There are five categories for granting permanent residence to foreign nationals based on employment skills. If you are an employer and are unsure which employment category applies to the foreign national you wish to sponsor, or if you are a foreign national and want more information on which category matches your particular situation, click on the links at the bottom of the page to learn more about one of the employment categories:

EB-1 Priority workers

• Foreign nationals of extraordinary ability in the sciences, arts, education, business or athletics
  
• Foreign national that are outstanding professors or researchers
  
• Foreign nationals that are managers and executives subject to international transfer to the United States

EB-2 Professionals with advanced degrees or persons with exceptional ability

• Foreign nationals of exceptional ability in the sciences, arts or business
  
• Foreign nationals that are advanced degree professionals
  
• Qualified alien physicians who will practice medicine in an area of the U.S. which is underserved.

EB-3 Skilled or professional workers

• Foreign national professionals with bachelor's degrees (not qualifying for a higher preference category)
  
• Foreign national skilled workers (minimum two years training and experience)
  
• Foreign national unskilled workers

EB-4 Special Immigrants

• Foreign national religious workers
  
• Employees and former employees of the U.S. Government abroad

EB-5 Immigrant Investors

• Qualified individuals seeking permanent resident status on the basis of their engagement in a new commercial enterprise (10,000 immigrant visas per year are available)

For more information:

• EB-1 Priority workers
• EB-2 Professionals with advanced degrees or persons with exceptional ability
• EB-3 Skilled or professional workers
• EB-4 Special Immigrants
• EB-5 Immigrant Investors