Emigrating to the USA through employment

Mon, Aug 24, 2009

Steps to USA Immigration through Employment

The USA remains one of the most popular countries as an immigration destination in the world. Although it is not always easy to gain entry to the U.S., other than as a visitor, there are still a variety of options for a foreign national to explore if they wish to emigrate there. Entering the U.S. on a work visa is one example. But, as with obtaining any visa to the U.S., a working visa entails a multi-step process.

Firstly, a foreign national who wishes to become an immigrant to the U.S. because of the employment opportunities must determine if he or she is eligible for legal permanent residency in the U.S. Secondly, he or she must obtain a complete labour certification request filed by a U.S. employer at the Department of Labor’s Employment and Training Administration. The Department of Labor may deny this request. Thirdly, the foreign national applicant must obtain an immigrant visa petition, Form I-140, or Petition for Alien Worker approved by the CIS. This petition can only be filed by the employer after the labour certification is granted. With regards to a US working visa, the employer is always the petitioner or sponsor for foreign nationals who want to work or live permanently in the U.S.

If the hopeful applicant is in the U.S., they must obtain an immigrant visa number from the State Department. After the immigrant visa number becomes available, the applicant may then apply for permanent residency status. But in the case where the applicant is still in his or her home country when the immigration number becomes available, he or she is required to complete the USA immigration process at the U.S. consulate office in that home country.