Employment Based Visas

The Immigration and Nationality Act provides a yearly minimum of 140,000 employment-based immigrant visas which are divided into five preference categories.

All intending immigrants who plan to base their immigrant visa application on employment in the United States must obtain an approved immigrant visa petition from the BCIS.  If a necessary labor certification is granted, the employer may then file a Form I-140, Petition for Prospective Immigrant Employee, with the BCIS for the appropriate employment-based preference category. 

Since no advance assurances can be given that a visa will be issued, applicants are advised not to make any final travel arrangements, not to dispose of their property, and not to give up their jobs until visas have been issued to them.