Every year, thousands of people from all over the world immigrate to the United States for a variety of reasons. This is because The United States is one of the world’s most developed countries and thus is inviting to anyone who seeks a better life for both themselves and their families.
Over the years, the US has introduced several visa options for immigrants. Each of these options comes with its own set of requirements and benefits.
If you are curious about these options, you have come to the right place. In, this article, we are going to delve into each of these visa options to help you determine which one suits you best.
Types Of US Immigration Visa.
Whether you are a student coming to The US in search of better educational opportunities, a professional who is searching for better work conditions, or a family looking to relocate and is in search of permanent residency, the US has a visa specially tailored to your needs.
1. Family-sponsored Visa
A family-sponsored visa is a visa that allows US citizens and permanent residents to sponsor their family members to live and work permanently in the United States.
Note that there are two types of family-sponsored visas:
– Immediate relative visas (IR-visa)
These visas are available for your close relatives of US citizens, such as spouses, children under 21 years old, and parents. There is no limit on the number of immediate relative visas that are issued each year.
Here are the types of immediate relatives’ visa (IR-visa) according to preference.
IR-1: This visa is for the spouse of a US citizen.
IR-2: This visa is for the unmarried child under 21 years old of a US citizen.
IR-3: This visa is for the adopted child of a US citizen.
IR-4: This visa is for the unmarried child under 21 years old of a US citizen who is already in the United States in lawful nonimmigrant status.
– Family preference visas(F-visa)
These visas are available for other family members of US citizens, such as siblings, adult children, and married sons and daughters of US citizens. However, there is a limit on the number of family preference visas that are issued each year.
Some of the most common types of family-sponsored visas are:
F1: This visa is for the unmarried son or daughter of a US permanent resident who is 21 years old or older.
F2A: For the spouse and unmarried children under 21 years old of a US permanent resident.
F2B: For the unmarried sons and daughters of a US permanent resident who are 21 years old or older.
– Employment-based Visa (EB-visa)
These visas are made for immigrants who have been offered a job in the United States. The most common employment-based visas are the EB-1 visas, the EB-2 visas, and the EB-3 visas.
EB-1: These visas are for priority workers like Nobel Laureate winners and professionals. Also, immigrants are greatly accomplished in their fields of expertise or professions such as scientists, artists, and business executives. It is the first preference category for employment-based visas, and it does not require a labor certification from the Department of Labor.
EB-2: These visas are for immigrants who have a bachelor’s degree or its equivalent and are skilled workers or professionals. This visa is second preference.
EB-3: Visas are for immigrants who are unskilled workers or semiskilled workers. This is a second preferred category for employment-based visas, and it requires a labor certification from the Department of Labor.
3. Refugee visas
These visas are for immigrants who have been forced to abandon their home country due to persecution. Such immigrants can apply for refugee status through the United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees (UNHCR). The US offers this visa to help resettle such refugees and give them a new lease of life.
To qualify for a refugee visa, you must meet this requirement.
- You must be outside of your home country.
- You must have a well-founded fear of persecution due to your race, religion, nationality, political opinion, or membership in a particular social group.
- You must be admissible to the United States.
4. Asylum
Asylum is a status that allows people who are already in the US to remain in the US if they show a well-founded fear of persecution in their home country. This could be due to your race, religion, opinion, political affiliation, or membership in a particular social group.
To qualify for an asylum visa, you must:
- You must be a refugee, which means you have been persecuted or have a well-founded fear of persecution in your home country due to your race, religion, nationality, membership in a particular social group, or political opinion.
- You must apply for asylum within one year of the date of your last arrival in the United States unless you can show changed circumstances that materially affect your eligibility for asylum or extraordinary circumstances relating to the delay in filing.
- You must not be barred from asylum, such as if you have been convicted of a serious crime.
How to Apply for a US Visa for Immigrants
The application process for a US visa for immigrants can be complex and time-consuming. The first step is to gather the required documentation. The specific documentation requirements vary by visa type, but some common documents include:
- A passport
- A visa application form
- Proof of financial support
- Medical exam results
- Evidence of a job offer (for employment-based visas)
- Police Clearances
Once you have gathered the required documentation, you must submit your application to a US embassy or consulate in your home country. The embassy or consulate will review your application and decide whether to grant you a visa.
The processing time for a US visa for immigrants can vary, but it typically takes several months. If your visa application is approved, you will be issued a visa that allows you to travel to the United States.
To reiterate, the United States offers a variety of visas for immigrants, each with its own set of requirements and benefits. If you are interested in immigrating to the United States, it is important to carefully research the visa that is right for you. You can find more information about US visas on the USCIS website. You can also check your eligibility to know if you qualify for any of these US immigration pathways.