What are employment-based preferences and which one will I qualify in?
Congress has designated certain groups to which it gives preference in immigrating to the U.S. Most groups are subject to an overall numerical limitation – at least 120,000 visas per year for employment-based in the first three preferences. The first three preferences, usually requiring an offer of employment in the U.S., include: FIRST EMPLOYMENT-BASED PREFERENCE FOR “PRIORITY WORKERS” 1. Managers and executives subject to international transfer to the U.S. 2. Outstanding professors and researchers with universities or private employers that have established research departments. 3. Aliens of “extraordinary ability” in the sciences, arts, education, business, and athletics (no offer of employment required). The labor certification requirement does not apply to the priority worker preference. Therefore, total processing time for cases in this preference is much shorter than is possible for the other employment-based preferences. SECOND EMPLOYMENT-BASED PREFERENCE (about 40,000 annual v
