Green Card through Employment

Overview

Another way of obtaining a Green Card is through employment. This immigrant visa is available to persons who are seeking to live and work permanently in the United States based on a permanent offer of employment.

This immigrant visa is divided into four (4) categories:

I. First Preference Employment-based (EB-1) refers to:

* Persons of extraordinary ability in the sciences, arts, education, business, or athletics
* Outstanding professors and researchers with at least three years experience in teaching or research, who are recognized internationally
* Executives and managers who have been employed at least one of the three preceding years by the overseas affiliate, parent, subsidiary, or branch of the U.S. employer

II. Second Preference Employment-based (EB-2) refers to:

* Professionals holding an advanced degree
* Persons with exceptional ability in the arts, sciences, or business

III. Third Preference Employment-based (EB-3) refers to:

* Skilled Workers
* Professionals holding Bachelor’s Degree
* Other workers

IV. Fourth Preference Employment-based (EB-4) refers to:

* Religious workers
* Certain overseas employees of the U.S. Government
* Former employees of the Panama Canal Company
* Retired employees of international organizations
* Certain dependents of international organization employees
* Certain members of the U.S. Armed Forces

Visa Ineligibility/Waiver

The immigration laws of the United States, in order to protect the health, welfare, and security of the U.S., prohibit the issuance of a visa to certain applicants. Examples of applicants who must be refused visas are those who: have a communicable disease, or have a dangerous physical or mental disorder; have committed serious criminal acts; are terrorists, subversives, members of a totalitarian party, or former Nazi war criminals; have used illegal means to enter the U.S.; or are ineligible for citizenship. Some former exchange visitors must live abroad for two years. Physicians who intend to practice medicine must pass a qualifying exam before receiving immigrant visas. If found to be ineligible, the consular officer will advise the applicant of any waivers.

OTHER IMPORTANT INFORMATION

Medical Examinations

Before the issuance of an immigrant visa, every applicant, regardless of age, must undergo a medical examination. The examination will be conducted by a doctor designated by the consular officer. Examination costs must be borne by the applicant, in addition to the visa fees.

Numerical Limitations

Whenever there are more qualified applicants for a category than there are available numbers, the category will be considered oversubscribed, and immigrant visas will be issued in the chronological order in which the petitions were filed until the numerical limit for the category is reached. The filing date of a petition becomes the applicant's priority date. Immigrant visas cannot be issued until an applicant's priority date is reached. In certain heavily oversubscribed categories, there may be a waiting period of several years before a priority date is reached. Check the Visa Bulletin for the latest priority dates