Some people become eligible for green cards through family relationships. Others enter the country and pursue permanent residence through employment opportunities. Those with employment visas may qualify for green cards. They can then remain in the country indefinitely or possibly even pursue citizenship.
What are the standard requirements for those with employment visas seeking a green card?
The ability to pass a background check
For an immigrant professional to adjust their status and secure a green card, they must undergo a background check looking at their criminal record in the United States and the country where they lived previously. Those with serious recent criminal convictions may be ineligible for a green card.
A qualifying job
There is no minimum residency requirement for employment-based green card eligibility. However, the federal government maintains different preference categories based on the type of work the immigrant performs.
Priority workers with extraordinary capabilities received the highest level of preference when applying for green cards. The second preference category applies to professionals with advanced degrees and those with exceptional abilities.
The third preference category is for skilled workers and even professionals holding jobs that do not require years of training or experience. The fourth preference category is for certain special professionals, including those who work for religious organizations or who have held jobs for the United States government in another country. The final category is for immigrant investors.
Securing a green card as a foreign professional working in the United States can be a complicated process. The support of an immigration attorney can help people evaluate their eligibility, complete the necessary paperwork and pursue a green card that allows for lawful permanent residency in the United States.