Employment-Based Immigration

U.S. immigration law provides aliens with a variety of ways to become lawful permanent residents through employment in the United States. These employment-based (EB) “preference immigrant” categories include:

•  First preference (EB-1)- priority workers

  • EB-1A: Aliens with extraordinary ability in the sciences, arts, education, business, or athletics;

  • EB-1B: Outstanding professors and researchers; or

  • EB-1C: Certain multinational managers and executives. 

• Second preference (EB-2)- aliens who are members of the professions holding advanced degrees or who have exceptional ability (including requests for national interest waivers). 

  • EB-2 advanced degrees; 

  • EB-2 exceptional ability; or 

  • EB-2 national interest waivers. 

•  Third preference (EB-3): skilled workers, professionals, or other workers.