GCL Experts is a private company that was established in 2012 with the simple mission of helping foreign nationals to properly apply for US immigration programs so they can maximize their opportunities to legally live, study and work in the USA as permanent residents. GCL Experts is not a law firm and is not affiliated with the US Government. GCL Experts offers services to facilitate immigration to the United States, such as a US visa eligibility assessment; review and submission services for the Diversity Visa Program; and guidance from an experienced legal team during the US visa application process.
There are several reasons why you should choose the services of GCL Experts.
Since 2012, GCL Experts has been providing beneficial services to simplify the US immigration process.
GCL Experts offers a US Visa Assessment to determine your best option to live in the US as a legal resident.
There are dozens of US visa programs for legal residence in the United States, each with its own eligibility requirements and application procedure, so it is important to know which US visa you are eligible to apply for.
We also provide review and submission services for the Diversity Visa Program, ensuring the application and photos are properly prepared prior to submission during the annual registration period, and promptly notifying our customers when they are selected to continue the US immigration process.
Assistance is available from our legal team to properly prepare your forms and documents for submission.
Our legal team can also guide you in preparing for the crucial consular process, which is when the final US visa decision is made.
Additionally, GCL Experts offers products and services to facilitate your settlement in the United States, such as online English as a Second Language (ESL) courses.
Customer service is available by telephone and email in several languages from well-trained representatives who are ready to help and answer your questions.
To register for a US Visa Assessment of your options to live and work in the USA, click here!
An Immigrant Visa is a US visa which is placed in the valid passport of a new Lawful Permanent Resident (LPR) of the United States by a consular official and it is generally valid for up to six months to allow entry into the US upon approval of the Customs and Border Patrol (CBP) officer.
Examples of US Immigrant Visas include employment-based visas (e.g., EB-1, EB-2, EB-3); the Diversity Immigrant Visa (DV); and family sponsorship visas for certain relatives of US citizens and permanent residents.
After receiving an Immigrant Visa, a new permanent resident of the United States will need to pay an online fee to US Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS) so that he or she can be issued a US Permanent Resident Card (“Green Card”) which will be carried as official identification while living in the USA (Green Cards are valid for 10 years and can be renewed indefinitely for 10 years each time).
Lawful Permanent Residents of the United States are authorized to live, study and work in the USA for an unlimited amount of time, and can receive many other benefits, including the option to become an American citizen after living in the US at least five years and meeting other criteria.
A Nonimmigrant Visa is a US visa issued by a consular official allowing a foreign national to legally reside in the United States for a certain amount of time (e.g., 1-4 years) and for a particular purpose (e.g., tourist, international student, temporary foreign worker, etc.).
Examples of US Nonimmigrant Visas include the B1/B2 Visitor Visa; F-1 Student Visa; and various temporary work visas such as the E-1, E-2, H-1B, H-2A, H-2B, L-1, and O-1.
Many US Nonimmigrant Visas have an option to be extended if the individual satisfies all of the criteria.
A US Permanent Resident Card, commonly referred to as a “Green Card”, is a plastic photo identification card carried by a Lawful Permanent Resident (LPR) of the United States as official proof of his or her authorization to live, study and work in the USA for an unlimited amount of time.
Green Cards are issued to permanent residents by US Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS), they are generally valid for 10 years, and can be renewed indefinitely for 10 years each time.
After living in the US with a Green Card for five years and meeting other eligibility requirements, a Lawful Permanent resident has the option to apply for American citizenship through the “naturalization” process.
The EB-1 Visa is an employment-based (EB) US immigrant visa for permanent residency (Green Card status) in the United States designed for:
– Skilled Immigrants with Extraordinary Ability in the arts, athletics, business, education, or the sciences
– Outstanding Researchers and Professors
– Particular Multinational Executives or Managers
A qualifying offer of US employment from an eligible sponsoring employer in the United States is generally required for Outstanding Researchers and Professors, as well as Particular Multinational Executives or Managers; however, Skilled Immigrants with Extraordinary Ability do not need a qualifying offer of employment from a sponsoring US employer.
The EB-1 Green Card allows a skilled immigrant, along with his/her spouse and dependent children (unmarried and under 21 years of age) to live, study and work in the USA for an unlimited time as Lawful Permanent Residents of the United States.
US Permanent Resident Green Cards are generally valid for 10 years and can be renewed for periods of 10 years each time.
After living in the United States as a Green Card holder for at least five years and satisfying other criteria, a US Lawful Permanent Resident has the option to apply for American citizenship.
The EB-2 Visa is an employment-based (EB) US immigrant visa for permanent residency (Green Card status) in the United States designed for:
– Professionals with Advanced Degrees
– Individuals with Exceptional Ability in the arts, business, or the sciences
Applicants for the EB-2 Visa generally require a qualifying offer of US employment from an eligible sponsoring employer in the United States and must satisfy other criteria.
The EB-2 Green Card allows a skilled immigrant, along with his/her spouse and dependent children (unmarried and under 21 years of age) to live, study and work in the USA for an unlimited time as Lawful Permanent Residents of the United States.
US Permanent Resident Green Cards are generally valid for 10 years and can be renewed for periods of 10 years each time.
After living in the United States as a Green Card holder for at least five years and satisfying other criteria, a US Lawful Permanent Resident has the option to apply for American citizenship.
The EB-3 Visa is an employment-based (EB) US immigrant visa for permanent residency (Green Card status) in the United States designed for:
– Skilled Foreign Workers
– Professionals
– Other Foreign Workers
Applicants for the EB-3 Visa generally require a qualifying offer of US employment from an eligible sponsoring employer in the United States and must satisfy other criteria.
The EB-3 Green Card allows a skilled immigrant, along with his/her spouse and dependent children (unmarried and under 21 years of age) to live, study and work in the USA for an unlimited time as Lawful Permanent Residents of the United States.
US Permanent Resident Green Cards are generally valid for 10 years and can be renewed for periods of 10 years each time.
After living in the United States as a Green Card holder for at least five years and satisfying other criteria, a US Lawful Permanent Resident has the option to apply for American citizenship.
A Diversity Visa is a US immigrant visa issued to a new permanent resident of the United States through the Diversity Visa Program, allowing him or her to live, study and work in the USA for an unlimited amount of time.
The main applicant must have been born in an eligible country with historically low levels of immigration to the United States and he or she must also satisfy the education or work experience requirement.
Registration for the Diversity Visa Program occurs during an approximately 30-day period that is held each year.
Up to 55,000 Diversity Visas are authorized to be issued annually to selectees who successfully pass the consular process.
After receiving a Diversity Immigrant Visa, which is placed in a new immigrant’s valid passport by a consular official to allow entry into the United States, the immigrant will need to pay the online fee to US Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS) in order to be issued a US Permanent Resident Card (“Green Card”) which is carried as official identification while living in the USA.
The E-1 Visa is a nonimmigrant temporary US work visa for Treaty Traders.
In general, this nonimmigrant temporary US work visa allows a citizen of a country that has a treaty of commerce and navigation or other qualifying international agreement with the United States, to live and work in the USA for the purpose of conducting substantial international trade between the United States and the E-1 Visa holder’s country.
This nonimmigrant temporary US work visa is valid for up to two years and has an option to be extended for periods of up to two years each time with no limit on the number of extensions if the criteria are satisfied.
The E-1 Visa holder’s spouse and dependent children (unmarried and under 21 years of age) may apply for the relevant nonimmigrant US visa for accompanying family members.
The E-2 Visa is a nonimmigrant temporary US work visa for Treaty Investors.
In general, this nonimmigrant temporary US work visa allows a citizen of a country that has a treaty of commerce and navigation or other qualifying international agreement with the United States, to live and work in the USA after making a substantial investment in a US business and satisfying other criteria.
This nonimmigrant temporary US work visa is valid for up to two years and has an option to be extended for periods of up to two years each time with no limit on the number of extensions if the criteria are satisfied.
The E-2 Visa holder’s spouse and dependent children (unmarried and under 21 years of age) may apply for the relevant nonimmigrant US visa for accompanying family members.
The H-1B Visa is a nonimmigrant temporary US work visa for Individuals with Specialty Occupations.
Applicants for the H-1B Visa will generally need to receive a qualifying US job offer from a sponsoring employer in the United States.
This nonimmigrant temporary US work visa is valid for up to three years and has an option to be extended for up to an additional three years if the criteria are satisfied.
The H-1B Visa holder’s spouse and dependent children (unmarried and under 21 years of age) may apply for the H-4 Visa for accompanying family members.
The H-2A Visa is a nonimmigrant US work visa for Temporary Agricultural Workers.
This temporary US work visa requires a foreign worker to receive a qualifying US job offer from an eligible sponsoring employer in the United States.
The H-2A Visa is generally valid for the amount of time that was approved on the temporary labor certification and has an option to be extended for durations of up to one year each time (for a maximum of three years total).
After working in the US with an H-2A Visa for a total of three years, the foreign worker must exit the United States for at least 60 days prior to applying for re-entry to the USA with H-2A Visa status.
The H-2A Visa holder’s spouse and dependent children (unmarried and under 21 years of age) may apply for the H-4 Visa for accompanying family members.
The H-2B Visa is a nonimmigrant US work visa for Temporary Non-Agricultural Workers.
This temporary US work visa requires a foreign worker to receive a qualifying US job offer from an eligible sponsoring employer in the United States.
The H-2B Visa is generally valid for the amount of time that was approved on the temporary labor certification and has an option to be extended for durations of up to one year each time (for a maximum of three years total).
After working in the US with an H-2B Visa for a total of three years, the foreign worker must exit the United States for at least 60 days prior to applying for re-entry to the USA with H-2B Visa status.
The H-2B Visa holder’s spouse and dependent children (unmarried and under 21 years of age) may apply for the H-4 Visa for accompanying family members.
The L-1 Visa is a nonimmigrant temporary US work visa for Intracompany Transferees.
In general, the L-1A Visa is for executives or managers who will transfer to work at an affiliate/branch office in the United States or who will help to establish an affiliate/branch office in the USA.
The L-1B Visa is for an employee with specialized knowledge who will transfer to work at an affiliate/branch office in the United States or who will help to establish an affiliate/branch office in the USA.
The L-1 Visa is generally valid for up to one year for workers who will transfer to establish an affiliate/branch office in the United States, but is usually valid for up to three years for all other eligible employees, and it has an option to be extended if the criteria are satisfied.
The L-1 Visa holder’s spouse and dependent children (unmarried and under 21 years of age) may apply for the relevant US visa for accompanying family members.
The O-1 Visa is a nonimmigrant temporary US work visa for Individuals with Extraordinary Ability or Achievement.
The O-1A Visa is for people with extraordinary ability in athletics, business, education, or the sciences.
The O-1B Visa is for people with extraordinary achievement in the film and television industry or those with extraordinary ability in the arts.
Applicants for the O-1 Visa will generally need to receive a qualifying US job offer from a sponsoring employer in the United States.
This nonimmigrant temporary US work visa is valid for up to three years and has an option to be extended if the criteria are satisfied.
The O-1 Visa holder’s spouse and dependent children (unmarried and under 21 years of age) may apply for the O-3 Visa for accompanying family members.
The GCL Experts legal team can evaluate your potential eligibility to apply for a US visa for legal residence in the United States (for example, with a Permanent Resident Green Card or a temporary work visa).
Our online US Visa Assessment form is easy to complete: simply enter your relevant details, submit the completed form for review by our experienced legal team, and you will receive your US Visa Assessment results within 14 days.
Each of the dozens of US visas has its own eligibility requirements and application procedure, so knowing which US visa best matches your profile is an important step in the US immigration process.
If you are assessed as eligible to apply for a particular US visa, GCL Experts also offers step-by-step guidance from our experienced legal team during the application procedure.
To register for your US Visa Assessment, click here!
All US immigrant visas and Green Cards, as well as most temporary US work visas, allow the primary applicant’s dependent family members (spouse and unmarried children under 21 years of age) to apply for the relevant US visa for family members so they can accompany the main applicant to legally live in the United States.
US Permanent Resident Green Card holders can receive many benefits including:
– Living in the US for an unlimited amount of time
– Working in the US for an unlimited amount of time
– Accessing world-class education in the United States
– Applying for Financial Aid to help pay for higher education in the US
– Traveling to and from the US according to the regulations
– Having the opportunity to buy a home in the USA
– Being able to start a business in the United States
– Sponsoring eligible family members for a US Green Card
– Receiving Social Security and Medicare benefits once eligible
– Opening a bank account in the United States
– Getting a driver’s license in the US state of residence
– Becoming an American citizen after living in the US at least five years and satisfying other eligibility requirements
Yes, US permanent resident Green Card holders have the option to apply for American citizenship through the “naturalization” process after living in the United States for a minimum of five years and satisfying other eligibility requirements.
If you have any questions, a GCL Experts representative can answer them. Just click here to submit your question.
