Immigrant (Permanent) Visas
General Information on Immigrant Visas
Immigrant (permanent) visas are available to qualified individuals wishing to live permanently or indefinitely in the U.S. There are two categories of immigrant visas, unlimited and limited.
The limited immigrant visas are further divided into three categories: family-based, employment-based, and diversity immigrants. All immigrant categories, except for immediate relatives and special immigrants (see below), are numerically limited and subject to annual per-country quotas, often resulting in long waiting periods between the filing of an immigrant visa petition and issuance of an immigrant visa.
All applicants for an immigrant visa must demonstrate to the satisfaction of a U.S. consular officer that they are not ineligible for a visa under any of the categories of inadmissible persons listed in the Immigration and Nationality Act. If determined to be ineligible for an immigrant visa, U.S. law permits a waiver of inadmissibility in many, but not all, circumstances.
Employment-Based Permanent Status
EB1: First Preference- Persons of extraordinary ability
- Outstanding professors and researchers
- Multinational executives and managers
- Members of Professions holding advanced degree
- Aliens of exceptional ability
- Skilled workers, professionals and other workers
- Religious workers
- Commuters from border
- Retired G-4 (employee of international organization)
- Returning residents
- Minister of religion
- Employment creation investors
Family-Based Permanent Status
First PreferenceUnmarried sons or daughters (over age 21) of USC
Second PreferenceSpouses and unmarried children (under 21) of LPR;
Unmarried sons and daughters (over 21) of LPR
Married sons and daughters of USC
Fourth PreferenceBrothers and sisters of USC