The United States has created 5 categories (called “preferences”) whereby an individual may obtain lawful permanent residence (a green card) in the United States based upon employment. The current law allows a total of 140,000 persons to immigrate to the United States each year through employment.

The 5 employer-sponsored categories are:

• First Preference: (EB-1) Priority Workers including Persons of Extraordinary Ability, Outstanding Professors and Researchers, and Multinational Organization Executives and Managers.
• Second Preference: (EB-2) Members of the Professions Holding Advanced Degrees and Persons of Exceptional Ability.
• Third Preference: (EB-3) Professionals, Skilled and Other Workers, including Nurses and Physical Therapists.
• Fourth Preference: (EB-4) Special Immigrants including Religious Workers.
• Fifth Preference: (EB-5) Investors Investing Significant Funds into the U.S. to Create Jobs for US workers.