Employment-Based Green Card

 

Every year, more than 140,000 immigrants enter the United States on an employment-based visa. If you wish to become a permanent resident in the United States through employment, there are several ways on how you can achieve it. In this article, we are going to talk about the different types of Green Cards and how to receive a Green Card through employment. There are five employment-based immigrant visa preferences categories, and you can learn more about them below:

 

First Preference (EB-1)

The EB-1 Green Card is designed for highly qualified professionals, such as:

• Individuals with extraordinary abilities in the sciences, education, art, business or athletics.
• Outstanding university professors and researchers.
• Certain multinational managers and executives.

 

Second Preference (EB-2)

The EB-2 Green Card is aimed at three groups of people:

• Professionals with an advanced degree.
• Individuals who have exceptional talent. 
• Individuals who qualify for the National Interest Waiver.

 

Third Preference (EB-3)

The EB-3 category includes a variety of individuals with different levels of education and skills, such as:

• Skilled Workers.
• Professionals.
• Other Workers.

 

Fourth Preference (EB-4)

The EB-4 is a category that is used for a broad variety of special immigrants, such as:

• Religious Workers.
• Special Immigrant Juveniles.
• Broadcasters.
• Certain employees and former employees of the U.S. Government abroad.
• Individuals who served as interpreters/translators on behalf of the U.S. Government.

 

Fifth Preference (EB-5)

The EB-5 category is made for individuals who are willing to invest capital in a new commercial enterprise that will employ at least 10 full timefulltime U.S. workers. The standard minimum investment is $900,000 in a targeted employment area or $1,800,000 in an urban area. 

 

How to apply for a Green Card through employment?

There are four employment-related ways to obtain a Green Card and these are through a job offer, self-petition, investment and/or fitting into a special category. 

 

Job Offer 

After receiving a formal offer to work in the United States, an individual can apply for a Green Card. The employer must complete and file the I-140 form, typically known as a Petition for Alien Worker, for the person they are interested in hiring.

 

Self-Petition

Distinguished individuals with extraordinary abilities in the arts, education, business, science or athletics and individuals who are eligible to participate in the National Interest Waiver program can file for themselves for a Green Card by submitting a I-140 petition. 

 

Investment

An individual who invests at least $900,000 in a targeted employment area or $1,800,000 in an urban area can apply for a Green Card by filing a I-526 form, which is also called an Immigrant Petition by Alien Investor.

 

Special category

Some workers established as “Special Immigrants” are also able to apply for a Green Card by filing a I-360 form, which is also known as Petition for Amerasian, Widow(er), or Special Immigrant.

 

If you are currently interested in getting a Green Card, it is wise to find an Attorney that can help you with your case. If you need assistance with that, feel free to contact us. We will be glad to help you and will make sure that you receive the best and most personalized consultation available from anywhere in the world. If you are interested in learning more, please click here. 

Disclaimer*

All information contained on this website is provided for general informational purposes only. The materials available are not legal advice on any matter. To obtain professional legal advice, it is always advisable to contact an Attorney.