This document provides information about employment-based green card acquisition from the Buhler Law Office. It outlines the four types of employment-based green card applicants and the five categories of immigrant workers according to the USCIS. These categories include priority workers, persons with exceptional ability, professionals/skilled/unskilled workers, special immigrants, and investors/employers. While many strive to obtain a green card, it is a rigorous process with only a small fraction of applications approved each year.

1. Buhler Law Office
2230 North University Parkway,
Suite 2A, Provo UT 84604
(801) 960-3346
Employment-based
Green Card Acquisition

2. Many immigrants strive to obtain a green card for themselves and their family. The
opportunity to secure a job in the US as well as enjoy the benefits afforded to lawful
permanent residents (LPR) is not easy to come by. That is, unless the immigrant possesses
a particularly exceptional skill valued by their employer.
The US Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS) list four types of employment-based
green card applicants: temporary (non-immigrant) workers, permanent (immigrant)
workers, student exchange visitors, and business visitors. Only the permanent workers may
stay indefinitely in the country.
There are five further categories of immigrant workers according to the USCIS, and they will
determine the priority level for their green card filing and processing. Note that some
categories require a certification from the Department of Labor.
Priority Workers
Many applicants file as EB-1 due to its
shorter wait time, but only a few will
pass the rigorous screening process the
USCIS employs to determine eligibility.
Individuals granted with a National
Interest Waiver (NIW), or are
instrumental additions to the country’s
academic/business field might qualify for
this category.

3. Persons with Exceptional Ability
Like the first category, EB-2 applicants also undergo job requirement scrutiny, and may be
denied access if they fail to meet the USCIS standard. Immigrants from subscribed
countries such as India and China may file an EB-2 as a faster alternative to EB-3.
Professionals, Skilled, and Unskilled Workers
This category requires a labor certification. The government will confirm the application
with the employer while monitoring the demand for the specified profession. The USCIS
provides a Schedule A waiver to individuals working in a field with a shortage of US
workers. Schedule B applicants are individuals who face an oversupply in their chosen field
of work, and may find difficulty securing a green card.

4. Special Immigrants
This category includes religious workers, current/former US government employees, and
translators for the US Armed Forces.
Investors and Employers
Individuals able to invest at least $1,000,000 in the US economy, creating at least 10 new
full-time jobs, qualify as EB-5 immigrants. In some cases, the USCIS will accept
individuals who can invest half the monetary amount and produce five full-time jobs.
Each year, the government processes over 6 million green card applications. Only about 1
million gets approved, a fraction of which is for LPRs. The immigration system in the US is
definitely not a simple one, but on all counts, it is effective in keeping the US economy
teeming with talent, skill, and capital.
RESOURCES:
http://www.buhlerlawoffice.com
https://www.uscis.gov/green-card/green-card-through-job