Foreign nationals who have immigrant visas are free to live and work in the United States without the restrictions placed on visitors and temporary workers. Once granted this status, immigrants are considered full citizens of the USA and are eligible for permanent residency. As long as they can prove they qualify for one of the designated types of work visas. Family connections, gainful work, safe living conditions, and winning the “green card” lottery are all valid reasons to apply for an immigrant visa.
Visa categories and immigration status
The family unit
Family members of United States citizens or lawful permanent residents may be eligible to immigrate to the country on the basis of family ties. Spouses, children under 21, and parents are all considered family members. The IR-1 visa is for spouses, the IR-2 for children, and the IR-5 for parents of U.S. citizens. There is an IR-3 visa for orphans who have been adopted internationally, and an IR-4 visa for those who are awaiting adoption.
Families Come First
Potential recipients include US citizens’ relatives. Family members of US citizens include siblings and sisters, as well as any unmarried children under the age of 21 and any married kids of any age. Family Visa for Third Preferred (visa F-3) is for children who are not married, while Family Visa of 4 Preference (visa F-4) is for siblings who are not married. There is an annual cap on visas for these relations, in contrast to the unlimited cap on visas for close relatives.
Relatives of LPRs and their Families
After the United States accepts an immigrant under the FB-2 category, the immigrant’s immediate relatives already living in the country may likewise apply for permanent residence status. Spouses, minor children, et married grandchildren (age 21 and older) of LPRs are eligible to apply for an F-2 visa as family members. There is an annual cap of 114,200 for the F-2 visa, with at least 77% of those visas set aside for permanent residents’ minor children and spouses.
- The Diversity Initiative
Under the Diversity Immigrant Program, visas for permanent residency are also provided to foreign nationals. The Diversity Visa Program facilitates the issuance of visas and other immigration papers to people from countries has historically low rates of U.S. immigration.
For Employees Only
Teh Employment-Based Immigrant Visa is another option for foreign nationals seeking permanent residence status in the United States. Foreign nationals who want to work in the United States are the only ones eligible for Employment-Based Immigrant Visas. Both high- and low-skilled employees may apply for these visas. About 140,000 Employment-Based Immigrant Visas are made available annually by the Immigration Service.