Overview of immigration to the US

The US immigration system is complex, but at its core, it is structured around several main principles and pathways for people seeking to live and work in the country.

The ultimate goal for many is obtaining Lawful Permanent Resident (LPR) status, commonly known as a Green Card, which allows an individual to live and work in the US indefinitely and is a path to citizenship.

Here are the basics, broken down into the main pathways and visa types:

Family-Based Immigration

This is based on having a close family relationship with a US citizen or a Lawful Permanent Resident (LPR).

Immediate Relatives of US Citizens (Unlimited Visas) - These categories are not subject to annual numerical limits, meaning the wait time is generally shorter once the initial petition is approved.

• Spouses of US citizens.
• Unmarried children under age 21 of US citizens.
• Parents of US citizens (if the citizen is at least 21 years old).

Family Preference Categories (Limited Visas) - These categories have annual numerical limits, which often results in waiting periods that can last years or even decades.

• Other relatives of US citizens (adult children, married children, siblings).
• Spouses and unmarried children of LPRs.

Employment-Based Immigration

This is for individuals with skills, education, or investment capital that are valuable to the US economy. These visas are categorized into five “preference” levels, many of which require a US employer to sponsor the immigrant.

Categories include

• Persons of Extraordinary Ability (in sciences, arts, education, business, or athletics).
• Professionals with advanced degrees or exceptional ability.
• Skilled workers or professionals with bachelor’s degrees.
• Immigrant Investors who invest a significant amount of capital in a new commercial enterprise that creates jobs.

Many people enter the US temporarily for a specific purpose before or instead of immigrating permanently. If you enter in a dual intent visa you can also apply for a Green Card. Common dual-intent visa types are H1B for Specialty occupation workers and L1 for Intra company transfers.

US Visa Bulletin Hub helps you keep track of the priority dates by sending immediate notifications to be able to quickly apply for a green card.

Humanitarian & Special Programs

These are for people seeking protection or who meet specific criteria.

• Refugees and Asylum seekers: For those who have experienced persecution or have a well-founded fear of persecution based on race, religion, nationality, social group, or political opinion.
• Diversity Immigrant Visa Program (The “Lottery”): An annual program that randomly selects up to 50,000 applicants from countries with historically low rates of immigration to the US