Employment-Based

The US Congress created in 1990 a priority or preference system based on employment skills. Every year, foreigners may be granted 140,000 immigration visas under any of the five preferences:

• First Preference: Priority Workers (EB-1)
• Second Preference: Advanced Degree Professionals and Aliens of Exceptional Ability (EB-2)
• Third Preference: Skilled Workers, Professionals and Other Workers (EB-3)
• Fourth Preference: Special Immigrants and Religious Workers (EB-4)
• Fifth preference immigration investors (EB-5)