for: Unmarried Children under the age of 21, Spouses, Parents where U.S. citizen is above the age of 21, Widows and Widowers, and Unmarried minor children of widow or widower.

1st Preference Unmarried adult (21 or older) children of U.S. citizens
2nd Preference Spouses and children of permanent residents and unmarried adult children (21 or older) of permanent residents
3rd Preference Married children of U.S. citizens
4th Preference Brothers and sisters of adult U.S. citizens

Contingent upon a current priority date as published by the U.S. Department of State in their monthly Visa Bulletin, an approved petition in any of these preference categories facilitates the re-unification of family members.

Fiancé and Fiancée Immigration.  The K-1 Fiancée Visa permits the fiancée of a U.S. citizen to enter the United States for the purpose of marriage, which must take place within 90 days of entry.  The K-3 Spouse of U.S. citizen visa permits entry into the United States as a beneficiary of an I-130 immigrant visa petition filed in the U.S. by the U.S. citizen spouse/petitioner.

Diversity Visa Lottery.  Approximately 50,000 diversity visas are made available each year for distribution to applicants who are natives of "low admission states," or countries from which fewer than 50,000 people were granted permanent residency in the U.S. during the previous five years.  Eligible applicants are selected at random once each fiscal year.  Upon notification, winners must act quickly with regard to filing their adjustment application and monitoring their currency dates.  Being selected in the lottery does not guarantee a person an immigrant visa.  Lottery winners must adjust status within the fiscal year for which they were selected.

Employment Based Green Cards

Professionals may seek lawful permanent resident status (e.g. Green Card) based on the following credentials and preference categories:

1st Preference (EB-1) Priority workers are granted EB-1 visas in three categories: (a) Extraordinary Ability, (b) Outstanding Professors & Researchers, and (c) Multinational Executives & Managers.
2nd Preference (EB-2) Foreign nationals with advanced degrees and exceptional abilities qualify under this category.  Generally this preference requires employer sponsorship. However, where the work is “in the national interest,” this requirement can be waived. 
3rd Preference (EB-3) Foreign nationals qualify under this category by showing that they are a skilled worker filling a position that requires their specialized degree of experience.
4th Preference (EB-4) Certain religious workers, ministers of religion, and international organization employees qualify under this category; where entry is sought solely to carry out their religious vocation.
5th Preference (EB-5) Employment Creation Visas are given to foreign nationals who invest, control, and create at least ten full-time jobs through their entrepreneurial pursuits in the U.S.

Immigration Defense: Deportation, Removal, Asylum

How to Stop a Deportation or Removal Proceeding

U.S. Immigration Law provides many ways to prevent removal and deportation. The most commonly used are (1) waivers of excludability and deportability, (2) cancellation of removal for permanent residents, (3) cancellation of removal for non-permanent residents, (4) suspension of deportation, (5) adjustment of status to permanent residence, (5) asylum and withholding of deportation, (6) legalization and registry and, (7) voluntary departure.  Because these defenses are contingent on the specific facts of your case we advise that you contact us directly.

Consular Processing and Procedures

Foreign nationals may apply for a U.S. visa from their home country or a third country through a U.S. consulate abroad.  Equally notable, visa holders in the United States that are required to leave the U.S. to change or renew their visa status require counsel on the intricacies of consular procedures.  No matter where in the world you are, The Law Office of Amanda R. Goodman can guide you through the Consular Process.