Visa Options for Immigrants in the US

Many people immigrate to the United States each year, especially since it’s a popular destination for immigrants and tourists alike. However, if you’re planning on residing in the United States for good, you’ll need a visa to be allowed entry to the country. 

A US visa refers to a stamp that you typically receive on your passport or travel document, which signifies that you’re qualified to enter the US. However, this does not solely mean that you will enter the country since the final discretion will be up to the Customs and Borders Protection (CPB) and the Department of Homeland Security (DHS) inspectors. 

Because of this, you will need to apply for a visa to gain entry into the US. Seeking the assistance of US Total Law immigration services will especially help make the process easier for you. Apart from that, they will also assist you in exploring possible visa options you can consider applying for to acquire a residence in the United States and the required documents that come alongside it. 

That being said, listed below are some of the visa options for immigrants in the United States. 

Immigrant visa options

The US issues visas to foreign individuals traveling to the country through their respective consulates or embassies. Your purpose for entering the country will determine what kind of visa you need to be applying for. Immigrant visas also come in various types, taking on different categories based on obtaining the permanent visa. These can either be Employer-Sponsored visas or family Sponsored visas. 

Here are your options:

1. Family and Immediate Relative Sponsored Visas

This visa means that you want to join your immediate family or relative and live in the US with them permanently. These can either be your spouse, parents, or fiance. If you have a spouse or family in the US, you are eligible for this particular category of US immigrant visa. Here are subcategories under Family-sponsored visas and a brief description for each. 

  • K-1 Fiance Visa USA

This is issued to a person who is engaged to a US resident and can be permitted to go to the US for 90 days. Within this time frame, the couple should get married to begin filing a petition for a spouse visa. 

  • CR-1, IR-1 US Spouse Visas

These are bestowed to individuals already married legally to a US citizen. Living together does not qualify for this visa, so you must prove your marriage through legal documents. 

  • K-3 Visa

This visa is made to significantly shorten the time that a married couple is physically away from each other. K3 visa processing allows them to get together in the US while waiting for the approval of their petition for a spouse visa. 

  • F-2A, F-2B for Family members of Lawful Permanent US Residents

The F-2 visa caters to unmarried or minor children and spouses of individuals with immigrant visas. They are also classified into two categories: the F2A being for children and spouses and the F2B being for unmarried daughters and sons. 

2. Employment-Sponsored Visas

US visas sponsored by employers are also a kind of immigrant visa that permits holders to work in the country permanently. The US government typically sets a limit on the number of employment visas that they offer to approximately 140,000 every fiscal year. Here are some of your options:

  • EB-1 for First Priority Workers

This is for individuals who have the EB1 visa and can be considered in three groups. These include outstanding researchers and professors who have international acclaim, persons who possess extraordinary abilities in the fields of education, business, athletics, science or arts, or for multinational managers of the executive who have worked for at least one out of three years overseas for a branch or parent company in the US.

  • EB-2 for Second Priority Workers

This is for professionals who possess an advanced degree: either a Bachelor’s degree or five years of job experience in that particular profession and those who have finished a higher degree than a Bachelor’s degree. This also includes individuals who have exceptional talent or abilities in business, sciences, or the arts.

  • EB-3, EW-3 for Third priority Workers

These include professional workers who require a Bachelor’s degree or a US equivalent to start working in their profession, EB3 visa for skilled workers who possess at least two years of training or experience in their profession and are not temporary, or EW3 visa for unskilled workers who do not need these. 

  • EB-4 for Fourth Priority Workers 

These include a variety of visas for people who are religious workers, former or current employees of the US government, Iraqi or Afghan employees, foreign medical graduates, family members of international organization employees, and more. 

Conclusion

These are only some of the visa options you can apply for as an immigrant in the US. However, you may opt to seek US immigration total law services to be sure of what the right visa is for you to ensure a smooth application process to your new home. 

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Christophe Rude
Christophe Rude
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