[Skip Navigation] [Text & Graphics] [Home] [What's New?] [FAQs] [Search & Site Map] [Glossary] [Feedback] [Translate] [Printer Friendly Version] |
Immigration through Employment
An immigrant is a foreign national
who has been authorized to live and work permanently 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 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
EB-2
Professionals with advanced degrees or persons with exceptional
ability
EB-3 Skilled or professional
workers
How to Apply
If you are an employer wishing to sponsor (or petition) for a
foreign national to work 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. Click on the desired employment category
for more information:
If you are a foreign national wishing to immigrate to the United
States based on an offer of employment from a U.S. company click
How do I apply for Immigrant
Status Based on Employment?
The Department of State is responsible for providing visa numbers
to foreign nationals interested in immigrating to the United States.
To find out more about the Department of State's visa process
visit the Department
of State or click here for specific information on how
to get an immigrant visa number.
To check the status of a visa number you can review the Department
of State's visa bulletin.
Where do I apply
If you are an
employer wishing to sponsor (or petition) a foreign national to
work 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.
Click here to find the Service Center serving
your area
of the United States.
Frequently Asked Questions and Helpful Links
FAQs
Addition information
related to Lawful Permanent Residency that you might need to review.
Other helpful sites you may want to visit if you:
Last Modified 09/24/2003