U.S. Immigration Visa Overview
🔹 1. Immigrant Visas (Green Card – Permanent Residency)
These are for people who want to live and work permanently in the U.S. Once granted, you become a Lawful Permanent Resident (LPR) and receive a Green Card.
✅ Key Immigrant Visa Categories
➤ Family-Based Immigration
-
For immediate relatives of U.S. citizens:
-
Spouse
-
Unmarried children under 21
-
Parents
-
-
Family preference categories also exist for:
-
Siblings
-
Married children
-
Green Card holders sponsoring spouses/children
-
➤ Employment-Based Immigration (EB Visas)
Divided into 5 preference categories:
| EB Category | Description |
|---|---|
| EB-1 | Priority workers (extraordinary ability, researchers, executives) |
| EB-2 | Professionals with advanced degrees or exceptional ability |
| EB-3 | Skilled workers, professionals, and other workers |
| EB-4 | Special immigrants (e.g., religious workers, international employees) |
| EB-5 | Immigrant investors (minimum $800,000 investment in U.S. business) |
➤ Diversity Visa Lottery
-
For people from countries with low U.S. immigration rates
-
Annual lottery; ~55,000 Green Cards issued
-
Requires high school education or 2 years of skilled work experience
🔹 2. Nonimmigrant Visas (Temporary Stay)
These are for people coming to the U.S. for specific temporary purposes like tourism, work, study, or exchange programs.
✅ Common Nonimmigrant Visa Types
| Visa | Purpose |
|---|---|
| B-1/B-2 | Business (B-1) or tourism/medical (B-2) |
| F-1 | Student visa for academic studies |
| M-1 | Student visa for vocational training |
| J-1 | Exchange visitor visa |
| H-1B | Specialty occupation worker (tech, engineering, etc.) |
| L-1 | Intra-company transfer |
| O-1 | Individuals with extraordinary ability (arts, science, business) |
| TN/TD | Canadian/Mexican professionals under USMCA (formerly NAFTA) |
Most work-related visas require employer sponsorship and may lead to a Green Card later.
✳️ Green Card Application Paths
-
Family Sponsorship (via I-130 form)
-
Employment Sponsorship (via PERM & I-140)
-
Asylum/Refugee Status
-
Diversity Visa Lottery
-
Investment (EB-5)
📝 Key U.S. Immigration Agencies
-
USCIS (U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services): handles visa and Green Card processing.
-
DOS (Department of State): manages visa issuance through embassies/consulates.
-
CBP (Customs and Border Protection): controls entry at ports.
🔗 Helpful Resources
📌 Things to Know
-
Many immigrant visa categories have annual quotas and waiting times, especially for family or employment sponsorship.
-
Most nonimmigrant visas are temporary, and overstaying can hurt your chances of future immigration.
-
A Green Card can lead to U.S. citizenship after 3–5 years (depending on your category).
