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If you are reading this section, then you are already
contemplating moving to America. Continue reading to determine
why you are making the most progressive decision of your
life!
Firstly, USA has one of the largest South African Expat
communities in the world. Why you ask? Well, most South
Africans place Weather as the highest priority when determining
where to immigrate. The US not only matches the South
African climate but it has a state to match everyone's
needs. Ranging from Sunny California on the West Coast,
to the snow-capped mountains in Colorado, to farm like
living in Central Texas, to the Sunshine state of Florida
on the East Coast.
Another common reason for clients wanting to start a new
life in the US is the crime-free environment. If
you are determined to give your children protected surroundings,
where they can confidently look to their futures, then
your days of being a nomad are limited. The US is one
of the few countries in the world that boasts homes and
rolling lawns without fences.
USA's popularity is also the ever-attractive prospects
of earning a stable currency. Added to that is the opportunity
of unlimited earnings if you play within the legal US
framework. On this note, immigration professionals
should be employed to ensure that you make informed decisions,
so you can justifiably reap all rewards owed to you. Thereby
contributing to the $240 billion annual earnings of fellow
American immigrants.
Finally, what better peace of mind than to know that all
your hard-earned capital will appreciate in value; that
you are in a politically stable country and that you are
free from the anxiety of a corrupt government siphoning
your untapped wealth.
In a world where immigrants start 18% of all new small
businesses, it is exciting to know you too will soon be
able to contribute to this prosperous statistic. We will
now discuss the various courses of actions for foreigners
to become a resident of the United States of America.
Visa Requirements
In order to live and work in the USA you will have
to be in possession of one these two items below:
- An
American passport or
- An
entry clearance visa
Since
this site is devoted to immigration, we will eliminate the
first option and concentrate on the different visas that
may be applicable to your individual status for residency
in the US.
Categories to get a visa
If you fall into one of these visa categories you may
be eligible to live and work in the United States. Only
some of the visas below lend themselves to extensions and
finally, acquisition of permanent resident status/greencard.
For more detail on their long-term appeal, please feel free
to email us at info@inkorpa.com
or visit us at www.inkorpa.com.
The categories are as follows:
- Spouses
of Permanent Residents or Citizens.
- Immediate
Relatives of Permanent Residents or Citizens.
- Fiancés
of Permanent Residents or Citizens.
- Nurses.
- Airline
Crewmembers.
- Religious
Workers.
- Foreign
Media.
- Diplomatic
Personnel.
- Cultural
Exchange Visas.
- Internationally
Recognized Entertainers or Athletes.
- International
Organization Representatives.
- Treaty
Trader or Investor Visa.
- Intracompany
Transfer Visa.
- Sponsorship
by an Employer.
- Students.
For
more details regarding specific categories, please reference
www.ins.usdoj.gov/graphics/index.htm
Most Common Visas for South Africans to Enter USA
If you are a Professional: "Professional" as defined
by US law, is an individual with a University Degree, relevant
to the field that you will be pursuing and three
years of work experience. If you do not have the University
Degree, this can be substituted with 12 years of managerial
experience.
If you fall into these classifications, then you will be
eligible for the H1B Visa. This visa is initially valid
for 3 years, after which Inkorpa will assess appropriate
options to prolong your working status, or convert it into
permanent residency. The H1B Visa is the simplest of the
applications and we can have you working in the United States
within 15 days!
If you are a Company: There are two types of visas
that a legal entity can apply for - the E-Treaty Trader/Investor
Visa, or the L1-Intracompany Transfer Visa.
The E Visa: is a complicated vehicle; it automatically
disqualifies citizens of countries that have not made substantial
investments in the USA. So if you are a South African citizen,
for example, this route is not an option for you. To see
other countries that are a part of this treaty click http://www.workpermit.com/us/investor_el_e2.htm
If you are not of the same nationality as the foreign
company applying for this visa, this will also exclude you
from the potential working status. If you still are able
to apply for this Visa, then the third prerequisite may
become an obstacle. The E-Visa expects the applicant to
either have a managerial or executive role in the company
and if neither is applicable, the applicant must have specialist
knowledge crucial to the US company. Although, this is a
difficult visa to obtain, the benefits are after its first
5 year term, Visa extensions can hold true for decades.
The L Visa: has two classifications. L1A for Executive/Managerial
staff and L1B for Specialists. The prerequisites to these
Visas are that L1As will be managing a major subdivision
of the company or the specialist must be privy to specific
products or process integral to the company. Finally, applicants
must have been working for at least one year with the foreign
parent company. Both visas are applicable for 3 years and
can be extended between 6 and 7 years.
If you are a Student: then this visa is intended
for those that have graduated from a foreign country and
wish to gain 18 months of experience in the US. Although
this is a flexible Visa, it should be noted that the issuance
of this Visa is based on the condition that the applicant
returns to their country of nationality for a 2 year period.
This precondition can in some instances be waived and will
be discussed with Inkorpa's lawyers, if this option is employed.
What about your spouse, kids or fiancé? Don't worry,
the US does not expect you to leave your family behind.
There are numerous paths one can opt for. There is the accompanying
family members Visa (H4), or the Fiance Visas (Ks) and finally,
if studying is an option, then the academic student visas
are applicable. If you are on a L1 visa your spouse is entitled
to work in the US.
Applying for a visa
Although it is possible to apply for visas directly
through the American Consulate, it is advisable to seek
out a personal immigration consultant. These companies have
the expertise to transform a potentially costly situation
into an effortless transition. See www.inkorpa.com for an
inexpensive yet quality driven experience.
If you are still intent on contacting the American Consulate,
their details are as follows:
The Consulate General in Johannesburg is located at:
No. 1 River Street, Killarney, Johannesburg, telephone (27-11)
644-8000, fax (27-11) 646-6916.
The Consulate General in Cape Town is located at:
Broadway Industries Center, Heerengracht, Foreshore, telephone
(27-21) 421-4280, fax (27-21) 425-3014.
Immigration Consultants
The reason immigration consultants are so highly sought
after is that they guarantee your visa application will
be completely and successfully processed. The individual
does not have to face being rejected for having insufficient
documentation, since the consultant knows exactly what records
are required. Thereby, saving the client both time and money.
Immigration consultants afford you the luxury of avoiding
those long queues at the Consulate's office and the possibility
of being rejected owing to the daily visa quota being met.
In your efforts to find an immigration consultant you should
ensure that they operate out of the US. This plays to your
advantage since all documentation gets processed directly
in the USA and hence, is more time effective.
Inkorpa, an immigration consultant specialist company, is
offering all Rainbownation readers a FREE Consultation regarding
visa applications to the US. Access us directly on www.inkorpa.com
Information on starting your new life in the United
States of America
The links below will provide you with a little more
insight into the new life you are about to create for yourself
in the land of milk and honey...
>
www.monster.com
> www.headhunter.net
> www.hotjobs.com
> America's Job bank - http://www.ajb.org
>
Bank Of America - http://www.bankofamerica.com
> Washington Mutual - http://www.wamu.com
> HSBC - http://us.hsbc.com
> Wells Fargo - http://www.wellsfargo.com
>
AT&T - http://www.att.com
> Cingular Wireless - http://www.cingular.com
> Verizon - http://www.verizon.com
> Pacbell Pacific - http://www.pacbell.com
>
Coldwellbanker - http://www.coldwellbanker.com
> Remax - http://www.remax.com
> Prudential Properties - http://www.prudenthomes.com
>
Avis Rent-a-car - http://www.avis.com
> Hertz - http://www.hertz.com
> Enterprise Rent a car - http://www.enterprise.com
> Alamo Rent a car - http://www.alamo.com
- Meeting
fellow South Africans
>
Inkorpa - www.inkorpa.com/links.htm
>
Inkorpa - www.inkorpa.com
Further
Information
Inkorpa is an American based company offering
immigration and business consulting services to individuals
and companies wishing to expand their operations in the
US.
If you have any immigration questions, Mandy Jacob can
be contacted at mandy.jacob@inkorpa.com
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