While green cards can be obtained through family, investment, refugee status, and other special conditions, green cards can also be obtained through employment. Here's more information about green cards through jobs.
Employment Based Green Card Eligibility
Individuals seeking a green card through a job can apply while abroad once they are assigned an immigrant visa number, which is organized based on the following preferences:
- First Preference: Individuals with special abilities, distinguished academics, professors, and researchers, and international executives
- Second Preference: Professionals with an advanced degree or workers with exceptional talent
- Third Preference: Skilled workers and professionals
- Fourth Preference: Individuals under special circumstances, and certain religious workers
- Fifth Preference: Immigrant investors, who must invest between $500,000-$1,000,000 in a venture that creates at least ten new jobs for U.S. citizens or other lawful permanent residents and immigrants.
How to Obtain a Green Card
There are four main job-related ways to obtain a green card, including:
- Green Card through a job offer, in which an individual can apply for a green card after receiving a formal offer to work in the United States.
- Green Card through investment, in which an individual establishes a business venture that creates new jobs in the U.S.
- Green Card through self-petition, in which distinguished individuals with exceptional abilities, or specific individuals who are granted a National Interest Waiver, can file a green card for themselves.
- Special Category Green Cards, which include workers in the established special immigrant categories, such as broadcasters, international employees, and religious workers, for example.
Green Card Application Process
Although the application process differs based on the method in which one seeks to obtain a green card, generally an I-140, Immigrant Petition for Alien Worker, must be submitted, and once that is approved individuals can apply through Form I-485, Application to Register Permanent Residence or Adjust Status. Here's more specific guidelines based on each path of application:
- Applying for a Green Card through a Job Offer
- Applying for a Green Card through Investment
- Applying for a Green Card through Self Petition
- Applying for a Green Card through Special Categories of Jobs
More Information about Green Cards
