There are several ways to obtain permanent resident status in the U.S. including through employment or investment-based sponsorship, or self-sponsorship based on one’s extraordinary ability or work in the national interest. Marriage to a U.S. citizen or permanent resident is also an option. Immigrant visa holders can live and work in the United States with few restrictions and are eligible to apply for United States citizenship after three to five years of residence.
Immigrant Visas
One of the ways to obtain permanent resident status in the United States is through employment-based sponsorship. In fact, the Immigration and Nationality Act (INA) allows for up to 140,000 employment-based immigrants to enter the United States each year. Immigrant visa holders can live and work in the United States with few restrictions, and are eligible to apply for United States citizenship after having been a permanent resident for five years (or three years if based on marriage to a US citizen).
If you are a foreign national seeking permanent resident status in the United States through employment-based sponsorship, the following sections include additional information that may prove helpful: