U.S. visas fall into two main paths:

Nonimmigrant visas (temporary, defined by specific activities or durations) and Immigrant visas (permanent residence/green cards). Most pathways require a U.S. employer or project to file a petition, though some investor and extraordinary ability categories allow self-petitioning.

Key Nonimmigrant Work & Investor Categories

Temporary statuses authorize a noncitizen to work for a specific purpose or timeframe, or to operate a business:

• H Visas (H-1B): For specialty occupations requiring highly specialized knowledge and a bachelor's degree (requires employer sponsorship).
• L Visas (L-1A/L-1B): For intra-company transferees moving from an affiliated foreign office to a U.S. branch to work as an executive/manager or specialized knowledge professional.
• E Visas (E-1/E-2): For treaty traders and treaty investors. E-2 is especially popular for entrepreneurs making a substantial, active investment in a U.S. commercial enterprise.
• O Visas (O-1): For individuals with extraordinary ability or achievement in the sciences, arts, education, business, or athletics (nationally/internationally recognized).
• P Visas: For internationally recognized athletes, artists, and entertainers performing or competing in the U.S.

Employment-Based (EB) Immigrant Visas

These permanent employment-based categories grant lawful permanent residence (a green card):

• EB-1 (Priority Workers): For aliens of extraordinary ability, outstanding professors/researchers, and multinational executives/managers.
• EB-2 (Advanced Degrees / Exceptional Ability): For professionals holding advanced degrees or individuals with exceptional ability in the sciences, arts, or business.
• EB-3 (Skilled and Unskilled Workers): For professionals with bachelor's degrees, skilled workers with at least two years of experience, and other unskilled workers.

Immigrant Investor Visas

• EB-5 (Employment Creation / Investors): Grants green cards to foreign nationals who invest a minimum of $800,000 (or $1,050,000 depending on the project's geographic location) into a new commercial enterprise that creates or preserves at least 10 full-time U.S. jobs.

To evaluate your best option, we represent clients for all kinds on non immigrant visas like H, L, E, O,P, etc., and also for residencies from investors to immigrants with employment offers.