To explain things more clearly, let\u2019s go through the process of getting an employment-based Green Card and the different classifications.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
![\"Employment-Based](\"https:\/\/www.usgreencardoffice.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/05\/Employment-based-green-card-1024x740.jpg\")
<\/figure><\/div>\n\n\n\nObtaining an Employment-Based Green Card<\/h2>\n\n\n\n<\/div>\n\n\n\nGetting a Green Card requires the applicant to have a petitioner. This is someone who\u2019s already a US citizen (or lawful permanent resident); they basically act as a sponsor and reference for your application.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
<\/div>\n\n\n\nUnsurprisingly, for an employment-based Green Card, the petitioner will be your potential employer. As part of the petition, they must show why they\u2019re seeking a worker from outside the US for that particular job. It\u2019s not something you as the applicant would need to worry about \u2013 it\u2019s just for the employer to show why they can\u2019t hire an American to do the job.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
<\/div>\n\n\n\nOnce your employer files an immigrant petition with the USCIS, they must also file an EB-2 form if you are offered employment with a US company and hold an advanced college degree. On the other hand, if you have been offered employment in the US and you hold a Bachelor\u2019s degree, are a skilled worker with at least two years of training, or an unskilled worker with less than two years of training, your sponsoring company must file an EB-3 form.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
<\/div>\n\n\n\nAfter completing the petition, the rest of the application process is basically the same as with any other type of Green Card. If you\u2019re already based in the US (for example, you\u2019re adjusting your status from nonimmigrant), you\u2019ll have to attend a meeting at a processing center.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
<\/div>\n\n\n\nHowever, if you haven\u2019t yet moved to the US, you\u2019ll go through consular processing. It involves the same steps, except it\u2019s handled at your country\u2019s US embassy or consulate instead.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
<\/div>\n\n\n\nEB-2 Immigrant Visa<\/h3>\n\n\n\n<\/div>\n\n\n\nIf you hold an advanced degree and are applying for an EB-2 immigrant visa, you\u2019ll need to know which category applies to you. You can select one of the following:<\/p>\n\n\n\n
<\/div>\n\n\n\n- The EB-2 (A) is for professionals who have an offer from a US company for employment and hold an advanced college degree.\u00a0<\/strong><\/li>
- The EB-2 (B) is for professionals who have demonstrated excellence in business or the arts and sciences and have an offer of employment from a US company.<\/strong><\/li>
- The EB-2 (C) is for immigrants who demonstrate excellence in a specific skill or hold an advanced college degree.\u00a0You must also show that your abilities will benefit the US in some way.<\/strong><\/li><\/ul>\n\n\n\n<\/div>\n\n\n\n
Once you are awarded an employment-based Green Card, you are then a lawful permanent resident of the US and can work in the USA.\u00a0 You may also apply for an immigrant visa for your spouse and children.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
<\/div>\n\n\n\nYou can change jobs after getting your employment-based Green Card. While there aren\u2019t any legal restrictions on when you can do this, it\u2019s best to wait 6-12 months after becoming an LPR. Leaving your job too fast could cause a USCIS investigation, as they might check whether the job offer was genuine or an example of immigration fraud.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
<\/div>\n\n\n\nYou will find a step-by-step guide on applying for the EB-2 Immigrant Visa<\/a> on US Green Card Advice. They also have a selection of the best immigration lawyers if you need additional advice.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<\/div>\n\n\n\nEB-3 Immigrant Visa<\/h3>\n\n\n\n<\/div>\n\n\n\nIf you hold a Bachelor\u2019s degree from a college in your home country and you have been offered employment to work in the USA, you\u2019ll have to check which EB-3 visa is most appropriate for you. They include the following:<\/p>\n\n\n\n
<\/div>\n\n\n\n- The EB-3 (A) applies to professionals who have an offer of employment and hold a Bachelor\u2019s degree from an accredited college in their country of origin.\u00a0<\/strong><\/li>
- The EB-3 (B) applies to workers who have at least two years of experience or training in a particular skill and have been offered employment with a US company.<\/strong><\/li>
- The EB-3 (C) immigrant visa is for unskilled workers who have been offered employment with a US company. The position typically requires less than two years of experience or training in a particular field.<\/strong><\/li><\/ul>\n\n\n\n<\/div>\n\n\n\n
Similar to the EB-2 immigrant visa, an EB-3 allows you to work in the USA as a lawful permanent resident and you can apply for an immigrant visa for your spouse and your children under the age of 21.\u00a0Both types of employment-based visas also allow you to travel outside of the US for a specified period.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
<\/div>\n\n\n\nThe same argument about changing jobs is true here. As an LPR<\/a>, you have all the same rights regarding work as other Green Card holders. However, the nature of the Green Card means you must be more careful in that particular area than other visa holders.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<\/div>\n\n\n\nThink of it the same as getting a Green Card through marriage. Getting divorced soon after can look suspicious in the same way that leaving your job soon after getting an employment-based Green Card would.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
<\/div>\n\n\n\nYou will find a step-by-step guide on applying for the EB-3 Immigrant Visa<\/a> on US Green Card Advice. They also have a selection of the best immigration lawyers if you need additional advice.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<\/div>\n\n\n\nOther Employment-Based Green Card Categories<\/h3>\n\n\n\n<\/div>\n\n\n\nEB-2 and EB-3 are the most common categories of employment visas, but there are others. Unsurprisingly, there\u2019s EB-1, which is for people of \u201cextraordinary ability\u201d. It\u2019s a pretty vague term, and rightly so. It applies to people who excel in their professional field, whatever this may be.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
<\/div>\n\n\n\nFor example, it might be an Oscar-winning actor, an artist with international acclaim, a Nobel prize-winning scientist, or similar. The biggest difference between EB-1 and the other visa categories is that these applicants don\u2019t need a job offer. Instead, they just need evidence of their extraordinary ability.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
<\/div>\n\n\n\nFurther down the list is the EB-4 visa. It applies to special immigrant workers, which is another broad category. Generally, it relates to religious occupations (e.g., priests or similar) but has also been used for foreigners who have worked for the US government. For example, EB-4 visas have been granted to Iraqi and Afghan translators, NATO workers, and similar.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
<\/div>\n\n\n\nThe final category is the EB-5 Investment Visa<\/a>. By investing a minimum of $1 million into an American business, a foreign national can essentially buy a Green Card. The process is a bit more complicated than this, but that\u2019s all you really need to know.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<\/div>\n\n\n\nEmployment-based Green Card backlog<\/h5>\n\n\n\n<\/div>\n\n\n\nThe backlog for Employment-based Green Cards in 2021 was a stunning 1.4 million. A study made by the CATO Institute can be found here<\/a> together with the employment-based Green Card timeline 2021<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Getting a Green Card requires the applicant to have a petitioner. This is someone who\u2019s already a US citizen (or lawful permanent resident); they basically act as a sponsor and reference for your application.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Unsurprisingly, for an employment-based Green Card, the petitioner will be your potential employer. As part of the petition, they must show why they\u2019re seeking a worker from outside the US for that particular job. It\u2019s not something you as the applicant would need to worry about \u2013 it\u2019s just for the employer to show why they can\u2019t hire an American to do the job.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Once your employer files an immigrant petition with the USCIS, they must also file an EB-2 form if you are offered employment with a US company and hold an advanced college degree. On the other hand, if you have been offered employment in the US and you hold a Bachelor\u2019s degree, are a skilled worker with at least two years of training, or an unskilled worker with less than two years of training, your sponsoring company must file an EB-3 form.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
After completing the petition, the rest of the application process is basically the same as with any other type of Green Card. If you\u2019re already based in the US (for example, you\u2019re adjusting your status from nonimmigrant), you\u2019ll have to attend a meeting at a processing center.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
However, if you haven\u2019t yet moved to the US, you\u2019ll go through consular processing. It involves the same steps, except it\u2019s handled at your country\u2019s US embassy or consulate instead.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
EB-2 Immigrant Visa<\/h3>\n\n\n\n<\/div>\n\n\n\nIf you hold an advanced degree and are applying for an EB-2 immigrant visa, you\u2019ll need to know which category applies to you. You can select one of the following:<\/p>\n\n\n\n
<\/div>\n\n\n\n- The EB-2 (A) is for professionals who have an offer from a US company for employment and hold an advanced college degree.\u00a0<\/strong><\/li>
- The EB-2 (B) is for professionals who have demonstrated excellence in business or the arts and sciences and have an offer of employment from a US company.<\/strong><\/li>
- The EB-2 (C) is for immigrants who demonstrate excellence in a specific skill or hold an advanced college degree.\u00a0You must also show that your abilities will benefit the US in some way.<\/strong><\/li><\/ul>\n\n\n\n<\/div>\n\n\n\n
Once you are awarded an employment-based Green Card, you are then a lawful permanent resident of the US and can work in the USA.\u00a0 You may also apply for an immigrant visa for your spouse and children.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
<\/div>\n\n\n\nYou can change jobs after getting your employment-based Green Card. While there aren\u2019t any legal restrictions on when you can do this, it\u2019s best to wait 6-12 months after becoming an LPR. Leaving your job too fast could cause a USCIS investigation, as they might check whether the job offer was genuine or an example of immigration fraud.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
<\/div>\n\n\n\nYou will find a step-by-step guide on applying for the EB-2 Immigrant Visa<\/a> on US Green Card Advice. They also have a selection of the best immigration lawyers if you need additional advice.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<\/div>\n\n\n\nEB-3 Immigrant Visa<\/h3>\n\n\n\n<\/div>\n\n\n\nIf you hold a Bachelor\u2019s degree from a college in your home country and you have been offered employment to work in the USA, you\u2019ll have to check which EB-3 visa is most appropriate for you. They include the following:<\/p>\n\n\n\n
<\/div>\n\n\n\n- The EB-3 (A) applies to professionals who have an offer of employment and hold a Bachelor\u2019s degree from an accredited college in their country of origin.\u00a0<\/strong><\/li>
- The EB-3 (B) applies to workers who have at least two years of experience or training in a particular skill and have been offered employment with a US company.<\/strong><\/li>
- The EB-3 (C) immigrant visa is for unskilled workers who have been offered employment with a US company. The position typically requires less than two years of experience or training in a particular field.<\/strong><\/li><\/ul>\n\n\n\n<\/div>\n\n\n\n
Similar to the EB-2 immigrant visa, an EB-3 allows you to work in the USA as a lawful permanent resident and you can apply for an immigrant visa for your spouse and your children under the age of 21.\u00a0Both types of employment-based visas also allow you to travel outside of the US for a specified period.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
<\/div>\n\n\n\nThe same argument about changing jobs is true here. As an LPR<\/a>, you have all the same rights regarding work as other Green Card holders. However, the nature of the Green Card means you must be more careful in that particular area than other visa holders.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<\/div>\n\n\n\nThink of it the same as getting a Green Card through marriage. Getting divorced soon after can look suspicious in the same way that leaving your job soon after getting an employment-based Green Card would.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
<\/div>\n\n\n\nYou will find a step-by-step guide on applying for the EB-3 Immigrant Visa<\/a> on US Green Card Advice. They also have a selection of the best immigration lawyers if you need additional advice.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<\/div>\n\n\n\nOther Employment-Based Green Card Categories<\/h3>\n\n\n\n<\/div>\n\n\n\nEB-2 and EB-3 are the most common categories of employment visas, but there are others. Unsurprisingly, there\u2019s EB-1, which is for people of \u201cextraordinary ability\u201d. It\u2019s a pretty vague term, and rightly so. It applies to people who excel in their professional field, whatever this may be.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
<\/div>\n\n\n\nFor example, it might be an Oscar-winning actor, an artist with international acclaim, a Nobel prize-winning scientist, or similar. The biggest difference between EB-1 and the other visa categories is that these applicants don\u2019t need a job offer. Instead, they just need evidence of their extraordinary ability.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
<\/div>\n\n\n\nFurther down the list is the EB-4 visa. It applies to special immigrant workers, which is another broad category. Generally, it relates to religious occupations (e.g., priests or similar) but has also been used for foreigners who have worked for the US government. For example, EB-4 visas have been granted to Iraqi and Afghan translators, NATO workers, and similar.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
<\/div>\n\n\n\nThe final category is the EB-5 Investment Visa<\/a>. By investing a minimum of $1 million into an American business, a foreign national can essentially buy a Green Card. The process is a bit more complicated than this, but that\u2019s all you really need to know.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<\/div>\n\n\n\nEmployment-based Green Card backlog<\/h5>\n\n\n\n<\/div>\n\n\n\nThe backlog for Employment-based Green Cards in 2021 was a stunning 1.4 million. A study made by the CATO Institute can be found here<\/a> together with the employment-based Green Card timeline 2021<\/p>\n\n\n\n
If you hold an advanced degree and are applying for an EB-2 immigrant visa, you\u2019ll need to know which category applies to you. You can select one of the following:<\/p>\n\n\n\n
- The EB-2 (A) is for professionals who have an offer from a US company for employment and hold an advanced college degree.\u00a0<\/strong><\/li>
- The EB-2 (B) is for professionals who have demonstrated excellence in business or the arts and sciences and have an offer of employment from a US company.<\/strong><\/li>
- The EB-2 (C) is for immigrants who demonstrate excellence in a specific skill or hold an advanced college degree.\u00a0You must also show that your abilities will benefit the US in some way.<\/strong><\/li><\/ul>\n\n\n\n
<\/div>\n\n\n\nOnce you are awarded an employment-based Green Card, you are then a lawful permanent resident of the US and can work in the USA.\u00a0 You may also apply for an immigrant visa for your spouse and children.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
<\/div>\n\n\n\nYou can change jobs after getting your employment-based Green Card. While there aren\u2019t any legal restrictions on when you can do this, it\u2019s best to wait 6-12 months after becoming an LPR. Leaving your job too fast could cause a USCIS investigation, as they might check whether the job offer was genuine or an example of immigration fraud.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
<\/div>\n\n\n\nYou will find a step-by-step guide on applying for the EB-2 Immigrant Visa<\/a> on US Green Card Advice. They also have a selection of the best immigration lawyers if you need additional advice.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
<\/div>\n\n\n\nEB-3 Immigrant Visa<\/h3>\n\n\n\n
<\/div>\n\n\n\nIf you hold a Bachelor\u2019s degree from a college in your home country and you have been offered employment to work in the USA, you\u2019ll have to check which EB-3 visa is most appropriate for you. They include the following:<\/p>\n\n\n\n
<\/div>\n\n\n\n- The EB-3 (A) applies to professionals who have an offer of employment and hold a Bachelor\u2019s degree from an accredited college in their country of origin.\u00a0<\/strong><\/li>
- The EB-3 (B) applies to workers who have at least two years of experience or training in a particular skill and have been offered employment with a US company.<\/strong><\/li>
- The EB-3 (C) immigrant visa is for unskilled workers who have been offered employment with a US company. The position typically requires less than two years of experience or training in a particular field.<\/strong><\/li><\/ul>\n\n\n\n
<\/div>\n\n\n\nSimilar to the EB-2 immigrant visa, an EB-3 allows you to work in the USA as a lawful permanent resident and you can apply for an immigrant visa for your spouse and your children under the age of 21.\u00a0Both types of employment-based visas also allow you to travel outside of the US for a specified period.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
<\/div>\n\n\n\nThe same argument about changing jobs is true here. As an LPR<\/a>, you have all the same rights regarding work as other Green Card holders. However, the nature of the Green Card means you must be more careful in that particular area than other visa holders.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
<\/div>\n\n\n\nThink of it the same as getting a Green Card through marriage. Getting divorced soon after can look suspicious in the same way that leaving your job soon after getting an employment-based Green Card would.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
<\/div>\n\n\n\nYou will find a step-by-step guide on applying for the EB-3 Immigrant Visa<\/a> on US Green Card Advice. They also have a selection of the best immigration lawyers if you need additional advice.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
<\/div>\n\n\n\nOther Employment-Based Green Card Categories<\/h3>\n\n\n\n
<\/div>\n\n\n\nEB-2 and EB-3 are the most common categories of employment visas, but there are others. Unsurprisingly, there\u2019s EB-1, which is for people of \u201cextraordinary ability\u201d. It\u2019s a pretty vague term, and rightly so. It applies to people who excel in their professional field, whatever this may be.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
<\/div>\n\n\n\nFor example, it might be an Oscar-winning actor, an artist with international acclaim, a Nobel prize-winning scientist, or similar. The biggest difference between EB-1 and the other visa categories is that these applicants don\u2019t need a job offer. Instead, they just need evidence of their extraordinary ability.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
<\/div>\n\n\n\nFurther down the list is the EB-4 visa. It applies to special immigrant workers, which is another broad category. Generally, it relates to religious occupations (e.g., priests or similar) but has also been used for foreigners who have worked for the US government. For example, EB-4 visas have been granted to Iraqi and Afghan translators, NATO workers, and similar.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
<\/div>\n\n\n\nThe final category is the EB-5 Investment Visa<\/a>. By investing a minimum of $1 million into an American business, a foreign national can essentially buy a Green Card. The process is a bit more complicated than this, but that\u2019s all you really need to know.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
<\/div>\n\n\n\nEmployment-based Green Card backlog<\/h5>\n\n\n\n
<\/div>\n\n\n\nThe backlog for Employment-based Green Cards in 2021 was a stunning 1.4 million. A study made by the CATO Institute can be found here<\/a> together with the employment-based Green Card timeline 2021<\/p>\n\n\n\n
- The EB-3 (B) applies to workers who have at least two years of experience or training in a particular skill and have been offered employment with a US company.<\/strong><\/li>
- The EB-2 (B) is for professionals who have demonstrated excellence in business or the arts and sciences and have an offer of employment from a US company.<\/strong><\/li>