The United States issues about 140,000 employment-based immigrant visas each fiscal year, creating pathways to permanent residency for foreign nationals with specialised skills, professional qualifications, and investment capacity.

As reported by MSN, a news platform owned by Microsoft that gathers news articles and features from thousands of publishers around the world, on Thursday, visas allocated from October 1 to September 30 each year are divided into five preference categories. Eligible spouses and children of approved applicants may also qualify to accompany or later join the principal beneficiary.

The five employment-based immigrant visa categories are designed to attract a wide range of talent, from leading researchers and executives to skilled workers, religious professionals, and business investors.

EB-1: Priority Workers and Extraordinary Ability Individuals

The first preference category, known as EB-1, is reserved for priority workers. It includes individuals with extraordinary ability in fields such as science, arts, education, business, and athletics.

Eligible applicants may also include outstanding professors and researchers, as well as certain multinational executives and managers. Individuals with extraordinary ability may petition on their own behalf without a job offer, provided they continue working in their area of expertise.

Outstanding professors and researchers generally must meet experience requirements and have an offer from a qualifying US institution.

EB-2: Advanced Degree Professionals and Exceptional Ability Workers

The second preference category, EB-2, covers professionals with advanced degrees and individuals with exceptional ability in science, arts, or business.

Most applicants require an approved labour certification and a job offer. However, those who qualify for a National Interest Waiver may bypass these requirements and file a petition independently.

EB-3: Skilled, Professional, and Other Workers

The EB-3 category provides opportunities for skilled workers, professionals, and other workers.

Skilled workers must typically demonstrate at least two years of training or relevant work experience. Professionals generally must hold a bachelor’s degree or its foreign equivalent, while the “other workers” category applies to positions requiring less than two years of training or experience.

EB-4: Certain Special Immigrants

The EB-4 category is designed for certain special immigrants. Eligible groups include ministers and other religious workers, certain broadcasters, Iraqi and Afghan interpreters and translators, some foreign medical graduates, special immigrant juveniles, certain former US government employees stationed abroad, and individuals serving or enlisted to serve in the US Armed Forces.

Unlike several other employment-based categories, labour certification is generally not required for EB-4 applicants.

EB-5: Immigrant Investors

The EB-5 category is aimed at foreign investors who invest qualifying capital in a new commercial enterprise in the United States.

Applicants must meet investment requirements and demonstrate that their investment will help create jobs for US workers.

Together, the five employment-based immigration categories reflect the US government’s effort to attract talent, expertise, and investment from around the world. They provide different routes to permanent residency based on professional achievement, employment skills, special circumstances, or financial investment.