Overview

An immigrant is a foreign national who has been authorized to live and work permanently with a Green Card in the United States. If you want to become an immigrant based on the fact that you have a permanent employment opportunity in the United States, or if you are an employer that wants to sponsor someone for lawful permanent residency based on permanent employment in the United States, you must go through a multi-step process.

Eligibility

There are five categories for granting permanent residence and a Green Card to foreign nationals based on employment skills. If you are an employer and are unsure which employment category applies to the foreign national you wish to sponsor, or if you are a foreign national and want more information on which category matches your particular situation, click one of the employment categories:

EB-1 Priority workers
 

• Foreign nationals of extraordinary ability in the sciences, arts, education, business or athletics
   
• Foreign national that are outstanding professors or researchers
   
• Foreign nationals that are managers and executives subject to international transfer to the United States
   

EB-2 Professionals with advanced degrees or persons with exceptional ability
 

• Foreign nationals of exceptional ability in the sciences, arts or business
   
• Foreign nationals that are advanced degree professionals
   
• Qualified alien physicians who will practice medicine in an area of the U.S. which is underserved. Read more about this particular program.
   

EB-3 Skilled or professional workers
 

• Foreign national professionals with bachelor's degrees (not qualifying for a higher preference category)
   
• Foreign national skilled workers (minimum two years training and experience)
   
• Foreign national unskilled workers
   

EB-4 Special Immigrants
 

• Foreign national religious workers
   
• Employees and former employees of the U.S. Government abroad
   

EB-5 Immigrant Investors

• individuals seeking permanent resident status on the basis of their engagement in a new commercial enterprise
  
   

How to Apply

If you are an employer wishing to sponsor (or petition) for a foreign national to work and obtain a green card in the United States on a permanent basis, you must file Form I-140, Petition for Alien Worker. Detailed information is provided in the instructions for Form I-140. Filing requirements differ for each of the five categories.


The Department of State is responsible for providing visa numbers to foreign nationals interested in immigrating to the United States.
 

Where do I apply

If you are an employer wishing to sponsor (or petition) a foreign national to work and get a green card in the United States, a Form I-140, Petition for Alien Worker must be filed at the CIS Service Center that serves the area where the immigrant will work. Detailed information is provided in the instructions for Form I-140. Filing requirements differ for each of the five categories. Please see the appropriate link to Eligibility and Filing for each preference:
 

For EB-4 special workers, the foreign national or employer must file Form I-360, Petition for Amerasian, Widow(er), or Special Immigrant, with the CIS Service Center that serves the area where the immigrant will work. For more information click EB-4.



Other helpful sites you may want to visit if you:
 

• Department of State Visa Process
   
• Department of State Visa Bulletin
   
• Department of Labor Foreign Labor Certification