Overview
The Immigration and Nationality Act provides a yearly minimum of 140,000 employment-based immigrant visas which are divided into five preference categories. They may require a labor certification from the U.S. Department of Labor (DOL), and the filing of a petition with United States Citizenship and Immigration Services in the Department of Homeland Security (USCIS).Link to the U.S. Department of State Visa Bulletin
1st Employment Preference: "Priority Workers" — does not require a Labor Certification
E-1-1
Persons with "extraordinary ability" in arts, sciences, education, business or athletics (this is the only category in which it is not necessary to have a "sponsoring employer")
E-1-2
Outstanding professors and researchers
E-1-3
Multinational executives and managers
E-1-1
Persons with "extraordinary ability" in arts, sciences, education, business or athletics (this is the only category in which it is not necessary to have a "sponsoring employer")
E-1-2
Outstanding professors and researchers
E-1-3
Multinational executives and managers
2nd Employment Preference
E-2-1
- Professionals holding advanced degrees (or bachelor's degree plus 5 years of "progressive experience") — always requires a "Labor Certification"
- Persons of "exceptional ability" in the sciences, arts or business — no Labor Certification necessary if a "national interest waiver" is approved
3rd Employment Preference (always requires a "Labor Certification")
E-3-1
Skilled workers with at least 2 years of training or experienceE-3-2
Professionals with baccalaureate degreesE-W-3
"Unskilled" workers (limited to 10,000 "Green Cards" per year)
4th Employment Preference
S-D-1
Ministers, religious workers and other "Special Immigrants"
5th Employment Preference