All EB visas are employment-based visas that offer you a path to lawful permanent residency. But it can be hard to qualify for an EB visa. You need to make sure you fit into one of the appropriate visa categories. Each visa is numbered in order of priority, with EB-1 being the highest priority and EB-5 being the lowest priority. The higher the priority, the more likely your visa is to be approved, if you meet all of its requirements.
If you need help applying for an EB visa, contact me, Boston immigration attorney Giselle M. Rodriguez. I help clients with the full range of immigration challenges, including EB visas. I am bilingual (English & Spanish), and work with clients throughout Greater Boston and Massachusetts. Contact me today to discuss your case, or read on to find out more about EB visas.
EB-1 Visa Requirements
The EB-1 visa is designed for people who demonstrate “extraordinary ability” in their fields. It’s reserved for those who have won major awards, received international recognition for outstanding achievements, or have achieved and documented accomplishments in the sciences, arts, education, business, or athletics. “Accomplishments” in this case may include the publication of scholarly articles in major professional or trade publications or journals, serving as a judge for a contest or peer review panel, evidence that your work has been showcased at exhibitions, evidence that you are a leader of a distinguished organization, evidence that you command a high salary, or, if you are a performing artist, evidence of your commercial success.
EB-2 Visa Requirements
EB-2 visas are for people who hold advanced degrees in their profession, usually a doctoral degree. The EB-2 visa asks you to show “exceptional” ability, a criteria that is somewhat more forgiving than “extraordinary” ability. You can prove exceptional ability by proving you’ve commanded a high salary in your field, by showing you are a member of a recognized professional association, or by showing you’ve been recognized for your significant contributions to your industry or field.
EB-3 Visa Requirements
The EB-3 visa is for “skilled” workers or professionals. A skilled worker is any worker whose job requires a minimum of two years of training or experience. A professional requires the equivalent of a US bachelor’s degree. This visa may also be available for unskilled laborers if they’ve obtained permanent employment in the United States. You must still demonstrate the ability to perform the labor you’re being hired to do, and your employer must prove no qualified workers were available in the United States.
EB-4 Visa Requirements
EB-4 visas cover “special” immigrants, such as religious workers, broadcasters, retired officers of G-4 international organizations, retired NATO-6 civilian employees, US government employees working abroad, members of the US armed forces, Panama Canal Company or Canal Zone employees, certain physicians, and non-citizens who have supplied information concerning criminal organizations or enterprises. EB-4 visas also cover juveniles under the protection of a juvenile court. Some EB-4 visa applicants will need their employers to apply for them, but others will have to submit their own petitions.
EB-5 Visa Requirements
EB-5 visas are investor visas set aside for investors who plan to, through their investment into a for-profit business, create or preserve ten or more full-time jobs for qualified US workers. To qualify, you must make a minimum investment of $900,000 in a targeted employment area (TEA) with high unemployment. The minimum investment is currently $900,000. If you don’t want to invest in a TEA, you may instead make a $1.8 million investment in a qualifying enterprise. If you have the money, it is one of the easiest EB visas to qualify for.
Get Help on Your EB Visa Application Now
One of the things I will do for you as your immigration attorney is help you determine which of the five EB visa categories is most appropriate to your situation, so you have the best chance of application approval. I can also help you gather and present evidence to maximize your chances of approval, help you on the interview, and in other ways get you what you need to work in the US as quickly as possible. Contact my office in Boston today to get started.