Chicago Temporary Business and Tourist Visa Lawyer

Helping Clients Gain Legal Entry into America Through the Complex Immigration Process

When watching news about the Department of Homeland Security, deportations, and other immigrant issues in America, it’s easy to think that visiting the country would be a hassle. However, it’s important to remember that there are major differences between those with immigrant and nonimmigrant status in the United States. If you’re planning on a temporary visit, a Chicago temporary business and tourism visa lawyer may be able to help.

At Gilliam Law, our legal team provides immigration services of all kinds. We help people who desperately need to establish permanent residence in the country and represent individuals in danger of being deported. However, we also have extensive experience in helping clients secure visitor visas. If you need to enter America for business purposes — or just to enjoy a fun vacation — contact our Chicago law firm today for help with the visa application process.

Do You Need Chicago Immigration Lawyers for Help with Immigration Law?

People frequently visit America for business or pleasure with no intent of staying long. The country’s citizenship and immigration services are frequently derided in the media, but this is typically in relation to deportations, long-term immigrants, and other immigrant issues. For those hoping to visit the United States on a temporary basis for business or tourism, obtaining a visitor visa is much simpler. However, is it simple enough to make hiring an experienced immigration attorney unnecessary?

To be clear, no one is required to seek legal counsel in America. Many people have entered the U.S. from a foreign country after undertaking the visa application process on their own. However, doing so does come with risks. For instance, many potential visitors face delays when they don’t have all the required documentation or misunderstand eligibility requirements.

Those who don’t have legal guidance when preparing for their visa interview also encounter denials when they are unable to adequately answer consular officer questions. Even worse, people sometimes learn the hard way that they have issues of inadmissibility. While this doesn’t necessarily mean they can’t visit America, they can benefit from working with a Chicago temporary business and tourism attorney who may be able to help them address these issues.

What Are Non-Immigrant Visas?

While many come to the United States seeking their American dreams, others come to our country more temporarily with non-immigrant visas. There are many reasons why an applicant may hope to obtain a non-immigrant visa, including tourism, temporary work, and educational pursuits. Every type of nonimmigrant visa, whether you’re talking about a student visa, a tourist visa, or a visa for foreign workers, comes with different requirements and limitations. When beginning the visa process, it is essential that you understand the different eligibility criteria for every type of non-immigrant visa. Potential applicants are strongly encouraged to retain the legal services of an experienced non-immigrant visa attorney.

Foreign nationals who hope to come to the United States to permanently live and work within our borders must apply for an immigrant visa. These visas are also known as green cards or permanent resident cards. A permanent resident card also allows immigrants to seek United States citizenship if they so wish eventually.

Nonimmigrant visas have an expiration date. Once the temporary visa expires, the foreign national must leave the United States unless they have applied for and received an extension or some other type of visa. For instance, some students might complete their studies and then apply for a temporary work visa.

There are several visa categories, and not every one of them likely matches your immigration goals. You must apply for the appropriate temporary visa, depending on your qualifications. Experienced attorneys well versed in immigration laws can provide knowledgeable immigration legal services to assist clients throughout the complicated process. Our extremely professional legal team would be proud to assist you in obtaining legal immigration status with a nonimmigrant visa.

What’s the Difference Between a Tourist and a Business Visa?

Assuming you meet the eligibility requirements for coming to America, you still need to understand the different types of visitor visas — this will ensure you submit the appropriate application. Whether you’re coming to America for business or pleasure, you’ll be requesting a nonimmigrant visa. The issuance of either of these visas allows for multiple entries into the country. Still, it’s important to recognize the eligible activities that fall under each of these traveling documents.

Visitor visa categories include the following:

• Tourist and visitor visas (B1 and B2) are legal documents for temporary visitors to the United States. The B1 visa is for business associates traveling to the United States. The B2 visa is for tourists, domestic employees, those coming to the United States for a medical emergency, and those visiting a family member in the US
• E visas, which are created for treaty traders and investors, allow foreign nationals to come to the United States to carry out substantial trade between the US and their home country
• P visas are nonimmigrant visas for those in entertainment arts and athletic pursuits. P1 visas are for athletes and entertainers visiting the country to perform in competition, P2 visas are for foreign artists and entertainers coming to the US to perform as some sort of reciprocal exchange program, and P3 visas are for foreign nationals coming to the United States to coach, perform, teach, or perform other duties in a culturally unique program
• K visas are temporary visas that allow a foreign-born fiancé to come to the United States so that they may marry a United States citizen within 90 days of their arrival in the country
• F&M visas, which are for foreign nationals who wish to enroll full-time in USCIS-approved educational programs
• Cultural exchange visitor visas, or J visas, are available to visitors coming to the United States to study, work, or train as part of an officially recognized cultural exchange program

What Are Eligible Activities for a B-1 Visa?

A B-1 visa is for temporary business visitors. 

The following list is not exhaustive, but it includes some of the most common reasons this visa is issued:

• Consulting with business partners and associates
• Settling an estate
• Negotiating contracts
• Traveling for educational, professional, scientific, and other conferences
• Taking part in short-term training

To be eligible for a B-1 visa, you must establish the following:

• The reason for your trip to the United States is for legitimate, legal business purposes
• The extent of your stay within the country is limited
• You have sufficient funds to cover your expenses during your stay in the country
• Your primary residence is outside of the United States, and you do not intend to abandon it
• You are deemed legally admissible in the United States

What Are Eligible Activities for a B-2 Visa?

While the B-2 visa is frequently referred to as a tourism visa, eligible activities actually extend far beyond traditional tourism. 

Examples of this visa’s use include the following:

• Tourist activities
• Visiting family and friends
• Medical treatment
• Recreational courses of study
• Unpaid participation by amateurs in sporting, musical, and similar events

To be eligible for B-2 visas, applicants must prove at least one of the following:

• Your purpose for entering the United States is a vacation or holiday as a tourist
• You wish to visit family or friends in the United States
• Your purpose for entry into the US is for medical treatment
• You intend to participate in a social event or short-term enrollment in a recreational course

What if You’re Visiting America for Both Work and Pleasure?

In many instances, visitors will receive a B1/B2 visa together. This is typical for individuals who plan on handling business matters but will also enjoy other activities while in America. Do you plan on visiting an amusement park with friends after an important business meeting? A B1/B2 visa is likely right for you, and our Chicago temporary business and tourism visa lawyer can assist.

A Chicago immigration lawyer from our law office can assist you with a number of immigration issues, including questions about your immigration case. If government officials have found a reason to be dubious about your temporary visit to the United States, we may provide extremely helpful legal guidance.

To learn more about our immigration legal services for business associates, tourists, and international students, please contact our Chicago law firm to schedule your free, no-obligation case evaluation today.

What is the Temporary Visa Application Process?

When applying for a business or tourist visa, you must provide satisfactory evidence to prove that you qualify to receive such a visa. When you apply for a non-immigrant visa, you need to state clearly your intention not to immigrate to the country.

To establish that you have no intention of staying within the United States as an immigrant, you must demonstrate that your visit is temporary. Usually, this means that the purpose of your trip is either for business, pleasure, medical treatment, or some combination of the three. Additionally, you must show that the trip has a definite and clearly defined length of time. You must also show that you have strong connections to your home country that will ensure you eventually return home. Such ties may include economic connections, financial concerns, and family that remain behind.

When applying for a B1 or B2 visa, you must submit Form DS-160, the nonimmigrant visa application form. It is essential that this document be carefully filled out and submitted to the appropriate authorities. Many immigration cases go poorly simply due to improper or incomplete paperwork.

Necessary documentation and supporting evidence included in your application should be a valid passport from your home country with at least six months of validity past the applicant’s intended duration of stay. Other necessary documents depend on your unique circumstances and the reason for your visit. To ensure that you have the proper documentation, please contact a Chicago immigration attorney at our law firm.

Are You Eligible for a Visa Waiver?

When helping our clients gain travel authorization to America, we always suggest going the easiest route. While securing a business or tourism visa status is necessary in many instances, it’s also the case that many people are eligible for the Visa Waiver Program (VWP). This allows a foreign citizen to visit America for less than 90 days without first seeking a visa. There are dozens of participants from different countries in this program. 

Citizens from the following nations most often take advantage of the VWP:

• Germany
• France
• Australia
• Monaco
• New Zealand
• United Kingdom
• Spain
• Portugal
• Hungary
• Norway
• Taiwan

Just because you don’t see your country listed does not mean you’re ineligible for a visa waiver. Almost 50 countries are participating in the VWP. A Chicago temporary business and tourism visa attorney can help you understand if you might be eligible. However, keep in mind that certain nations may have additional restrictions. If you plan to stay longer than 90 days, this program is not right for you.

Let our Chicago immigration law firm help you identify the best option for visiting America.

Why Hire a Chicago Tourist Visa Attorney at Our Law Firm for Your Immigration Matters?

Even with a passport valid in your home country, requesting permission to enter America is still necessary. This can sometimes be a difficult and drawn-out process. Fortunately, this typically isn’t the case for those who merely want to visit for business or tourism purposes. A visitor visa applicant doesn’t have to deal with many of the complicated procedures required of long-term visitors or prospective permanent residents. However, this doesn’t mean you can just arrive at a port of entry and enter.

At Gilliam Law, we have extensive experience helping visitors go through the necessary steps to enter America. Whether you have business matters to attend to, are seeking medical treatment, or simply want to enjoy American nightlife before returning home — our legal professionals can guide you through the process. Even better, it’s sometimes the case that we can help a foreign national enter the country without going through a visa interview or other complicated tasks.

Contact us today to speak with our Chicago temporary business and tourism visa lawyer. We’ll review all your options and help you decide the surest path forward.

Schedule a Free Case Evaluation with an Experienced Chicago Immigration Attorney Today

Temporary visas are a great way for foreign nationals to come to the United States for work or play. However, the process for obtaining such a visa can sometimes be complicated. For this reason and so many others, we must strongly encourage you to retain professional legal counsel from an experienced immigration attorney.

Our Chicago law firm has extensive experience assisting clients with various immigration issues, including those seeking to obtain temporary visas. We would be proud to represent your legal rights throughout the visa process in hopes of helping you achieve the most satisfactory outcome for your case.

To learn more about how our legal team can assist you, please contact us to schedule your free initial consultation today. You can reach our Chicago law office at 866-511-3422.