What are the different types of Employment-Based Visas?

There are five types of employment-based visas for skilled professionals. This visa allows foreign professionals to become permanent residents in the US. Around 140,000 employment-based visas are made available to foreign workers every year by the United States Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS).

 

Unlike any other non-immigrant visa, an Employment-Based Visa is given to immigrants who can apply for lawful Permanent residency in the United States. After five years of being lawfully Permanent residents in the country, foreign nationals can apply for US citizenship.

 

The five Employment-Based visa categories are:

 

• Employment First Preference (EB-1 visa)
• Employment Second Preference (EB-2 visa)
• Employment Third Preference (EB-3 visa)
• Employment Fourth Preference(EB-4 visa)
• Employment Fifth Preference(EB-5 visa)

 

EB-1 Visa

The EB-1 visa is the Employment First Preference reserved for designated priority workers. There are three sub-categories of EB-1 visa:

 

• EB-1A visa: This visa is for foreign nationals with extraordinary ability in athletics, education, business, arts, or science. The Applicant must have proper evidence demonstrating their incredible knowledge, which the nation recognizes.
• EB-1B visa: This visa is for outstanding researchers and professors. The Applicant must have internationally recognized three years of research or training in their field.
• EB-1C visa: This visa is for managers and executives of multinational companies. The overseas parent company must employ the EB-1C applicants.

 

*Want to apply for EB-1 visa? Talk to Y-Axis for complete guidance.

 

EB-2 Visa

The EB-2 visa is the second preference employment-based visa for foreign nationals with advanced degrees, exceptional ability, and whose immigration is in the national interest. 

 

• Skilled workers with advanced or baccalaureate degrees and at least five years of progressive experience are eligible for the EB-2 visa.
• Professionals with exceptional ability must have expertise significantly above the ordinary.
• National interest waiver must demonstrate that their immigration to the U.S. will prospectively benefit the economy, cultural or educational interests, or welfare of the United States because of their exceptional ability in the sciences, arts, or business.

 

EB-3 Visa

The EB-3 visa is a third-preference employment-based green card for skilled professionals or other workers. Three categories of workers can apply for EB-3 visa/Green Card:

 

• Skilled worker: The skilled worker must be trained for at least two years and have experiences or proper knowledge. In specific places, the relevant post-secondary education can also be considered.
• Professional: To apply for this visa, a professional must acquire a Baccalaureate degree or equivalent.
• Other/ Unskilled: An Unskilled worker who will fill non-seasonal occupations that require less than two years of job training or work experience.

 

EB-4 Visa

The EB-4 Visa is the fourth preference employment-based green card for special foreign nationals who do not fit the other categories. It is often given to religious workers but also applies to other circumstances, such as armed forces and physicians.

 

EB-5 Visa

The EB-5 visa is a fifth-reference employment-based green card for foreign investors with significant funds who want to invest in a U.S. company. EB-5 investments can be made in a new company or an existing failing company.

 

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