Employment Based Immigrant Visas (Green Card) – English Version
Green Card Types
A Green Card, also known as a Lawful Permanent Resident Card (LPR card), grants individuals the legal right to live and work in the United States permanently. Several categories of Green Cards are available, each with specific eligibility criteria and application processes.
Employment-Based Green Cards
Employment-based Green Cards allow foreign nationals to work and obtain permanent residency in the United States. Each fiscal year, approximately 140,000 employment-based immigrant visas are available, divided into five preference categories.
EB-1 Green Card (First Preference Employment-Based)
The EB-1 Green Card is designed for individuals with extraordinary abilities in fields such as science, arts, education, business, or athletics. Outstanding professors and researchers, as well as multinational executives or managers, are also eligible under this category. Applicants often qualify for self-petition, bypassing the need for employer sponsorship, and are typically given priority due to their exceptional qualifications.
EB-2 Green Card (Second Preference Employment-Based)
The EB-2 Green Card is available to professionals holding advanced degrees or those with exceptional abilities in their respective fields. Applicants may qualify through employer sponsorship or by obtaining a National Interest Waiver (see below), which allows them to self-petition if their work benefits the United States significantly. The level of scrutiny by the U.S. Citizenship & Immigration Service (USCIS) is extremely high.
EB-3 Green Card (Third Preference Employment-Based)
The EB-3 Green Card is for skilled workers, professionals as well as unskilled workers. Skilled workers must demonstrate at least two years of experience, while professionals must hold a U.S. bachelor’s degree or its foreign equivalent. Unskilled workers are eligible for positions requiring less than two years of experience. This category generally requires employer sponsorship and a labor certification (PERM).
EB-4 Green Card (Fourth Preference Employment-Based)
The EB-4 Green Card is designated for special immigrants, including religious workers, certain employees of international organizations, and Afghan and Iraqi nationals who provided critical support to U.S. forces. This category includes a variety of applicants with specialized eligibility criteria.
EB-5 Green Card (Fifth Preference Employment-Based)
The EB-5 Green Card is designed for investors who make substantial financial contributions to the U.S. economy. Applicants must invest $800,000 to $1 million in a U.S. business and create at least 10 full-time jobs for American workers. This category offers a direct pathway to permanent residency for entrepreneurs and their immediate families.
