For those who are seeking employment in America, there are many ways for a temporary or a permanent US visa to be obtained. A green card allows a foreign citizen to receive permanent residency in the US, and this article examines the eligibility criteria for these visas as well as alternatives available.
The Diversity Immigrant Visa Program Lottery is one application process that can be pursued by residents of countries with low immigration to the US. A total of 55,000 places are available every year and the recipients of the visas are selected randomly from a list of eligible candidates. Some of the minimal requirements for this process include a 12-year period of primary and secondary education, or at least two years of work experience.
However, there are alternatives to this lottery. Skilled workers can apply for an employment visa and their application is normally divided into one of five categories. Each of these sections prioritises applicants who work in an industry which is in demand in the US. For example, first preference applicants for US visas receive almost 29 per cent of the employment visas which are available based on the abilities they have proved in the forms they had to send. Typical applicants in this category include candidates with an exceptional educational, athletic, scientific or artistic ability which can be proven through national or international recognition. Despite an existing job offer not being required for the visa to be accepted, US law stipulates that a successful applicant must continue to work within their specialist field.
However, with first preference applicants there are circumstances where their potential US employer will have to fill out a form I-140 on the immigrant’s behalf. This form is known as an Immigrant Petition for Foreign Workers and needs to be accompanied with a job offer for the prospective citizen. Academics with an exceptional ability proven by extensive experience who wish to research in American universities and other educational institutions are candidates who need input from their employers in this way. Additionally, a foreign executive who was working as a manager for a branch of a US company in their country will also require a petition to be filled. As many US businesses are multinational, first preference is given to the employees of these companies in other countries, should they wish to secure a visa to seek promotion.
Second preference applicants also receive approximately 29 per cent or so of the US visas available; however, there is more competition for these documents. Candidates with an advanced degree and significant experience in their specialist industry, or those with substantially more artistic, educational, scientific or athletic ability than average, are normally placed into this category.
Third preference applicants include both unskilled and skilled workers, who are categorised through criteria outlined by the US authorities. A skilled worker is defined through whether their job requires at least two years of work experience or training. In addition, their employment cannot be short term or only required at a certain time of year.
Both fourth and fifth preference visa applications receive a smaller share of the visas available; approximately seven per cent each. For fourth preference candidates, form I-360 needs to be filled in. The categorisation of prospective citizens is determined through sub groups and examples of candidates include ministers of religion, foreign medical graduates and retired employees of international organisations.
The fifth preference is reserved for immigrants wishing to become entrepreneurs in the US. This category is known as ‘immigrant investors’ and form I-526 needs to be filled. Eligibility criteria state that at least $500,000 needs to be invested into a geographical area within the US, creating at least ten full time jobs for citizens in the local area. There are factors which determine how much money needs to be invested, including the unemployment rate of the area where an immigrant would want to move.
Despite the criteria within each preference varying, every visa applicant is required to submit documentation such as their birth certificate, passport and any other official paperwork relevant to their application. A medical examination is also required and in some cases vaccinations are also expected.
If you are directly related to current US citizens, you may also be eligible for permanent residency in the country. Siblings, parents, spouses and children who are US citizens are examples of relations that are acceptable.
To visit the US for a holiday, an ESTA application is required. The speed and efficiency of the application process is convenient and the removal of the inconvenient and outdated I-94W system has brought the visa process into the 21st century. When applying using the Electronic System for Travel Authorisation, a successful submission will remain active for two years, meaning that repeated journeys can be conducted without the need to apply for another ESTA, but you must update your travel information (such as hotel and flight details) before you will be allowed to travel.
To apply for an ESTA with the American Visa Bureau, applicants should begin by completing their online ESTA application. This takes approximately 15 minutes to complete, with most applications being processed instantly (although the process may take up to 72 hours).
Checking your ESTA status is simple, and can be done by logging into the American Visa Bureau site with just your email address and password via the ESTA status page. As the Visa Bureau website is verified as THAWT secured (the highest level of Internet security available), you can be assured that your details will be secure.
As this article has explained, US visas are available through many different channels. The main task for prospective visitors or residents to the US is to find a visa application method that is appropriate for the purpose of their visit. Once this has been achieved, the paperwork and processes to validate the visa will be less complicated.
