Immigrant Visas

Employment-Based Visas

Each year, a limited number of employment-based immigrant visas are available. Qualified applicants for employment-based visas are either: (1) members of certain professions or persons of exceptional ability in the sciences and arts whose services are referred by an employer in the U.S.; or (2) skilled and unskilled workers designated by the U.S. Department of Labor as in short supply in the U.S.

The first steps of this application process take place entirely in the United States. The potential U.S. employer must first file a Form I-140 immigrant visa petition for the worker. I-140 forms are available only in the United States and can be approved only by the Immigration and Naturalization Service in the United States.

Because of the limited number of visas available each year, there may be a waiting period depending on the type of job. The waiting period is shortest for workers with extraordinary ability, professionals with advanced degrees and senior executives of multinational corporations. For low-skilled jobs requiring two years or less of training or experience, the waiting period can be many years.

Immigrant visas are issued in each employment category in the order that the I-140 petitions are filed in the United States. Those petitions filed earlier have an earlier "priority date" than those petitions filed later.

The U.S. Embassy only becomes involved once the priority date of the approved I-140 petition becomes eligible for processing -- or "current". At that point, the applicant will be sent the detailed list of supporting documents needed to apply for the immigrant visa. After the applicant informs the Embassy that all the documents are ready, we will then schedule a visa interview. Interviews are scheduled by appointment, Monday through Wednesday.