Permanent (immigrant) work visas are issued each year to applicants who possess the skills, education, and work experience to permanently live in the United States. Like with many visas, the spouses and children of an approved permanent worker applicant may also reside in the U.S.
If you believe you qualify for a permanent worker visa, get in touch with a Houston employment visa lawyer from J. Lopez Law. Our employment-based immigration attorneys could assist you through any step of the application process, from initial application to appeal.
Each fiscal year, the United States Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS) issues 140,000 permanent employment visas to applicants and their families. The issuance of these visas is broken down into five preferences: EB-1, EB-2, EB-3, EB-4, and EB-5.
EB-1 Visas, or first preference visas, are granted to applicants who possess extraordinary abilities in education, athletics, and the arts. Eligible applicants for this visa are generally highly respected in their field and/or recipients of awards and achievements for their skills.
EB-1 applicants are not required to obtain labor certification from the Department of Labor (DOL) before applying. If the applicant wishes to bring a spouse and children under 21 years old into the United States, their spouse must file an E-14 visa application, and each child must file an E-15 visa application.
Second preference visas, or EB-2 Visas, are granted to applicants with advanced degrees or exceptional ability in the arts, education, or business. Different standards apply to applicants who seek to qualify by possession of an advanced professional degree versus through proof of exceptional ability. Potential EB-2 Visa applicants should consult an employment visa lawyer in Houston for more information on how to support their EB-2 application.
EB-2 applicants may be required to obtain labor certification from the DOL, depending on the contents of their application. An EB-2 visa with a National Interest Waiver (NIW) may allow individuals to receive a green card without labor certification or a job offer. For spouses and children of the applicant, entry into the United States requires submission of E-21 and E-22 Visa applications.
Finally, EB-5 Visas, or fifth preference visas, are granted to applicants who invest hundreds of thousands to millions of dollars into a business that creates at least ten full-time jobs. While there is no DOL labor certification requirement, additional forms must be filed to qualify the applicant as an EB-5 Immigrant Investor.
Immigrants who desire permanent, or non-temporary, employment visas should get in touch with a Houston employment visa lawyer as soon as possible. At J. Lopez Law, we understand how daunting the immigration process can be. Our attorneys pride themselves on providing compassionate and informative representation, so schedule a consultation with us today!
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