Visa Services
All non-immigrant visa holders who are in the United States are subject to frequently changing Department of State and United States Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS) regulations. These regulations can be complex and challenging at times. The DGSOM Visa and Licensing Office provides advice about these regulations to foreign nationals, faculty, and staff. There are also School of Medicine policies that may further restrict visa options. It is important to contact DGSOM Visa and Licensing Office when situation arise which involves visa status. Each individual has a unique set of circumstances, and our Office is designed to evaluate each case individually.
Visa Categories
J-1
The Exchange Visitor (J) non-immigrant visa category is for individuals approved to participate in work and study-based exchange visitor program.
H-1B Temporary Worker
For individuals coming to be a temporary full-time position with a U.S. employer that requires a professional level of education and experience.
O-1 Extraordinary Worker
Available to individuals who have demonstrated a record of national acclaim, a level of expertise indicating that the person has risen to the very top of the filed of endeavor.
Permanent Residence
The DGSOM will support applications for permanent residence if the position is permanent, full-time career, and sufficiently high level (e.g., appointments in the Professor and Professional Research series.
B-1/B-2 Visitor
Intended for individuals visiting the U.S., generally restricted from working while in the U.S.
Visa Waiver Program
The visa waiver program allows citizens of certain countries to enter the U.S. without visas.
E-3
Classification that allows citizens of Australia to perform services in a specialty occupation in the U.S.
Passport
Issued by the government of your country of citizenship. Your passport MUST be valid at all times during your stay in the United States.
Visa
A visa stamp issued from the State Department and obtained at an overseas U.S. Consulate that allows for the bearer to enter the United States in a particular category.
Most visas are for multiple entries; however, certain countries will restrict the amount of entries allowed, based on reciprocity agreement between the U.S. and specific country.
The visa enables you to enter the U.S. for the time of its validity. Except in certain circumstances (see the section about Mexico/Canada travel ), an individual with an expired visa may be denied entry into the U.S. Once in the U.S., a nonimmigrant can allow his/her visa stamp to expire.
Electronic Arrival-Departure Record (I-94 card)
For those entering in J-1 or F-1 status, the card should be annotated either J-1 or F-1, with a D/S notation, which stands for Duration of Status.
If your I-94 does not have these notations, please contact the DGSOM Visa and Licensing Office as you arrive at UCLA.
The electronic I-94 has replaced the I-94 Card. The electronic version is only offered for those entering the U.S. by air. Those entering by car will still be issued the I-94 card.
DS-2019 Form
Scholars present this form to a U.S. Consulate to receive a J-1 visa and therefore enter in J-1 status. The DS-2019 shows the authorized program participation dates and the description and location of the exchange program.
Employment Authorization Document (EAD)
Small plastic card issued by USCIS to show authorization for employment. The EAD is also known as Form I-688B. EADs may be extended in increments not to exceed one year, and/or up-to the validity of the J-1 Visa holder’s DS-2019. J-2 visa holders (dependents of J-1 visa holders), are eligible to apply for work authorization through the USCIS.
You may obtain referrals from the Los Angeles County Bar Association at (213) 243-1525; press 3 for a referral counselor.
The following list of immigration attorneys is provided for information only. The University of California, Los Angeles, assumes no liability for an individual's choice to hire an attorney from this list of immigration attorneys. The list is provided for information purposes only and the inclusion of an attorney's name on the list is not intended to imply endorsement by the University.
Immigration Attorneys
Wolfsdorf Rosenthal LLP
1416 2nd Street
Santa Monica, CA 90401
(310) 570-4088
https://wolfsdorf.com
Loke Walsh Immigration Law, PC
10555 Jefferson Blvd., Suite A
Culver City, CA 90232
(310) 454-7920
www.lokewalsh.com
Max Danziger
21031 Ventura Blvd #1200
Woodland Hills, CA 91364
(818) 712-6911
Roni Deutsch
16255 Ventura Blvd., #610
Encino, CA 91436-2311
(818) 784-1126
Josie Gonzalez
35 N. Lake St., #710
Pasadena, CA 91101-4110
Tel (626) 229-9806
Fax (626) 229-9879
http://josiegonzalez.com/
Adam Green
6300 Wilshire Blvd., #1020
Los Angeles, CA 90048
(323) 852-6135
1-800-705-5544
http://www.employment-familysponsoredimmigration.com/info.html
Lea Greenberger
116530 Ventura Blvd #210
Encino, CA 91436
(818) 995-7253
Howard Hom
3731 Wilshire Blvd., #775
Los Angeles, CA 90010
(213) 387-0954
John A. Joannes
11911 San Vicente Blvd #375
Los Angeles, CA 90049
(310)440-4240
Alan Klein
15233 Ventura Blvd., #1210
Sherman Oaks, CA 91403
(818) 728-5800
David M. Kramer
14011 Ventura Blvd., #402
Sherman Oaks, CA 91423
818-907-9688
and
10940 Wilshire Blvd., #1600
Los Angeles, CA 90024
310-820-5320
http://www.kramervisalaw.com/
Lawrence F. Liebenbaum
447 N. Kenter Ave.
Los Angeles, CA 90049-1932 (310) 476-5980
Angelo Paparelli
601 South Figueroa Street
Suite 3300 Los Angeles, CA 90017-5793 https://www.seyfarth.com/people/angelo-a-paparelli.html
Howard Shapiro Mitchell Silberberg & Knupp
11377 West Olympic Blvd. Los Angeles, CA 90064-1683
(310) 312-3252
http://www.msk.com/
Carl Shusterman
624 S. Grand Ave., #1608
Los Angeles, CA 90017-3335
(213) 623-4592
http://shusterman.com/
Cathy Tao
1200 Wilshire Blvd., #400
Los Angeles, CA 90017
(213) 250-7755
Ronald Tasoff
Tasoff & Tasoff
16255 Ventura Blvd., #1000
Encino, CA 91436-2302
(818)788-8900
http://www.tasoff.com/
Michael Ullman
8383 Wilshire Blvd., #646
Beverly Hills, CA 90211-2405
(323) 655-1606
Alice Yardum-Hunter
15915 Ventura Blvd. Penthouse #1
Encino, CA 91436
818) 609-1953
http://www.yardum-hunter.com/