Skilled Immigration
The US work visa system is the most complex in the World. Some of the most carefully prepared visa applications are rejected for seemingly the slightest of reasons and Embassy officials are under no obligation to explain why an application has been rejected.
Immigrants to the United States are divided into two categories: (1) those who may obtain permanent residence status without numerical limitation, and (2) those subject to an annual limitation. The latter category is further divided into (A) family-sponsored, (B) employment-based, and (C) diversity immigrants. The USA Employment-Based Immigration Visas category is then divided into five preference groups ranging from professionals to investors.
The US permanent residence visa is known as the "Green Card", which identifies the holder as a permanent resident of the US. Green Cards in certain categories can be obtained fairly quickly. In other categories, even if you have the strongest qualifications possible, it can still take months or years to obtain one because of quotas. If you have family connections with the US, this will certainly help.
You can qualify for a Green Card through employment, although all categories are limited by quotas. You will need a job offer from a US employer and the correct background in terms of experience, training and education for the job you have been offered. The US government will also need to be satisfied that there are no qualified American workers available and willing to take the specific job that has been offered to you. Certain occupations - such as Nursing - may have special categories of visas which lead to Green Cards. You could also qualify for a Green Card through investment, if you are prepared to invest funds in creating a new US business or expanding one that already exists.
An alternative route is to obtain a temporary visa first and then reconsider your long-term objectives once you are in the USA. You can then make a Green Card application if you want to stay permanently. There are numerous kinds of non-immigrant, or temporary, visas. Unlike Green Cards, which are identical once allocated, temporary visas differ from each other in the benefits they offer, as well as how long they last. Most importantly, your application will be processed much faster if your intention is not to take up permanent residence right from the start.
As you can see applying for US residency can be bewildering for would-be migrants. You are faced with over 100 different kinds of visa to choose from - only one of which is likely to be exactly right for you! Furthermore, most classes of visa are restricted by a quota, which limits the number of people that will be accepted each year. The fact is United States immigration legislation is complex with many different categories, rules and quotas providing legal entrance and residence, all of which are dependent on an applicant’s individual circumstances. The process of obtaining any form of visa or work permit is often fraught with problems and the documentation can be daunting.
This is why so many people who wish to live and work in The United States turn to us at Visaplus. We know US immigration legislation back to front. Not just as it relates to employment, but as it relates to all the categories of migration permitted - many of which are not public knowledge. So our recommended route may not be one you had contemplated - or even thought possible. Why not take the next step to find out if you qualify? Simply complete our full Visaplus Assessment Appraisal so that we can evaluate your options and best route to success.
