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GENERAL OVERVIEW OF U.S. IMMIGRATION:


I. WAYS TO PERMANENT IMMIGRATION TO THE US:

  1. Employment: Financially-sound U.S. employer or university offers you a job and willing to file permanent residency; or Foreign-office transfers you to their U.S. office.
  2. Family: a U.S. Citizen or Permanent Resident relative may apply for you.
  3. Achievement/Ability: you are an individual with Extraordinary or Exceptional ability in the arts, science, business, athletics.
  4. Investment: your substantial and active financial investment in a commercial U.S. enterprise/business.
  5. Medical: doctor working in designated underserved areas; registered nurses.
  6. Cancellation of Removal: continuous physical presence in the U.S. for seven or ten years, plus have a U.S. Citizen or Permanent Resident immediate family member and hardship if returned to home country.
  7. Asylum: reasonable fear of persecution/harm due to your race, religion, political beliefs, ethnicity, membership in a social class, sexuality, belief in right to have multiple children, etc. if returned to home country.
  8. Others: Religious workers, Victims of trafficking, Special witness, Special, miscellaneous.

 

II. WAYS TO TEMPORARY IMMIGRATION TO THE US:

Visa Class
 Purpose of Temporary Immigration/Visit
A1
 Head of State or Government, Ambassador, public minister, career diplomatic or consular officer assigned to the U.S., and members of immediate family.
A2
 Foreign government officials on official business or employees of diplomatic or consular missions in the U.S., and members of immediate family.
A3
 Attendant, servant, or personal employee of A1 and A2 classes, and members of immediate family.
B1
 Temporary visitor for business.
B2
 Temporary visitor for pleasure.
B1/B2
 Temporary visitor for business or pleasure.
C1
 Alien in transit through the U.S.
C2
 Alien in transit to the United Nations Headquarters District under Section 11.(3), (4), or (5) of the Headquarters Agreement with the United Nations.
C3
 Foreign government officials, members of immediate family, attendant, servant, or personal employee in transit.

 

C1/D
 Crew member/crew-list
E1
 Treaty trader, spouse and children
E2
 Treaty investor, spouse and children
F1
 Student (academic or language training program)
F2
 Dependent of F1
G1
 Principal resident representative of recognized foreign member government to international organization, his/her staff, and members of immediate family on long-term assignment
G2
 Other representative of recognized foreign member government to international organization, and members of immediate family on temporary assignment
G3
 Representative of non-recognized foreign member government to international organization, and members of immediate family
G4
 International organization officer or employee and members of immediate family
G5
 Attendant, servant, or personal employee of G1, G2, G3, or G4 class and members of immediate family
H1B
(petition-based)
Temporary worker in a specialty occupation
H1C
(petition-based)
Registered nurses
H2A
(petition-based)
Temporary worker performing agricultural services unavailable in the United States
H2B
(petition-based)
Temporary worker performing non-agricultural services unavailable in the United States
H3
(petition-based)
Industrial trainee
H4
(petition-based)
Dependent of H1, H2 or H3
I
 Representative of foreign information media and dependents
J1
 Exchange visitor
J2
 Dependent of J1
L1
(petition-based)
Intra-company transferee (executive, managerial, and specialized personnel continuing employment with an international firm or corporation)
L2
(petition-based)
Dependent of L1

 

M1
 Vocational student
M2
 Dependent of M1
O1
(petition-based)
Aliens with extraordinary ability in sciences, arts, education, business or athletics
O2
(petition-based)
Aliens accompanying and assisting the above in a professional capacity
O3
(petition-based)
Dependent of O1 or O2
P1
(petition-based)
Athletes and entertainers for a specific competition or performance
P2
(petition-based)
Athletes and entertainers participating in reciprocal exchange program
P3
(petition-based)
Artists and entertainers performing under a program that is culturally unique
P4
(petition-based)
Dependent of P1, P2 or P3
Q
(petition-based)
International cultural exchange visitor
R1
 Religious worker
R2
 Dependent of R1
TN
 Canadian or Mexican citizen working in a professional capacity under the North American Trade Agreement
TD
 Spouse or child of TN

 

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