Immigration Visa: Every year, millions of migrants travel to the US. The US government provides different kinds of Immigration Visa for different purposes such as education, employment, family, humanitarian, etc.
Exploring the Various Types of Immigration Visas in the United States
If you plan to settle in the United States and want to become An American Citizen, you should understand the different kinds of Immigration Visa.
This article includes all the information related to tickets provided by the US immigration system.
Family-Based Visas:
Family-based Immigration Visa include those planning to live in the US with their family. But his or her family must have the citizenship of that country.
Here are different kinds of family-based visas.
Immediate Relative Immigrant Visas
If a person lives in America and has citizenship, then his family members, including a spouse and kids below twenty-one and parents, can apply for Immediate Relative Immigrant Visas and can become permanent residents of America.
It is an easy process to get a visa to the US, and it has no limitations.
There are different types of Immediate Relative visas:
- IR-1 visa for the spouse
- IR-2 visa for unmarried children under 21 years old
- IR-3 visa for children adopted abroad
- IR-4 visa for children adopted within the U.S
- IR-5 visa for parents
These visas allow the holder to become a lawful permanent resident (get a Green Card) based on their family relationship if they meet certain eligibility requirements.
There is no limitation to the number of Immediate Relative immigrant visas that can be granted in a year, so there is no waiting period for a visa to become available.
Family Preference Immigrant Visas
This visa is for distant relatives and has limitations. Family Preference Immigrant Visas allow certain relatives of U.S. citizens and lawful permanent residents (LPRs) to immigrate to the U.S. based on their family relationship.
These visas are limited in number each year and are divided into four categories:
- F1 visa for unmarried sons and daughters (21 years or older) of U.S. citizens;
- F2 visa for spouses and children (unmarried and under 21) of LPRs;
- F3 visa for married sons and daughters of U.S. citizens;
- F4 visa for brothers and sisters of U.S. citizens (if the U.S. citizen is 21 years or older).
To apply for a Family Preference Immigrant Visa, the U.S. citizen or LPR relative must file a petition with the U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS) and prove the family relationship.
For more information, you can visit the following websites:
- Green Card for Family Preference Immigrants
- Family-based immigrant visas and sponsoring a relative
- Family Immigration
Employment-Based Visas:
Employment-based Immigration Visa include various types based on skills, talents, etc. These visas are based on immigrants’ qualifications and the job.
This visa is divided into sub-categories, such as (EB-1, EB-2, EB-3, etc.) Read below for more details.
- EB-1 Visa: This visa is only valid for individuals with extraordinary abilities, such as scientists, professors, executive managers, etc.
- EB-2 Visa: This visa is only valid for individuals with extraordinary abilities who want permanent residence in America. This visa is divided into Professionals with advanced degrees and individuals with exceptional skills.
- EB-3 Visa: This visa is valid for unskilled or no experienced workers who have bachelor’s degrees.
- EB-4 Visa: This visa is available for special immigrants such as religious workers, US government employees who live abroad, etc. But it has its limitations and requirements.
Diversity Visa (DV) Program:
The Diversity Immigration Visa program is for those countries that do not send immigrants to the US in search of visas.
Every year, about 50,000 lottery tickets are given away to those countries. It aims to increase diversity in the US.
- Investor Visas: This visa is for people who want to invest economically in the US to provide more career options to the workers.
- EB-5 Immigrant Investor Visa: This investment program must create or protect at least ten full-time jobs for eligible workers in the United States.
Humanitarian Visas:
Sure, here are some types of U.S. Humanitarian Immigration Visa:
- Refugees: Individuals referred to the U.S. Refugee Admissions Program (USRAP) for consideration as a refugee.
- Asylum Seekers: People who have come to the U.S. seeking protection because they have suffered or fear they will suffer persecution due to race, religion, nationality, membership in a particular social group, or political opinion.
- VAWA Battered Spouse Waiver: This is part of the Violence Against Women Act (VAWA) that allows certain people to travel to and stay in the U.S. permanently.
- Victims of Human Trafficking: Certain visas are available for victims of human trafficking.
- Victims of Other Serious Crimes: Certain visas are available for victims of other serious crimes.
- Special Immigrant Juvenile Status (SIJ): This is for foreign children in the U.S. who have been abused, abandoned, or neglected.
Source:
Understanding various Immigration Visa programs is essential, and each visa has its requirements and limitations.
So, if you are planning to move to the US, you should be aware of all types of visas provided by the US immigration system.
Please note: For the most accurate information, please refer to the official U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS) website or consult an immigration attorney.