US Work Visas & Employer-Sponsored Green Cards
If you have a US employer willing to
sponsor you, you may qualify for a work visa or green card.
Immigration attorney Michael Ashoori breaks down the top
options.
1️⃣ Employer-Sponsored Green Card (PERM
Process)
✅ For: Full-time job offers in
the US.
✅ 3-Step
Process:
1. PERM Labor Certification
o Employer proves no qualified US workers
available.
o Must pay prevailing wage (same
as US workers).
2. Immigrant Petition (I-140)
o Employer files to sponsor you.
3.
Adjustment
of Status (if in US) or Consular Processing (if abroad).
⏳ Timeline:
·
1.5+
years (longer for
India/China due to visa backlogs).
2️⃣ H-1B Visa (Specialty Occupation)
✅ For: Jobs requiring a bachelor’s
degree (e.g., IT, engineering, finance).
✅ Requirements:
·
Employer must file a
petition.
·
Annual
cap (lottery
system).
·
Valid for 3
years (renewable to 6 years).
📌 Tip: H-1B can lead to
a green card (dual intent visa).
3️⃣ TN Visa (Canada/Mexico Only)
✅ For: Professionals in 60+
listed jobs (doctors, engineers, consultants).
✅ Benefits:
·
No
lottery (unlike H-1B).
·
Faster
processing.
4️⃣ O-1 Visa (Extraordinary Ability)
✅ For: Top talent in science,
arts, business, or athletics.
✅ Requirements:
·
Meet 3+
criteria (awards, high salary, published work, etc.).
·
Employer sponsorship
required.
📌 Example: A scientist
with international awards could qualify.
5️⃣ L-1 Visa (Intracompany Transfer)
✅ For: Employees transferring
from a foreign company to a related US company.
✅ Requirements:
·
Worked 1+ year for
the foreign company.
·
Coming to the US as
a manager, executive, or specialized knowledge worker.
📌 Benefit: Can lead to a green
card (EB-1C).
💡 Key Takeaways
✔️ Best for quick entry: H-1B,
TN, L-1.
✔️ Best for
long-term stay: Employer-sponsored green card.
✔️ For elite
professionals: O-1 visa.
⚠️ Processing times vary by
country (India/China face long waits).
📞 Need help? Consult an
immigration lawyer to assess your best path!
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