Immigration Services EB Visas in Houston Texas
The EB visa program is designed mostly for foreigners who want to work and/or invest in the U.S. There are five categories of this program:
- EB-1 Visa – First Preference
The EB-1 visa grants foreigners entry in the U.S.A. as long as they fit in any of the following three categories:
- You possess extraordinary ability
In this case, you must be extremely good in a wide range of fields including arts, athletics, education, sciences, and business. You must also be recognized and acclaimed in that particular field both nationally and internationally.
- You are an outstanding professor and researchers
In this case, you must have been a researcher and professor for at least three years. Your authority in your field should be proven through outstanding achievements. Your visit to the U.S. must be for strictly pursuing or tracking tenure.
- You are a multinational manager or executive
In this case, you must be employed as a manager or executive in a company that has affiliates in the U.S. Your visit to the U.S. should be to primarily represent your firm while working in a similar position in the U.S. affiliate.
- EB-2 Visa – Second Preference
There are two groups of people who qualify for the EB-2 visa: holders of advanced degrees and people with exceptional abilities. If you don’t have an advanced degree, then you should be a holder of a degree and have five years of progressive experience. In the case of people with extraordinary abilities, the stipulations are similar to those outlined above.
Applicants for this visa require labor certification to qualify. However, you can bypass this by applying for national interest waiver. This waiver is only applicable when it is in the interested of the U.S.A. It is mostly issued to people with extraordinary abilities.
- EB-3 Visa – Third Preference
The EB-5 visa is issued mostly to professionals, and ordinary workers seeking to work in the U.S. Applicants must fit one of the three categories below:
- Professional workers
To be a professional worker, you must be a holder of a baccalaureate U.S. degree or a foreign equivalent. You must also have experience working in your field. You will also require labor certification and offer for a permanent full-time job. Additionally, there must be a deficit of professionals in your field in the U.S. – this is to safeguard employment opportunities for citizens.
- Skilled workers
As a skilled worker, you should have skills in any job and a minimum of two years of training and/or experience. You also need labor certification as well as an offer for a permanent, full-time job. Finally, there shouldn’t be other qualified and willing U.S. workers that can fill the position.
- Other workers
This category refers to people who perform unskilled work and are not necessarily trained or experienced. You need labor certification to qualify for this visa, and you cannot take the place of similarly qualified U.S. citizens.
- EB-4 Visa – Fourth Preference
The EB-4 visa program is designed for people who qualify as special immigrants. There are several categories of special immigrants:
- Special immigrant juveniles
- Broadcasters and journalists
- Members of armed forces
- U.S. employees working abroad
- Afghan and Iraqi translators
- Afghan and Iraqi nationals who have aided the U.S. Army
- Panama Canal Zone employees
- NATO-6 employees
- G-4 International Organization employees
- Religious workers – this category is currently undergoing reviews
Applicants can work and reside in the U.S. for as long as necessary. What’s more, they can bring their spouses and unmarried children aged 21 and below. However, certain requirements are required for those seeking to work.
- EB-5 Visa – Fifth Preference
This is one of the most controversial visa programs – it is even dubbed the “million-dollar green card.” It was specifically designed to attract substantial investments in the U.S. It requires that applicants invest anywhere between $500,000 and $1 million or above in the U.S. The goal is to boost the national economy and create jobs for U.S. citizens. In return, citizenship is almost guaranteed.
The EB-5 visa program is for the wealthy, and it is especially popular with the Chinese – over 90% of applications have been from Chinese nationals. Some of the core requirements are that investments should stimulate regions that have low development rates or high demand for capital – these regions range from rural America to urban areas such as New York. What’s more, they should create sustainable jobs for more than ten U.S. citizens.
The regulations for this visa program are very strict considering the risk of money laundering. Unfortunately, many investors have been conned of millions of dollars through this program.
Learn More!
There is much more to learn about each of the five categories of the EB-5 visa program. We have all the answers here at RunRex.com, and we are always happy to enlighten our clients. Get in touch with us to learn more or make an application in any of these categories.