Immigrant Visas
Immigrant Visas
Those who wish to enter the United States (U.S.) to reside there permanently, whether or not they plan to seek employment, must obtain an immigrant visa. U.S. immigration law provides for the issuance of immigrant visas in the following general categories:
• Family-based
• Employment-based
• Other (Returning Residents, & K Visas)
• Diversity Immigrant Visa Program
Family-based:
Listed below are the relatives of a U.S. citizen or Lawful Permanent Resident who are eligible to qualify for immigration in the family-based category.
Note: Grandparents, aunts, uncles, in-laws and cousins cannot sponsor a relative for immigration.
| Spouse of a U.S. citizen | |
| Child of a U.S. citizen | An immigrant visa may only be processed for a child if he or she has no claim to U.S. citizenship |
| Parent of a U.S. citizen | U.S. citizen must be 21 or over |
| Step-parent or step-child of a U.S. citizen | Step-parent, step-child relationship must occur before the child's 18th birthday |
| Spouse of a deceased U.S. citizen | A petition must be filed within two years of the death of the U.S. citizen |
| Unmarried Son or Daughter of a U.S. citizen | |
| Spouse and/or Child of a Lawful Permanent Resident | |
| Unmarried Son or Daughter of a Lawful Permanent Resident | Son or Daughter must be 21 or over |
| Married Son or Daughter of a U.S. citizen | |
| Brother or Sister of a U.S. citizen | U.S. citizen must be 21 or over |
Employment-based:
In general, a specific offer of employment from a U.S. based employer is required to qualify for immigration in the employment-based category.
| Priority Workers | Persons of extraordinary ability in the sciences, education, arts, business or athletics: outstanding professors and researchers & certain multinational executives & managers |
| Professionals with advanced degrees or persons with exceptional ability in sciences, arts, or business | Defined as a member of the professions holding an advanced degree or equivalent, or baccalaureate degree plus at least five years of progressive experience in the specialty, and persons of exceptional ability in the sciences, arts, and business |
| Professionals | A person who holds a baccalaureate degree and who is a member of the professions. |
| Skilled & Other Workers | Skilled workers with at least two years' training or experience and unskilled workers whose skills are in short supply in the U.S. Note: The U.S. Embassy and consulates in Yemen do not keep a list of these professions |
| Special Immigrants | Certain religious workers and ministers of religion, certain international organization employees and their immediate family member, qualified and recommended current and former employees of the U.S. Government. |
| Investors | Persons who will create employment for at least ten unrelated persons by investing a minimum of $1,000,000 in a new commercial enterprise in the U.S. |
Other
Click on a title to learn more.
| Returning Resident Aliens |
| Fiancé(e) of a U.S. citizen and their children - K-1 & K-2 Visa |
| Spouse of U.S. citizen and their children - K-3 & K-4 Visas |