Immigrant Visas

Employment-Based Immigrants

In general, a specific offer of employment from a U.S. based employer is required to qualify for immigration in the employment-based preference categories.

1. Priority Workers: People of extraordinary ability in the sciences, arts, education, business, or athletics; outstanding professors and researchers; and certain multinational executives and managers.
2. Members of "The Professions": Professionals holding advanced degrees, and persons of exceptional ability in the sciences, arts and business.
3. Professionals, Skilled and Unskilled Workers: Professionals holding baccalaureate degrees, skilled workers with at least two years experience, and other workers whose skills are in short supply in the United States.
4. Special Immigrants: Certain religious workers and ministers of religion, certain international organization employees and their immediate family members, and current and former employees of the U.S. Government  who have 15 years of service, and their immediate family members.
5. Investors: Persons who create employment for at least ten unrelated persons by investing capital in a new commercial enterprise in the United States. The minimum amount of capital required is normally $1,000,000, depending upon the unemployment rate in the geographic area.

For further information, please visit the Employment-Based Visas page of the U.S. Department of State.

Last updated: 08/12/2005