Practice Areas

PRACTICE AREAS

EMPLOYMENT BASED IMMIGRATION

Immigration has become a sprawling subject, touching many lives and professions. Its implications involving the practice of law are no less complicated. Statewide or nationwide, our lawyers can be of service to your business or family.

At Harrison-Donaldson, Attorneys at Law, we handle both complex and straightforward employment-based immigration matters. Harrison-Donaldson works with local, national and multinational corporations in a wide range of fields, including energy, construction and highly specialized technology, to assist these companies with their employees' immigration needs. Our clients appreciate the creative solutions we have devised to reduce their immigration problems. You will, too. Whether you are a worker or an employer, we can help. Contact our full-service immigration attorneys to learn more.
Gavel and Passports — Immigration Law Firm in Columbus, OH
Employment-Based Immigrant Categories and Visas
With our employment-based immigration assistance, foreign workers can acquire a visa or green card through a variety of conditions and programs.

  • Professional workers or skilled and unskilled workers.
  • Priority workers, meaning persons of extraordinary ability, outstanding professors or researchers, and executives and managers of multinational companies (EB-1).
  • Professionals holding advanced degrees or persons of exceptional ability in the arts, sciences, or business.
  • Religious workers, persons seeking reacquisition of citizenship, returning residents, Panama Canal Treaty employees, commuters from borders, retired G-4 officers, foreign medical graduates, and court defendants.
  • Investors in companies employing at least 10 U.S. citizens or authorized immigrant workers (EB-5).
For temporary workers, the list of employment immigration visa categories include:
  • Nurses and other health professionals (H-1C)
  • Investors (E)
  • Representatives of foreign media companies (I)
  • Canadian and Mexican citizens performing professional-level work (TN)
  • Employees of international organizations (Q)
Our firm helps businesses hire the employees they need while assisting talented workers gain admittance to the United States. Some categories are subject to quotas. Most of them call for labor certification. We help employers and employees determine which type is the best path to a green card.

Speak with Harrison-Donaldson About Permanent Residence or Work Visas

Contact us to discuss your employment immigration issues. The sooner we speak with you, the sooner we can offer creative solutions for your immigration matters. Call us at (888) 753-2515, toll free.

Contact our law offices today to schedule your initial consultation about immigration through employment. We return after-hours calls promptly and can access interpreters if you need them.

BUSINESS IMMIGRATION – NON IMMIGRANT VISAS

Non Immigrant Visas

Ohio Employer Immigration Attorneys
If you are a foreign citizen wishing to enter the U.S. for business or employment purposes for a length of time from several months to several years, the seasoned business immigration lawyers at Harrison-Donaldson, Attorneys at Law, can help.
From our law offices in Columbus, Ohio, we can assist you in determining which classification of non-immigrant business visa is best suited to your unique needs. We will prepare both the necessary documentation and supporting evidence to submit to government citizenship, immigration, and naturalization officials.

If an unexpected snag arises, we are known for our exhaustive research and creative solutions to all kinds of challenging business immigration scenarios. Count on Harrison-Donaldson to give our all, in knowledge of law and commitment to you.

Business non-immigrant visas come with specific end dates for authorization purposes, after which you are required to return to your home country unless an extension is available to you. Non-immigrant visas can also lead to a permanent work visa, known as an Employment-Based Immigrant Visa or green card.

Here is a good example of the visas and services we are able to provide while serving clients throughout Columbus, Ohio, and the United States.
  • B-1, B-2 (Visitor/Business Visa)
  • E Visa (Investor/Treaty Traders)
  • F-1 (Student Visas)
  • H-1B (Specialty Worker)
  • H-2B (Temporary Worker)
  • J-1 Waiver (Exchange Program Participants)
  • J-1 Advisory Opinion
  • K Visa (Fiancé/Spouse of U.S. Citizen)
  • L-1 (Intracompany transferees)
For those entering to form a business and in need of contract drafting and review, the lawyers of Harrison-Donaldson handle those duties, specifically for physicians that wish to come to the United States. Whatever the situation, long-term or short, we have a creative solution.

Schedule Your Initial Consultation

If your company has encountered a non-immigrant visa business dilemma, chances are we have a creative solution for it.Consider our Columbus law offices your home for creative solutions to your every immigration-related legal need. We are Harrison-Donaldson, Attorneys at Law. We look forward to meeting you during your initial consultation. Contact us to schedule it today.

BUSINESS IMMIGRATION – IMMIGRANT VISAS IMMIGRANT VISAS

Columbus Ohio Immigrant Visa Lawyers
Any person seeking permanent U.S. residence must obtain an immigrant visa. The primary classes of immigrant visas are employment-based, family-based, diversity immigrant status, and asylum (refugee) status.

We have extensive experience working with every class of immigrant visa. When problems have arisen in the completion of a challenging case, the determined immigration attorneys of Harrison-Donaldson have risen to the occasion with creative solutions that brought impressive results.
Which Visa Is Best?
Deciding which visa or immigration option is the correct strategy for a particular person can be tricky. Some clients qualify for more than one option. Businesses, individuals seeking visas, and relatives located here may factor into the process. Our experience and track record put us in a position to be of invaluable assistance in pinpointing and petitioning for just the right visa.

From Work Permit to Citizenship
Among the immigrant visas and situations we have handled for business purposes at Harrison-Donaldson are:
If you are an aspiring businessperson or a professional sole proprietor, such as a doctor, you will need to have contracts drafted and reviewed. We have made ourselves available to a number of these professionals. They respect our abilities and client commitment every bit as much as you will.

Contact Our Columbus Offices
The business and family immigration lawyers of Harrison-Donaldson are proud of their constant accessibility to you, the Ohio business owner. That commitment begins with your initial consultation.

Schedule that first visit so we can hear the details of your unique legal situation, especially regarding immigrant visas. You will admire our acumen, energy, willingness to listen, and talent for innovating creative solutions.

INVESTOR- BASED IMMIGRATION

Requirements for Investment-Based Immigration
Immigration through investment is different than obtaining a visa to work in the U.S. Based on the following basic criteria, our investment immigration attorneys can help you acquire EB-5 status as a lawful permanent resident:
  • Investment of One Million Dollars in Assets – qualifying investments must use personally-owned assets legally obtained or those secured by personal assets, and may be comprised of cash, product inventory, related equipment and other qualifying property or convertible monetary equivalents. There is also a half million dollar option in a targeted employment area.
  • Creation of a Commercial, For-Profit Enterprise – businesses that qualify include sole proprietorship, partnerships, corporations, joint ventures, commercial subsidiaries, holding companies and others
  • Managed by the Investor – engaged in daily management of the business through personal control or via partnership, or appointment as a corporate officer or director
  • Creation of at Least 10 Full-Time Jobs for U.S. Employees – investors, their immediate relatives and foreign-born workers with a non immigrant status are exempt
Rather than start a business, you also can purchase an existing commercial enterprise. However, the investment must increase net worth or employment of qualifying U.S. workers by a significant percentage, or save jobs at a failing business in operation for two or more years that has lost sizable percentage of its net worth. Certain location criteria and options for multiple investors also apply. We are fully prepared to assist with all of your investment immigration concerns.

Contact Us for Experienced Immigration Assistance
Our commitment to your investment immigration success, and any related employment-based immigration needs, begins with your initial consultation. Contact the business immigration lawyers of Harrison-Donaldson and take advantage of our experience, energy, willingness to listen, and talent for finding creative solutions.

INVESTOR/TRADER IMMIGRATION

The E Visa: An Alternative to H and L Visas
The H-1B visa garners a great deal of publicity in the media every year, but there are other, lesser-known employment-based visa types that may better suit some individuals, such as the E visa. While the L visa is a viable alternative to the H-1B, some individuals are unable to meet the requirements, particularly the condition that an employee have a previous employment history with the petitioning employer (at least one full year within the last three years). The E visa classification avoids the aforementioned problems by having no numerical limit and no previous employment requirement. In fact, E non immigrants may engage in self-employment, an attractive option for many E applicants. Other benefits of the E visa include the ability of holders to remain in the U.S. for an indefinite period of time without a requirement to maintain ties to a home country.
In order to obtain an E visa, an alien must be:
“entitled to enter the United States under and in pursuance of the provisions of a treaty of commerce and navigation between the United States and the foreign country of which he is a national, and the spouse and children of any such alien if accompanying or following to join him:
(i) solely to carry on substantial trade, principally between the United States and the foreign state of which he is a national; or
(ii) has invested, or of an enterprise in which he is actively in the process of investing, a substantial amount of capital . . .”

Remember: a treaty of Freedom, Commerce and Navigation must exist between the U.S. and the country of the applicant's nationality. If at least 50% of a business is owned by nationals of a relevant treaty country, and the application meets the other requirements (please see below), the company will be eligible for E status.

One of the stipulations for E classification is that the alien must intend to depart from the U.S. upon termination of his or her status. However, one of the benefits of the E visa is that there is no limit on the number of visa renewals, making the E visa an attractive alternative to the H, for which renewals are limited. However, the maximum validity period for an E visa depends on reciprocity with the alien's country of nationality. According to USCIS regulations, E nonimmigrants may be admitted to the U.S. for an initial period of not more than two years at a time. However, as long as an E visa holder continues to possess valid status, he or she may depart the U.S. and reenter and, at the border, obtain a new Form I-94 for an additional two years. Depending on the maximum validity period, the E visa holder can do this multiple times.

The E visa has two categories, which are explained in greater detail below: 1) E-1 for treaty traders and 2) E-2 for treaty investors.
E-1 Visa: Treaty Trader
An E-1 visa holder is a national of a country with which the U.S. maintains a qualifying treaty, who is coming to the U.S. to carry on substantial trade, including trade in services and technology, principally between the U.S. and the alien's country of nationality.

The term “trade” refers to the existing international exchange of items of trade for consideration between the U.S. and the treaty country. The trade must be traceable and identifiable. An E-1 visa applicant must prove the existence of such trade when applying, which can be shown through successfully-negotiated, binding contracts. The trade must be international (between the U.S. and the treaty country) and substantial (sufficient to ensure a continuous flow of trade items between the U.S. and the treaty country and occurring multiple times, regardless of the monetary value). Principal trade, for the purposes of the E-1, exists when over 50% of the E-1 company's total volume of international trade is conducted between the U.S. and the treaty country.

Items that qualify for trade include, but are not limited to, goods, services, technology, monies, international banking, insurance, transportation, tourism, communications, data processing, accounting, advertising, engineering, and management consulting. The USCIS defines goods as “tangible commodities or merchandise having extrinsic value” and services as “legitimate economic activities, which provide other than tangible goods.”
E-2 Visa: Treaty Investor
An E-2 visa holder is a national of a country with which the U.S. maintains a qualifying treaty, who is coming to the U.S. to develop and direct the operations of an enterprise in which he or she has invested or is actively in the process of investing a substantial amount of capital.

The term “investment” refers to the treaty investor's placement of capital at risk in the commercial sense with the objective of generating a profit.

Requirements of an E-2 visa include:
  • The treaty investor must be in possession of and have control over the capital invested or being invested.
  • The treaty investor must possess the ability to develop and direct the business through at least 50% ownership of the business or by possessing a managerial position. If the business in question is a franchise, the franchisee must demonstrate sufficient control over the management of the business through the ability to hire and fire employees and set wages and business hours.
  • The investment capital must be placed at risk, meaning that it is subject to partial or total loss.
  • Capital that has been invested or that is in the process of being invested must be irrevocably committed to the enterprise; intent to invest or possession of uncommitted funds in a bank account is not sufficient for classification as a treaty investor.
  • The enterprise must be a real, active, and operating commercial or entrepreneurial undertaking, producing services or goods
  • for profit.
  • The investment must be “substantial.” However, there is no minimum dollar amount that is considered substantial-the
  • investment amount depends on the type of business.
  • The business enterprise must be more than “marginal.” A “marginal enterprise” is one that does not have a present or future capacity to generate more than enough income to provide a minimal living for the treaty investor and his or her family. If a business has a present or future capacity to make a significant economic contribution, it is not considered a marginal enterprise. The future projected capacity should be realizable within five years from the date the alien has started.
Employees of E Visa Holders
If an employee is coming to or is already in the U.S. to engage in duties of an executive or supervisory capacity, or, if employed is in a lesser capacity, the employee has special qualifications that make his or her services essential to the operation of the enterprise, he or she may be eligible for an E visa. The employee must have the same nationality as his or her employer and be within one of the following two categories:

  • Executive or Supervisory Capacity: an employee in this capacity has ultimate control and responsibility for a significant proportion of the business's overall operation. An executive possesses authority to determine the policy of and direction for the business. A supervisory position allows the employee supervisory responsibility for a significant proportion of an enterprise's operations.
  • Essential Skills: an employee in this capacity brings skills that are essential to the successful or efficient operation of the enterprise. The employee does not need to have any previous employment with the business, but in order to obtain this classification, factors such as the alien's proven expertise in the area of operations involved, the length of experience or training with the business, and the salary commanded are taken into consideration.

Dependents of E Visa Holders
The spouse and dependant children of an E visa holder need not be the same nationality as the principal E visa holder in order to obtain E classification. Dependents are permitted to obtain employment authorization (Form I-765) and attend school while in the U.S.

If you are looking for an alternative to the H or L visas, the E may be right for you. The attorneys at Harrison-Donaldson are available to answer your questions and address your concerns about the E visa. Contact us today.

FAMILY – BASED IMMIGRATION

Experienced Family Immigration Attorneys Based in Ohio

At the Columbus, Ohio, law offices of Harrison-Donaldson, we work to reunite families. Our experience with immigration law allows us to effectively reunite our clients with their families as quickly as is possible. We offer statewide, nationwide and worldwide legal guidance through the U.S. immigration process.

You may be a U.S. citizen who is engaged to a foreign national. You may be a U.S. legal permanent resident seeking a spouse's visa to come to the U.S. We are prepared to help in these and other family immigration situations. Please contact us for an initial consultation, so we can learn the details of your case and outline an appropriate course of action.
We are sympathetic to how relationships and situations can change. For this reason, we also assist individuals–both sponsors and those being sponsored–with divorce and dissolution. In matters of divorce between U.S. citizens and non-citizens, we are uniquely familiar with the complexities that may arise from these situations and support and guide our clients through these emotional matters. Whatever your need, we try to find a creative solution for it at Harrison-Donaldson.

Our Family Immigration Assistance
We will not stop working until we bring your family member (or family members) to the United States. As family immigration attorneys, we work diligently to help bring your loved ones here, so parents, siblings and adult children can be reunited.

We can help you navigate the various family-based immigration categories that exist, including immediate relative (IR), family preference (F) and fiancée/spouse (K1/K3). Some of the family-based immigration categories are impacted by quotas that restrict the number of immigrants who are permitted to enter the U.S. on an annual basis. The attorneys at Harrison-Donaldson, Attorneys at Law are experienced in filing I-130 petitions and family-based green card applications and can assist you with the associated medical examinations, fees and other requirements.
Family Non-Immigrant Visas
Several programs exist which permit children and spouses to accompany primary visa holders to the United States as dependents. The H-4 and L-2 visas are examples of such programs, through which temporary workers can bring their dependents to the United States. We are experienced immigration lawyers who can help you navigate this process.

Adoption Programs
We not only assist in the reassembling of families, but also help create new ones through programs related to international adoption. We help our clients stay informed about visa requirements and act as a liaison with the State Department to avoid delays.

We understand the anxiety that can overwhelm adoptive parents, and we strive to provide emotional, as well as legal support through this process. We do everything we can to accelerate the adoption process.

Contact Us Today: (888) 753-2515
If there is a business- or family-related immigration issue threatening your future, the experienced attorneys at Harrison Alo, Attorneys at Law can help you arrive at a creative solution. Contact the Columbus, Ohio, law offices of Harrison Alo, Attorneys at Law, by phone, fax, or e-mail to schedule an initial consultation.

PERMANENT RESIDENCE

Ohio U.S. Citizenship Attorneys
At the Columbus law offices of Harrison-Donaldson, Attorneys at Law, we strive for excellence for our clients in the fields of permanent residence and green card status, as only a client-committed, community-involved, energetic young law firm can.

When you need help with this aspect of immigration law, contact us. You can benefit from our experience, creative solutions, and client focus.
“Permanent Residency” Defined
A green card is usually the long-range goal of most non citizens and can give the holder permanent resident status. It is the primary path to long-term employment prospects and acquiring the freedom to exit and return to our country. It allows you to get a Social Security number and receive all the other benefits that come with being a resident of the United States. The seasoned, sensitive immigration lawyers of Harrison-Donaldson will thoroughly and carefully see you through the green card process, no matter which of several routes you choose: employment, family, or asylum or refugee status.

We will make sure you know about any deadlines involved and any required documents. Our years of immigration experience have brought us in contact with countless clients whose goal was permanent resident status followed by naturalization and citizenship. We can be of service to you too, effectively and cost-efficiently.

Applications and Appeals
Some of the available green card categories carry long waiting periods. If you are eligible to apply for permanent residence status in more than one of them, we can inform you of the pros and cons of each category. If an appeal of your application denial is necessary, we are glad to advocate for you in that forum and persuasively represent your interests.

Let Harrison-Donaldson Help
If your permanent residence or green card status is in question or if you know someone whose green card is, we can arrive at a creative solution for your immigration law dilemma.

We are Harrison-Donaldson, Attorneys at Law, in Columbus. We look forward to meeting you during your initial consultation.
Let us evaluate your potential case. Interpreters are available for speakers of other languages.
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