San Francisco, California Immigration Attorney

Law Office of Gali Schaham Gordon

55 New Montgomery Street, Suite 308 San Francisco, California 94105 USA

 (415) 284-1601
 (415) 520-0790

www.galigordon.com/
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Law Firm Overview Free Consultation

The Law Office of Gali Schaham Gordon is an immigration law firm in San Francisco. Our immigration attorneys provide clients with creative solutions to their immigration issues at a time when immigration laws have become extremely restrictive.

We are dedicated to efficiently achieving your immigration goals while charging competitive fees.

Our immigration attorneys have expertise in green cards and non immigrant employment-based visas (such as H-1B’s, L-1’s, O-1’s and others), immigration matters for families, waivers of inadmissibility (including J-1 waivers), citizenship and naturalization, and complex deportation and asylum cases.

At the Law Office of Gali Schaham Gordon, we are dedicated to client satisfaction by providing responsive service and individualized attention to your immigration concerns. Our law office is located in the San Francisco Bay Area, but the clients we serve are located throughout the United States and the world.

Year this Office was Established: 2003

Languages: Spanish, Portuguese, Hebrew, some Japanese and French.

Practice Areas

Practice Areas Description

The Law Office of Gali Schaham Gordon provides legal representation and services in the area of Immigration Law, including work visas, green cards, citizenship, and other immigration matters.

- Temporary Visas

*B-1 Visitor Visa for Business in San Francisco

A B-1 business visitor visa is the type of visa used most often to conduct business in the U.S. Although most foreign nationals apply for a B-1 visa at a U.S. Consulate abroad, nationals of certain countries enter the U.S. for up to 90 days without a visa under the Visa Waiver Program (VWP). B-1 business visitors are allowed into the U.S. for a limited period of time with the purpose of engaging in commercial or professional activity, but not for employment reasons or “labor for hire.” If you reside in San Francisco, are looking to reside here, or have business interests that require a B-1 Business visa, call the Law Office of Gali Schaham Gordon to discuss your particular situation.

*E-2 Visa for Investors in San Francisco Businesses

The E-2 visa is useful for people who plan to oversee an enterprise that represents a major investment in the United States. The “E” visa was established to further the objectives of treaties that encourage reciprocal investment and trade between the United States and other countries. People who are citizens of a country that has such a treaty who make a substantial investment in the United States are classified as E-2 treaty investors. Multiple investors of the same nationality can qualify for E-2 status based upon investments in the same enterprise. A national of the treaty country must own at least 50% of the enterprise. Nationals of that country who hold U.S. permanent residency do not count towards determining the requisite ownership. If you are an investor, or are considering investing in a business operated in the San Francisco area, call the Law Office of Gali Schaham Gordon to discuss your unique needs.

*H-1B Visa for Professionals Wishing to Work in San Francisco

H-1B visas are temporary work visas most typically available for professionals. They are obtained routinely by U.S. corporations and other organizations that require foreign professional workers. A U.S. employer files for an H-1B petition with the United States Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS) on behalf of a foreign employee with the understanding that the job requires at minimum a Bachelor’s degree in a particular field. Eligible fields of endeavor include, but are not limited to, most information technology jobs, architecture, engineering, mathematics, physical sciences, social sciences, medicine and health, education, business, accounting, law, theology, and other positions that require a degree of a combination of education and experience in a field related to the job’s duties.

*L-1 Intra-company Transferee Visa for San Francisco Area Businesses

An L-1 intracompany transferee visa is available to qualified international executives, managers, and employees with specialized knowledge who transfer from an overseas organization to work for the same organization in the United States or for its American subsidiary, parent, branch or affiliate. Significantly, persons who qualify as managers or executives often can obtain immigrant (permanent resident) status promptly and easily once their U.S. employer has been doing business for at least one year. If your business needs assistance with a L-1 Intra-company Transferee Visa, please call the Law Office of Gali Schaham Gordon.

*O-1 Visa For Persons Of Extraordinary Ability

O-1 status is available to those persons of extraordinary ability in the fields of science, art, business, athletics, and education. O-1 status is an excellent option for some persons subject to the J-1 two-year foreign residence requirement who are not eligible for H-1B or L-1 visas or green cards without a waiver of the two-year return requirement. The option of obtaining the O-1 visa should be considered when an H-1B or L-1 visa holder has reached the end of their maximum period of stay. If you need assistance with an O-1Visa, or have a prospective employee that is seeking this status, call the Law Office of Gali Schaham Gordon.

*P-3 Visa For Culturally Unique Artists And Entertainers Wishing To Relocate to San Francisco

P-3 nonimmigrant visas are available to artists, entertainers or performing groups who enter the United States with the sole purpose to perform, teach or coach in culturally unique events. The regulations define “culturally unique” as “a style of artistic expression, methodology, or medium which is unique to a particular country, nation, society, class, ethnicity, religion, tribe, or other group of persons.” Expressly, the rules limit the P-3 visa category to artists and entertainers who are “coming to the United States for the purpose of developing, interpreting, representing, coaching, or teaching a unique or traditional ethnic, folk, cultural, musical, theatrical, or artistic performance or presentation”. If you, or someone you know is interested in a P-3 Visa and wishes to reside in the San Francisco area, call the Law Office of Gali Schaham Gordon.

*TN Visas For Canadians and Mexicans Wishing To Work In San Francisco

Per the United States-Canada Free Trade Agreement, which was expanded upon by the North American Free Trade Agreement (NAFTA) in 1994, a professional non-immigrant category was created for Canadian and Mexican professionals whose jobs are listed in the annex to these treaties. (A listing of TN professions is listed at: http://travel.state.gov/tn_visas.html.) This non-immigrant status is referred to as "Trade NAFTA" or "TN" status. A TN professional must be able to show that they have a home abroad to which they intend to return to and that they are not an intending immigrant. Thus, special care must be taken when a TN professional applies for permanent resident status because it is conceivable that such an application could cause problems for his or her TN status. Canadians are visa-exempt so they may enter the U.S. without having to attend an interview at the U.S. Consulate. It is now possible to obtain a TN visa for an initial period of three years.

- Obtaining an Employment-Based Green Card

*Green Card with Labor Certification For San Francisco

Immigrant visas (“green cards” or permanent resident status) are available to persons whom the Department of Labor (DOL) certifies as having an offer of permanent, full-time employment (at least 35 hours per week) for a job for which there is a demonstrated shortage of qualified U.S. workers. If you, or a potential employee, needs assistance with a Green Card with Labor Certification, please call the Law Office of Gali Schaham Gordon.

*Green Card Not Based on Labor Certification For San Francisco

Some people may receive permanent resident status based upon their employment without first obtaining labor certification from the Department of Labor. They can file an immigrant visa petition immediately. This will save substantial time and expense for both the employer and the employee. If you need assistance with immigration matters involving a Green Card Without Labor Certification, please contact the San Francisco based Law Offices of Gali Schaham Gordon.

- Obtaining a Green Card Through Family

*Green Card Through Close Family Members

U.S. citizens and permanent residents can ask that certain close family members become permanent residents. In all cases, the family relationship must be established through documentary evidence. If the mandatory evidence of family relationship is not available, such as a birth certificate, substantial secondary evidence is required. In many family-based preference categories, there are waiting periods of several years before the individual sponsored may become a permanent resident. In most instances, most notably in cases of marriage, the family relationship must be maintained during the waiting period for immigrant status. Establishment of a place in line (or priority date) alone does not provide any legal status or right to remain in the United States. Waiting periods are set for each family-based preference category and country of birth by the Department of State (DOS) on a monthly basis in a Visa Bulletin, which can be found here - www.state.gov.

- Citizenship

*Applying for U.S. Citizenship in San Francisco

It is imperative that all green card holders who are eligible for naturalization seriously consider applying for it. In today’s enforcement-oriented environment, it is very easy for a permanent resident to be deported, despite residing in the U.S. for many years, and notwithstanding the existence of an American spouse and children. Many times, when a permanent resident naturalizes, their children under 18 who live with them automatically become American citizens. In addition to protection from deportation, becoming an American also can have tax, employment, and other benefits. If you reside, or plan to reside in the San Francisco area and need assistance with your immigration needs, call the Law Offices of Gali Schaham Gordon.

Attorneys

Ms. Gali Schaham Gordon Attorney Green Cards, Immigration, Naturalization and Citizenship, Visa, Work Permit

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