Texas Immigration Lawyer

naturalization-citizenshipThe Law Office of Elena Vlady, PLLC is an immigration law firm based out of Austin, Texas that represents corporate and individual clients to meet their US immigration needs.

We are a full-service immigration law firm, providing service, advice, and support throughout all stages of the immigration law process. Our clients rely on us to deliver critical results.

Our expertise allows for a comprehensive assessment and presentation of all immigration options. We also understand international business practices and are, therefore, able to better serve our international clients. We are deeply committed to providing world-class service and intelligent and practical solutions to our clients. If you are an international company or an entrepreneur in need of US immigration support, we are the firm for you.

Attorney Elena Vlady provides individualized immigration services to prospective clients seeking to immigrate to the United States based on family or employment status, who are seeking citizenship, and who are looking for legal counsel for any type of visa. As a small law firm, we take pride in the personalized service that each client receives. When you choose us, you will work directly with an immigration attorney and receive the attention you deserve.

​Because immigration processes are complex and stressful, our firm is sensitive to our clients’ needs for understanding the procedures and timelines involved in achieving their goals, from the client’s own perspective. ​With our fully bilingual support staff, we also translate most original language documents and liaise with certified translators versant in every world language as needed.

Your Texas-based US Immigration Law Firm.

United States immigration policy is based on three general categories: family-based immigration, employment-based immigration, and humanitarian relief. In addition, a small number of visas are allocated for diversity. We handle most immigration matters including the representation of families, businesses, employees and individuals, and special cases.

Temporary Visas

  • B-1/B-2 Visitor’s Visas

Available to visits coming to the U.S. for business or pleasure. B-1 business visitor visas are for a short duration and must not involve local employment. Nationals of certain countries may be eligible to visit the U.S. for up to 90 days without obtaining a visa.

  • E-1/E-2 Treaty Trader and Investor Visas
Investors and traders and their employees may receive visas to carry on their businesses in the U.S. if their home country has a commercial treaty with the US conferring visa eligibility.

  • F-1 and M-1 Student Visas
Persons seeking to pursue a full course of study at a school in the United States may be eligible for a visa for the course of their study plus, in some cases, a period for practical training in their field of study.

  • H-1B Specialty Occupation (Professionals) Visas
Professional workers with at least a bachelor’s degree (or its equivalent work experience) may be eligible for a non-immigrant visa if their employers can demonstrate that they are to be paid at least the prevailing wage for the position.

  • J-1 and Q-1 Exchange Visitor Visas
Persons coming to the U.S. in an approved exchange program may be eligible for the J-1 Exchange Visitor’s visa. J-1 programs often cover students, short-term scholars, business trainees, teachers, professors and research scholars, specialists, international visitors, government visitors, camp counselors, and au pairs. In some cases, participation in a J-1 program will be coupled with the requirement that the beneficiary spends at least two years outside of the U.S. before being permitted to switch to a different non-immigrant visa or to permanent residency. Ms. Vlady regularly handles the application process for seeking a waiver to the home residency requirement that applies to many J-1 visa holders.

  • K-1 Fiancé Visas
A Fiancé of a U.S. citizen is eligible for a non-immigrant visa conditioned on the conclusion of the marriage within 90 days.
L-1 visas are available to executives, managers and specialized knowledge employees transferring to their employer’s U.S. affiliate. Executives and managers holding L-1 visas may be eligible for permanent residency without the need for a labor certification.
  • O-1 Extraordinary Ability Worker Visas
The O-1 category is set aside for foreign nationals with extraordinary ability. This includes entertainers, athletes, scientists, and businesspersons.
  • P-1 Artists and Athletes Visas
This category covers athletes, artists and entertainers.
  • R-1 Religious Worker Visas
Religious workers may be eligible for an R-1 visa.
  • TN Status Under the North American Free Trade Agreement
A special category has been set up for nationals of Canada and Mexico under the provisions of the North American Free Trade Agreement.

Permanent Residency

An immigrant visa for permanent residence in the U.S. requires that the person be eligible for immigration based on:
(1) A family relationship with a U.S. citizen or permanent resident; (2) On employment needs; or (3) Eligible for a special immigrant visa. These categories include:

U.S. citizens may petition for spouses, parents, children and siblings. Permanent residents may petition for spouses and children.
  • EB-1 Foreign Nationals of Extraordinary Ability, Outstanding Professors and Researchers and Multinational Executives and Managers
Individuals in this category can petition for permanent residency without having to go through the time-consuming labor certification process.
  • EB-2 Workers with Advanced Degrees or Exceptional Ability in the Sciences, Arts, or Business
Visa holders in this category normally must have a job offer and the potential employer must complete the labor certification process. The labor certification involves a testing of the job market to demonstrate that the potential visa holder is not taking a job away from a U.S. worker. In cases where an individual can show that his entry is in the national interest, the job offer and labor certification requirements can be waived.
  • EB-3 Skilled Workers and Professionals
Visa holders in this category normally must have a job offer and the potential employer must complete the labor certification process.
  • EB-4 Special Immigrant Visas for Religious Workers
Ministers of religion are eligible for permanent residency.
  • EB-5 Investor/Employment Creation Visas
Under the 1990 Immigration Act, Congress has set aside up to 10,000 visas per year for alien investors in new commercial enterprises who create employment for ten individuals. There are two groups of investors under the program – those who invest at least 500,000 in “targeted employment areas” (rural areas or areas experiencing high unemployment of at least 150% of the national average rate) and those who invest 1,000,000 anywhere else. No fewer than 3,000 of the annual allotment of visas must go to targeted employment areas.
  • DV-1 Visas (the “Green Card Lottery”)
55,000 visas are annually allotted in a random drawing to individuals from nations underrepresented in the total immigrant pool.
  • Refugee and Asylum Applications
Persons with a well-founded fear of persecution on account of race, religion, nationality, membership in a particular social group, or political opinion may be eligible to apply for asylum or refugee status in the U.S.

  • Removal And Deportation Defense
  • Deportation Appeals
  • U.S. Citizenship
○ Naturalization
○ Revocation
○ Dual Citizenship
  • Waivers
○ J-1 Waiver of Foreign Residency Requirement
○ I-601 Application for Waiver of Grounds of Inadmissibility
○ I-212 Waiver: Application for Permission to Reapply for Admission into the United States After Deportation or Removal
  • Special Categories of Green Card Applicants
○ Green Card Through the Diversity Immigrant Visa Program
○ U Visas & Green Card Based on U Non-immigrant Visa Status for Victims of a Crime
○ Asylum and Withholding of Removal

  • Why Hire an Immigration Lawyer?

    We are committed to assisting our clients in their quest of achieving the American Dream.

    Elena is licensed to practice law by the State Bar of Texas, and thus is licensed to practice federal law in all of the 50 states. As immigration law is federal law, Elena is licensed to practice immigration law in all 50 states. Elena is a proud member of AILA, the American Immigration Lawyers Association, the largest and oldest immigration law association.

    U.S. Immigration law issues can be very confusing when facing them on your own. It involves a great deal of legal procedures, forms, red tape, and laws that must be navigated. Having a knowledgeable and skilled attorney on your side can make all the difference in your case. The Law Office of Elena Vlady provides excellent legal representation to clients all over the world with U.S. immigration matters.
    Our legal team can greatly help reduce the amount of stress and complications for the client. Austin based immigration attorney Elena Vlady is an immigrant herself so she fully understands from personal experience what the immigration process consists of and does everything possible to make it a smooth road for the client.

    • You WILL speak and work with a U.S. Attorney
    • We obtain successful results. We will explore all options
    • We work for an affordable flat fee
    • We give our clients personalized attention and individual results
    • We represent clients in all 50 United States and Worldwide

  • Representing clients in all 50 states and worldwide

    Local Office. Global Presence

    The Law Office of Elena Vlady is based in Austin, Texas. We assist global clients with U.S. immigration and naturalization matters and represent clients from all 50 states and countries around the world. No matter where you are located, we are committed to providing you with quality and efficient services and handle your cases with the utmost attention.

  • Exceptional Representation at an Affordable Price

    We give our clients personalized attention and individual results.

    The Law Office of Elena Vlady offers exceptional representation at an affordable price. We are dedicated to working efficiently but thoroughly, with the ultimate goal of reuniting families and ensuring protection for our clients. Call our law office today and we will provide you with a complete assessment of your immigration matter and determine the best strategy for your case.

Visa types

A-1 Ambassador, diplomat, or consular officer and their immediate family
A-2 Other foreign government officials and their immediate family
A-3 Personal attendant or employee and their immediate family
B-1 Temporary business visitor
B-1A Personal domestic servant of NI employer
B-1B NI domestic servant of USC
B-1C Foreign airline employee
B-1D NI missionaries
B-2 Temporary tourist visitors
C-1 Alien in transit – traveling through the U.S. to a third country
CC Mass migration, Cuban parolees
CH Humanitarian Parolee
CP Public interest parole (certain nationals)
D Crewmen (aircraft or sea vessel)
DE Deferred Inspection
E-1 Treaty trader, spouse, and minor children
E-2 Treaty investor, spouse and minor children
EWI Entry without inspection
F-1 Academic or language student
F-2 Spouse and minor children of F-1
G-1 thru G-5 International organization representative (e.g. United Nations), their immediate family, and staff
GB/GT Visitor without visa, 15 days (does not exist anymore)
H-1B Professional worker in a specialty occupation
H-1B1Otherwise inadmissible under H-1B but allowed under agreement
H-2A Agricultural temporary worker
H-2B Nonagricultural temporary worker
H-3 Temporary trainee, special education (H3B)
H-4 Spouse and minor children of H-1, H-2 and H-3 visa holders
I Representative of foreign press, and their immediate families
IN Indefinite parole (now changed to 1-year expiration?)
J-1 Exchange visitor
J-2 Spouse and minor children of J-1 visa holders
K-1Alien fiancé(e) of U.S. citizen and minor children
K-3 Spouse of U.S. Citizen
L-1 Temporary intra/intercompany transferee
L-2 Spouse and minor children of L-1 visa holder
LZ Blanket L1 Petition
M-1 Student enrolled in vocational educational programs
M-2 Spouse and minor children of M-1 visa holder
N-1 thru N-9 NATO Visa holder
O-1 Aliens of extraordinary ability
O-2 Accompanying aliens
O-3 Spouse and children of O-1/O-2
P-1 Internationally recognized athlete and entertainer
P-1A Internationally Recognized Athlete
P-1B Member of an Internationally Recognized Group
P-2 Artist and entertainer in reciprocal exchange program
P-3 Athlete and entertainer coming to the U.S. to perform in a group
Q-1 International cultural exchange participant
Q-2 Immediate family members of Q-1 visa holder
R-1 Religious worker
RE Refugee
R-2 Spouse and minor children of religious worker
S-1 Aliens supplying key criminal-related information
S-2 Aliens supplying key terrorist-related information
S-3 Immediate family members of S-1/S-2 visa holder
ST Stowaway
T-1 Aliens who are victims of severe forms of trafficking in persons
T-2 Spouse of the T-1Victims
T-3 Children of the T-1Victims
T-4 Parents of the T-1Victims
T-5 Unmarried siblings under age of 18 of the T-1 Victims
TN NAFTA professional
TWO Transit without visa
U-1 Aliens who are victims of qualifying criminal activity
U-2 Spouse of the U-1 Victims
U-3 Children of the U-1 Victims
U-4 Parents of the U-1 Victims
V1/V2 – spouse and children of LPR