New Orleans Immigration Lawyers

Our New Orleans immigration attorney, Dayna Wheatley, understands just how stressful and overwhelming the immigration process can be. Because of this, she takes the time to listen to her clients’ stories, understand their goals, and use her extensive experience and legal resources to work toward the best possible outcome for each unique case.

She works tirelessly to keep families together, secure the future of refugees, and help employers and immigrants build prosperity in the United States. To do this, she offers personalized representation and aggressive advocacy for her clients.

The firm remains consistently and reliably available to our clients; when you trust Wheatley Immigration Law, LLC with your immigration needs, you have a dedicated and experienced New Orleans immigration lawyer on your side who is prepared to fight for you and your family.

Everyone has different goals for wanting to live and/or work in the U.S. temporarily or permanently. Achieving these dreams requires going through various intricate and complicated processes. Whether you are seeking an employment- or family-based visa, lawful permanent residency, or naturalization and citizenship, you must complete petitions and meet eligibility criteria specific to the immigration goal you are pursuing. Because immigration law is so complex, it’s important to receive help from an attorney who knows how the system works.

At Wheatley Immigration Law, LLC, we provide legal counsel for an array of immigration matters, including those listed below.

Temporary Employment-Based Visas

These visas are for individuals looking to work in the U.S. for a fixed amount of time. Depending on the situation and the type of work the individual will be doing, different types of visas are available.

These include:

• H-1B: Person in a specialty occupation
• H-1B1: Free Trade Agreement Professional
• H-2A: Temporary agricultural worker
• H-2B: Temporary non-agricultural worker
• H-3: Trainee or special education visitor
• L: Intracompany transfer
• O: Individual with extraordinary ability or achievement
• P-1: Individual or team athlete, or member of an entertainment group
• P-2: Artist or entertainer
• Q-1: Participant in an international cultural exchange program

Permanent Employment-Based Visas

These visas are for individuals wishing to permanently live and work in the U.S.

The five preference categories include:

• First preference (EB-1):
  • Foreign nationals with extraordinary abilities
  • Outstanding professors or researchers
  • Multinational executives and managers
• Second preference (EB-2):
  • Foreign nationals holding advanced degrees
  • Foreign nationals with exceptional abilities
• Third preference (EB-3):
  • Professionals
  • Skilled workers
  • Other workers
• Fourth preference (EB-4):
  • Religious workers
  • Employees of U.S. foreign services posts
  • Retired employees of international organizations
  • Noncitizens who are wards of a U.S. court
• Fifth preference (EB-5):
  • Business investors

Family-Based Visas

Lawful permanent residents and citizens of the U.S. can petition to have certain family members join them in this country. Lawful permanent residents can apply for their spouses or unmarried children of any age. U.S. citizens can petition for their spouses, children, siblings, and parents.

Preference categories for family-based petitions include:

• First preference: Unmarried children over 21 years of age of U.S. citizens
• Second preference: Spouses and children of lawful permanent residents
• Third preference: Married children of U.S. citizens
• Fourth preference: Siblings of U.S. citizens

Adjustment of Status

This option is for foreign nationals living in the U.S. who want to apply for permanent residency (Green Card). The individual must meet specific eligibility requirements, complete an application, and interview.

Consular Processing

This process is for foreign nationals living abroad who wish to be admitted as lawful permanent residents to the U.S. The steps involve determining the basis for immigration, submitting the petition, waiting for a decision, and interviewing.