EMPLOYMENT-BASED IMMIGRANT VISA TO THE USA

Every fiscal year (October 1st – September 30th), approximately 140,000 employment-based immigrant visas are made available to qualified applicants under the provisions of U.S. immigration law. Employment based immigrant visas are divided into five preference categories:

1. Employment First Preference (E1): Priority Workers
2. Employment Second Preference (E2): Professionals Holding Advanced Degrees and Persons of Exceptional Ability
3. Employment Third Preference (E3): Skilled Workers, Professionals, and Unskilled Workers (Other Workers)
4. Employment Fourth Preference (E4): Certain Special Immigrants
5. Employment Fifth Preference (E5): Immigrant Investors

Fees

Fees are charged for the following services:

• Filing of Immigrant Petition for Alien Worker, Form I-140, or Petition for Amerasian, Widow(er), or Special Immigrant, Form I-360 (this fee is charged by USCIS)
• Processing an immigrant visa application, Form DS-260
• Medical examination and required vaccinations (costs vary)
• Other costs may include: translations; photocopying charges; fees for obtaining the documents you need for the immigrant visa application (such as passport, police certificates, birth certificates, etc.); and expenses for travel to the U.S. Embassy or Consulate for your visa interview. Costs vary from country to country and case to case.

Required Documentation

In general, the following documents are required:

• Passport(s) valid for six months beyond the intended date of entry into the United States, unless longer validity is specifically requested by the U.S. Embassy/Consulate in your country. Please review the instructions for guidance.
• Form DS-260, Immigrant Visa and Alien Registration Application.
• Two (2) 2×2 photographs. See the required photo format explained in Photograph Requirements.
• Civil Documents for the applicant. See Documents the Applicant Must Submit for more specific information about documentation requirements, including information on which documents may need to be translated. The consular officer may ask for more information during your visa interview. Bring your original civil documents (or certified copies) such as birth and marriage certificates, as well as legible photocopies of the original civil documents, and any required translations to your immigrant visa interview. Original documents and translations can then be returned to you.
• Financial Support – At your immigrant visa interview, you must demonstrate to the consular officer that you will not become a public charge in the United States. (NOTE: For applicants where a U.S. citizen or lawful permanent resident (LPR) relative filed the Form I-140 petition or where such a relative has a significant ownership interest in the entity that filed the petition, that relative must complete Form I-864, Affidavit of Support Under Section 213A of the Act, on behalf of the applicant.)
• Completed Medical Examination Forms – These are provided by the panel physician after you have completed your medical examination and vaccinations