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Family Sponsored
Immigration Visas
U.S. citizens may petition for spouses, parents, children and
siblings. Permanent residents may petition for spouses and children.
Employer-Sponsored
Immigrant Visas:
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 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.
Other
Statuses
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.
Temporary
Protected Status
Granted
to individuals from selected countries which the U.S. currently
recognizes as unsafe. Allows individuals to remain in the U.S. for
the duration of their status. Subject to a periodic USCIS review.
Does not lead to a visa.
TN Status
Allows certain Mexican
and Canadian
workers to avoid the visa application process by proceeding directly
to a U.S. port of entry and presenting the necessary documents.
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