Immigration and Visa Services
A visa is an official government document allowing you to travel to another country. There are nonimmigrant visas for temporary visits and immigrant visas for permanent residence.
Immigration consultants/notaries are not licensed attorneys and cannot give you legal advice. You must consult an attorney to obtain immigration services. However, they can assist you in preparing your documents and interviewing for a visa.
For assistance with your H4 EAD extension, it’s important to consult a licensed attorney for legal advice, as immigration consultants are not authorized to provide such guidance.
Legal Advice
Legal advice is an opinion that a person or entity provides on the law in relation to specific factual circumstances. It involves analyzing the facts, advising on how the law applies to them, and recommending a course of action for the individual.
At Sirva, we offer expert consulting to help our clients navigate immigration and visa services in a way that maximizes compliance and minimizes risk exposure. We deliver complete global immigration services that improve the employee experience, streamline administration, and stabilize costs.
Sirva also offers corporate training that increases HR and mobility managers’ understanding of global visa requirements.
Document Preparation
Those who work in document preparation services help people to satisfy their legal obligations under complex immigration laws by creating documents that they submit to various government agencies. These include the Department of State, Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE), and United States Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS).
Visa and immigration consultants often specialize in a particular area. For example, some preparers only work with fiancee or spouse visas and employment visas for American companies seeking full-time employees from overseas. Others focus on family-based or employment immigrant visas, which are for a person who wants to live permanently in a country other than their own.
Sirva offers a complete suite of global visa services that enable corporate clients to streamline administration, stabilize costs, and reduce risk exposure. Our experienced team of professionals will assist your HR and mobility managers by coordinating all immigration requirements through one point of contact. We will also conduct training for your staff to increase their understanding of their responsibilities regarding international employees.
Interview Preparation
Many international students are required to undergo a visa interview. During the interview the consular officer will ask questions about their motivation to study, their plans for after completion of their studies, their ties to their home country and much more. It is important to answer truthfully at all times – providing false information can lead to exclusion from the United States.
It is generally a good idea to have a consultation with an immigration attorney before the interview. They can ensure that USCIS respects your legal rights and that you are prepared to respond to any questions the consular officer may have.
It is also advisable to familiarize yourself with the types of questions that are often asked at interviews, but avoid writing out your answers as it will be seen as contrived and robotic. Instead jot down a few key points to remember and practice answering them out loud. This will help you feel confident in the interview and create a positive impression.
Visa Application
A visa is an official travel document that allows you to enter the country where you plan to visit. It is normally issued by the government of the country to be visited, and it reflects the reason for your travel as well as the length of stay.
If you apply for a visa directly through the embassy or consulate, the process can be lengthy and time-consuming because it requires gathering documents, paying fees, and attending an interview with an immigration officer. However, some companies offer a range of visa and passport processing services for a fee, which can save you both time and money.
When applying for a visa, you will have to provide your fingerprints and photo (biometrics). Once you submit form DS-160 online, it is impossible to revise it, so make sure you enter all the information accurately. You will also have to pay a visa application fee, which varies by type of visa.