In the United States there are many different ways for immigrant workers with valuable skills to enter the country on either a permanent or temporary basis. The U.S. immigration system provides a number of visa categories for temporary, non-immigrant workers. In general, many of the temporary visa classifications have numerical limitations and some will require sponsorship by an employer for a specific job lasting for a fixed period of time.
In each year, approximately 140,000 permanent, employment-based immigrant visas are available. These employment-based immigrant visas are based upon the job skills of the immigrant and are divided into five visa categories :
Individuals of extraordinary ability in the sciences, arts, education, business, or athletics; outstanding professors or researchers; and multinational executives and managers.
You may be eligible for an employment-based, second preference visa if you are a member of the professions holding an advanced degree or its equivalent, or a person who has exceptional ability.
“Skilled workers” are persons whose jobs require a minimum of 2 years training or experience, not of a temporary or seasonal nature. The skilled worker must meet the educational, training of the job opportunity. "
“Special immigrants,” which includes certain religious workers, employees of U.S. foreign service posts, retired employees of international organizations, alien minors who are wards of courts in the United States, and other classes of aliens.
Business investors who invests $1 million or $500,000 dollars (if the investment is made in a targeted employment area) in a new commercial enterprise that employs at least 10 full-time U.S. workers.
The U.S. government places numerical limits on the number of visas available in each category and also limits how many immigrants can enter the U.S. from any one country.
