Immigration Services
Obtaining a visa is often the most critical element for individuals or businesses for a multitude of reasons. In addition, it is also a process full of anxiety and worry for all concerned. For example, not obtaining the visa in a timely manner – or receiving a denial of one’s application- may delay a family’s move to the U.S, could delay a child from starting school, or could affect a business in terms of lost revenue and lost opportunities because its employee cannot start work as scheduled.
For more than 25 years, P. Tristan Bourgoignie, Esq. has been adept at guiding his clients through the demanding administrative processes, avoiding the bureaucratic frustrations and pitfalls which can upset the best laid plans, and obtaining favorable visas on behalf of his clients in an efficient, cost effective manner.
WHAT WE DO
Tristan Bourgoignie, P.A. assists its individual and family clients to arrive into the U.S., to assimilate into their new lives here, and to integrate themselves into their new communities and surroundings. Using our in-depth knowledge and experience of the administrative processes which govern the U.S. immigration system gleaned over 25 years of direct, hands-on experience, Tristan Bourgoignie, P.A. provides timely, cogent information to its clients about what to expect when applying for a U.S. visa, the time frames involved in the application process, and the possible pros and cons to each application. That precise, clear and easy to understand information allows each client to anticipate and to prepare themselves and their families for the future, reducing their anxiety and allowing them to focus on the job at hand.
P. Tristan Bourgoignie, Esq., himself a 1st generation U.S. Citizen whose own parents immigrated from their native Belgium, has been practicing law in the State of Florida since 1992. Previously Board Certified as a specialist by the Florida Bar Association in Immigration and Nationality Law (2000-2010), he is highly skilled at helping people obtain a variety of different types of visas. In addition, being trilingual (English, Spanish and French) and bicultural, Mr. Bourgoignie can communicate and relate with clients from varied backgrounds and experiences. Mr. Bourgoignie understands his clients’ anxiety with the process and is experienced in helping alleviate those fears and anxieties by communicating with his clients and being accessible to them to answer their questions clearly and concisely, and by obtaining positive outcomes on their behalves.
WE HELP
- Those with well-funded business or investment plans find open doors through E-1 and E-2 visas.
- Families of E-1 and E-2 visa holders join their loved ones in the United States
- Professionals, educators and athletes with needed special skills or who have been recognized for outstanding achievements in their fields obtain “First Preference” EB-1 visas.
- Family members and fiancés reunite and live in the U.S. through family visas.
- Temporary non-immigrant workers obtain visas to work in the U.S. in their specific disciplines
- Chilean, Canadian, Mexican, Australian, and other professionals obtain visas through the special E-3 visa program
- All other foreign nationals seeking to live and/or work in the United States
Processing Petitions and Dealing with Government Agencies
Tristan Bourgoignie, P.A. will process petitions on your behalf and represent you before the correct government agencies including:
- US Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS)
- US State Department
- US Department of Labor (USDOL)
- US Custom and Border Protection (USCBP)
Additionally, the staff of Tristan Bourgoignie, P.A. is experienced in working closely with U.S. embassies and consulates worldwide in terms of scheduling and preparing each client personally for their visa appointment. .
Business Visas
Professional employees often need to travel between countries to properly handle their job responsibilities. In order to work in another country (including the United States), it is necessary for clients such as executives, investors, yacht crewman, journalists, extraordinary artists and athletes and other laborers to obtain workers visas.
Mr. Bourgoignie is highly experienced in the myriad variety of U.S. non-immigrant work visas available to foreign nationals, and has successfully guided numerous clients in obtaining US work visas extensions of their work visas, and/or changes to more appropriate visa categories.
E-1 Non-Immigrant
Foreign Investor Visa
An E-1 nonimmigrant classification allows a national of a treaty country to may be admitted to the United States with the sole purpose of engaging in international trade on his or her own behalf. Some types of employees of such an E-1 visa holder may also enter and work in the U.S. with this classification. Spouses of treaty traders and their unmarried children under age 21 may also be eligible for E-1 non-immigrant classification as dependents.
E-2 Resident Foreign Investor Visa
E-2 treaty investors may live and work in the U.S. while investing a substantial amount of capital in an American business. The amount of money and the way that the money will be brought into the U.S. economy may vary from one type of business to another. As is the case with the E-1 visas, certain employees and dependent family members may also qualify for E-2 visas.
We also provide a broad range of knowledgeable assistance to applicants seeking E-1 or E-2 visas, including but not limited to: Representation of clients in the negotiation and purchase of business assets in relation to visa petitions. In addition, with our extensive professional contacts, we can refer our clients to a host of other professionals they can contact for representation or assistance in those areas where Tristan Bourgoignie, P.A. lacks expertise.
E-3 Certain Specialty Occupation Professionals from Australia
The E-3 classification applies only to nationals of Australia. You must be coming to the United States solely to perform services in a specialty occupation. The specialty occupation requires theoretical and practical application of a body of knowledge in professional fields and at least the attainment of a bachelor’s degree, or its equivalent, as a minimum for entry into the occupation in the United States.
H-1B Exceptional Professional Visa
This visa category applies to people who wish to perform services in a specialty occupation, services of exceptional merit and ability relating to a Department of Defense (DOD) cooperative research and development project, or services as a fashion model of distinguished merit or ability.
ANY QUESTION ABOUT
US BUSINESS VISAS?
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Family Visas
Family of E-1 and
E-2 Treaty Traders and Employees
Treaty traders and employees may be accompanied or followed by spouses and unmarried children who are under 21 years of age. Their nationalities need not be the same as the treaty trader or employee. These family members may seek E-1 nonimmigrant classification as dependents and, if approved, generally will be granted the same period of stay as the employee. If the family members are already in the United States and seeking change of status to or extension of stay in an E-1 dependent classification, they may apply by filing a single Form I-539 with fee. Spouses of E-1 workers may apply for work authorization by filing Form I-765 with fee. If approved, there is no specific restriction as to where the E-1 spouse may work.
Family of E & L Visa Holders
Your spouse and unmarried children under 21 years of age are entitled to the same E-3 classification. Your spouse is entitled to work authorization, but not your children. To apply for work authorization as a spouse of an E-3 nonimmigrant, your spouse would file a Form I-765, Application for Employment Authorization.
Family of H-1B Visa Holders
Your spouse and unmarried children under 21 years of age may seek admission in the H-4 nonimmigrant classification. Family members in the H-4 nonimmigrant classification may not engage in employment in the United States
K-1 Fiancé(e) Visas
U.S. citizens wishing to bring a foreign national fiancé(e) living abroad to the United States to marry if you plan to marry a foreign national outside the United States or your fiancé(e) is already residing legally in the United States, you do not need to file for a fiancé(e) visa. Once issued, the fiancé(e) visa (or K-1 nonimmigrant visa) allows your fiancé(e) to enter the United States for 90 days so that your marriage ceremony can take place. Once you marry, your spouse may apply for permanent residence and remain in the United States while USCIS processes the application. For additional information, see the “Green Card” link to the right.
ANY QUESTION ABOUT
US FAMILY VISAS?
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Other Visa Types
Temporary (Nonimmigrant) Worker
A temporary worker is an individual seeking to enter the United States temporarily for a specific purpose. Nonimmigrants enter the United States for a temporary period of time, and once in the United States, are restricted to the activity or reason for which their nonimmigrant visa was issued.
H-2A Temporary Agricultural Workers
The H-2A program allows U.S. employers to bring foreign nationals to the United States to fill temporary agricultural jobs for which U.S. workers are not available. H-2A nonimmigrant classification applies to aliens seeking to perform agricultural labor or services of a temporary or seasonal nature in the United States on a temporary basis. A U.S. employer (or an association of U.S. agricultural producers named as a joint employer) must file a Form I-129, Petition for Nonimmigrant Worker on a prospective worker’s behalf.
H-2B Temporary Non-Agricultural Workers
The H-2B non-agricultural temporary worker program allows U.S. employers to bring foreign nationals to the United States to fill temporary nonagricultural jobs. A U.S. employer must file a Form I-129, Petition for Nonimmigrant Worker, on a prospective worker’s behalf.
H-3 Nonimmigrant Trainee or Special Education Exchange Visitor
The H-3 nonimmigrant visa category is for an alien coming temporarily to the United States as either a:
Trainee to receive training, other than graduate or medical education training, that is not available in the alien’s home country, or Special Education Exchange Visitor to participate in a special education exchange visitor training program for children with physical, mental, or emotional disabilities.
L-1A Intracompany Transferee Executive or Manager
The L-1A nonimmigrant classification enables a U.S. employer to transfer an executive or manager from one of its affiliated foreign offices to one of its offices in the United States. This classification also enables a foreign company which does not yet have an affiliated U.S. office to send an executive or manager to the United States with the purpose of establishing one. The employer must file Form I-129, Petition for a Nonimmigrant Worker, on behalf of the
L-1B Intracompany Transferee Specialized Knowledge
The L-1B nonimmigrant classification enables a U.S. employer to transfer a professional employee with specialized knowledge relating to the organization’s interests from one of its affiliated foreign offices to one of its offices in the United States. This classification also enables a foreign company, which does not yet have an affiliated U.S. office to send a specialized knowledge employee to the United States to help establish one. The employer must file Form I-129, Petition for a Nonimmigrant Worker, on behalf of the employee.