Approximately 140,000 immigrant visas are available each fiscal year for noncitizens (and their spouses and children) who seek to immigrate based on their job skills. If you have the right combination of skills, education, and/or work experience and are otherwise eligible, you may be able to live permanently in the United States.
Who is Eligible For a Permanent Work Visa?
To qualify for a permanent work visa, you need a job offer from a U.S. employer willing to sponsor your visa application. Your employer must show that they couldn’t find a qualified U.S. worker for the position.
Additionally, you typically need to be over 18 (usually between 35 and 55) and have a minimum of three years of work experience in your field to meet the eligibility criteria for a permanent work visa.
Learn how to apply for U.S. Permanent Work Visa
- Step 1: Submit a Petition
Although there are limited provisions for filing certain types of petition forms outside the United States, Petitioners residing outside of the United States may file Form I-130, Petition for Alien Relative, online at https://www.uscis.gov or by mail to the USCIS Dallas Lockbox. Your immigrant petition must be approved by USCIS before your case can proceed to the National Visa Center.
- Step 2: Begin National Visa Center (NVC) Processing
After USCIS approves your petition, they will transfer your case to the Department of State’s National Visa Center (NVC) for pre-processing. Once you submit your fees, forms, and supporting documents to NVC, they will review your case to ensure you provided all the documentation required to schedule the immigrant visa interview. Interviews are based on the availability of appointments offered at the Embassy/Consulate.
- Step 3: Pay Fees
The first thing you need to do after receiving your NVC Welcome Letter is pay your processing fees. There are two processing fees:
- Immigrant Visa Application Processing Fee
- Affidavit of Support Fee.
You will need a bank routing number and a checking or savings account number from a U.S.-based bank. To pay your fee, log into your case in CEAC and click the ‘PAY NOW’ button under Affidavit of Support Fee or IV Fee on your summary page.
- Step 4: Complete Affidavit of Support
An Affidavit of Support, also called Form I-864, is a document an individual signs to accept financial responsibility for the applicant who is coming to live in the United States. The person who signs the Affidavit of Support is also called the “sponsor.” The petitioner must complete Form I-864; however if the petitioner’s income is insufficient, a joint-sponsor may agree to also complete an I-864 on the applicant’s behalf.
An Affidavit of Support is legally enforceable. The sponsor’s financial responsibility usually lasts until the applicant either becomes a U.S. citizen or can be credited with 40 qualifying quarters of work (usually 10 years) under the Social Security Act.
- Step 5: Collect Financial Evidence and other Supporting Documents
After the financial sponsor(s) completes the Affidavit of Support form, they should gather evidence of their finances and other supporting documents. Complete the Financial Evidence Assistant by clicking the ‘What Financial Evidence Do I Need to Submit’ button below to learn more about what must be submitted.
- Step 6: Complete Online Visa Application (DS-260)
After you pay your fees and the status in CEAC is updated to ‘PAID’, you and each qualified family member immigrating with you must complete the Application for Immigrant Visa and Alien Registration (Form DS-260).
- Step 7: Collect Civil Documents
After you complete your DS-260(s), you and each family member immigrating with you MUST collect the civil documents required to support your visa application.
Your civil documents MUST be issued by the official issuing authority in your country. Please note that all documents not written in English, or in the official language of the country from which you are applying, must be accompanied by certified translations. The translation must include a statement signed by the translator stating that the translation is accurate and that the translator is competent to translate.
- Step 8: Scan Collected Documents
Once you have collected all the necessary documents, you must scan and save them.
To scan your documents, you will need access to a computer and scanner or a smartphone with an internet connection. If you do not have access to these, common places with this type of equipment are libraries, community centers, internet cafés, and copy shops. Note: If you choose to use a public computer, be sure to delete your scanned documents once you have finished uploading them.
- Step 9: Upload and Submit Scanned Documents
To submit documents, log into CEAC and go to the “Start Now” buttons located under Affidavit of Support Documents and Civil Documents. When you have uploaded all the required documents for each section, press “Submit Documents”. The “Submit Documents” buttons will not work unless you have uploaded all of the required documents for each person. Once you press “Submit Documents”, your case will be placed in line for review at the National Visa Center (NVC).
- Step 10: Prepare for the Interview
After the National Visa Center (NVC) schedules your visa interview appointment, they will send you, your petitioner, and your agent/attorney (if applicable) an email noting the appointment date and time.
- Step 11: Applicant Interview
On the scheduled date and time of your interview appointment, go to the U.S. Embassy or Consulate with your printed visa application (DS-260) confirmation page. A consular officer will interview you (and accompanying family member beneficiaries) and determine whether or not you are eligible to receive an immigrant visa. As part of the interview process, ink-free, digital fingerprint scans will be taken.
What to bring to the Interview
- Appointment Letter
- Photographs
- Supporting Documents
- DS-260 Confirmation Page
- Passport
- Supporting Documents
How Much Does it Cost to Apply for a Permanent Work Visa in the US?
The expense of applying for a permanent work visa in the US, commonly referred to as an employment-based green card, can fluctuate based on various factors. Here’s a general breakdown of government filing fees:
- Government Filing Fees:
Form I-140 Immigrant Petition for Alien Workers: $700 (filed by your employer)
Form I-485 Application to Register Permanent Residence or Adjust Status: $1,225
Biometrics fee: $37
Other potential fees: Affidavit of Support ($120), medical examination.
We hope this article was helpful.