Immigration Law Lawyers in California
Legal Support for Navigating Your Path to the U.S.
When immigration matters affect your future, experience and clear strategy make all the difference. At Becker Law Group, we help individuals, families, and businesses with immigration matters, so you can focus on the next chapter.
Representing many kinds of Affirmative Applications
EB-1A/NIW
Individuals with significant achievements or work that serves the national interest may qualify for green card categories such as EB-1A or NIW. These options can bypass the PERM labor-certification process, which isn’t always available to self-employed individuals or business owners. They can also reduce wait times for applicants from countries with long PERM-based backlogs, often speeding up the path to permanent residency.
EB-1C
The EB-1C green card category—often seen as the permanent-residency counterpart to the L-1 visa—is designed for multinational executives and managers. To qualify, an applicant must have worked in a managerial or executive role for at least one year within the three years before applying, for a company (or its affiliate/subsidiary) and must be coming to the U.S. to continue working for that same employer or its affiliated entity in a similar capacity.
EB-2 and EB-3
Most employment-based green card applicants must complete the PERM process, a U.S. Department of Labor review required for the EB-2 and EB-3 categories unless waived. PERM is a three-step system used to test the labor market and show that hiring a foreign worker will not harm U.S. workers.
The process begins when an employer files a PERM application with the Department of Labor. After approval, the employer submits an I-140 immigrant petition with USCIS. Once the I-140 is approved—or filed at the same time if a visa number is available—the foreign national can apply for adjustment of status or complete consular processing to become a lawful permanent resident. For PERM purposes, “U.S. workers” include U.S. citizens, permanent residents, and others who are legally authorized to work permanently in the U.S.
EB-5 and EB-5 Litigation
The EB-5 Reform and Integrity Act of 2022—signed into law on March 15, 2022—reauthorized the Regional Center Program and introduced several major updates. The Act raised minimum investment amounts to $800,000 for rural, high-unemployment, or infrastructure projects, and to $1,050,000 for all other investments. It also changed how high-unemployment areas are defined, created new visa set-asides for rural, TEA, and infrastructure projects, and preserved eligibility for regional-center investors who invested before July 1, 2021.
We also represent EB-5 investors involved in disputes or litigation with their project.
H-1B
The H-1B visa is the primary nonimmigrant category for professional workers, though it has become more complex in recent years due to added protections for U.S. workers. Employers use the H-1B to hire foreign nationals for temporary roles in “specialty occupations”—positions that require highly specialized knowledge and at least a bachelor’s degree or its equivalent—or for fashion models of distinguished merit and ability.
Some occupational categories where H-1Bs are available are:
- Architecture
- Engineering
- Mathematics
- Physical Sciences
- Social Sciences
- Medicine and Health
- Education
- Business Specialties
- Accounting
- Law
- Theology
- The Art
L-1
The L-1 intracompany transfer visa is widely used by employers of all sizes—from major multinational corporations to small startups. It allows companies to transfer executives, managers, or specialized-knowledge employees from an affiliated foreign office to a U.S. office, provided the employee worked abroad for the company for at least one of the past three years. The L-1 can also be used to send a qualifying employee to the United States to open a new office. While it isn’t suitable for someone just beginning to form a business in the U.S., it may work for entrepreneurs who already operate a business abroad or who are joining forces with a company overseas where they previously worked.
Why Choose Becker Law
At Becker Law Group, we represent individuals and businesses with one goal: protecting their interests and securing justice. Led by trial attorney Todd Becker, recognized nationally for his courtroom results, our team brings decades of experience and a proven record of verdicts. We have extensive expertise in wildfire litigation, helping victims recover compensation for injuries, wrongful death, and property loss. Whatever the legal challenge, we fight relentlessly to ensure our clients receive the compensation they deserve. Contact us today for a free consultation.
If you’re facing an immigration challenge that’s affecting your future, you don’t have to navigate it alone. Becker Law Group is here to guide you, protect your rights, and advocate for the best possible outcome. Whether you’re seeking a visa, permanent residency, or help resolving a complex issue, our team is ready to support you every step of the way. Reach out today to discuss your situation.