Immigrant Visas

Immigrant visas are issued to individuals who intend to permanently reside in the United States. Immigrant visa holders can live and work in the United States with few restrictions. Following a period of residence of three to five years, immigrant visa holders are eligible to apply for United States citizenship.

There are nine preference categories of immigrant visas available to foreign nationals. Four of the immigrant visa categories are based on family relationships and five of the immigrant visa categories are based on employment offers. Under the provisions of the Immigration Act of 1990, 140,000 employment-based immigrants are allowed to enter the United States each year. The diversity immigration visa program, the visa lottery, also can be used to obtain visas. Each year 55,000 diversity visas are available to nationals of countries that have had less than 50,000 immigrants enter the United States in the preceding five years. Foreign nationals from countries with a low number of immigrants admitted to the United States, who possess a high school education or its equivalent, or who have worked for a minimum of two years in occupations that require at least two years of training or experience, may be eligible for diversity visas. Foreign nationals are chosen randomly and are eligible to obtain diversity visas only in the year in which they win the lottery. Only one application is allowed per year for each foreign national.