3 Popular Pathways to Immigrate to the US

3 minute read

Immigrating to the US can be a confusing and lengthy process, but it’s important to remember that these immigration pathways exist, and it is possible to immigrate permanently. Today we are exploring three popular pathways that immigrants utilize to relocate to the United States. Every immigration category has different requirements, so it’s always helpful to learn more about your options and see which would suit you.

Written by My Visa Source Team
Published on: Jul 5, 2023

Getting a Green Card

Individuals immigrating to the US usually have one main goal: getting a green card.

A green card symbolizes your permanent resident status, allowing you to live and work in the United States permanently without restrictions. Green cards can take time to come by. The US approves over a million green card applications yearly, but they receive more than ten million applications each year.

Below are some of the most popular ways that immigrants can obtain a green card and be able to live permanently in the US.

Employment-Based Immigration

Employment-based immigration is an excellent pathway to a green card for immigrants qualifying for one of the five employment-based categories:

Each visa in the employment-based category has unique requirements to be met to qualify. These visas are numbered in order of preference, meaning EB-1 applicants are first preference applicants, and EB-5 applicants are fifth preference applicants.

The US government makes around 140,000 employment-based immigrant visas available each year. Qualified applicants may also be able to bring their spouses and children to the United States with them.

Family-Based Immigration

Family-based immigration is an option for those with immediate family members already living in the US as citizens or permanent residents. There are five categories for immediate relatives through family-based immigration:

IR-1: Spouse of a US citizen

IR-2: Unmarried child under 21 of a US citizen

IR-3: Orphan adopted abroad by a US citizen

IR-4: Orphan to be adopted in the US by a US citizen

IR-5: Parent of a US citizen who is at least 21 years old

Additionally, there are family preference categories for a visa that may apply to other relatives:

F1: Family First Preference for unmarried children of US citizens and their minor children, if any

F2: Family Second Preference for spouses, minor children, and unmarried children (21 or older) of lawful permanent residents

F3: Family Third Preference for married children of US citizens and their spouses and minor children

F4: Family Fourth Preference for siblings of US citizens, their spouses and minor children, as long as the US citizen is at least 21

For family sponsorship, the sponsor must be a citizen or permanent resident of the US and provide evidence of their relationship to the person they are sponsoring.

Diversity Visa Lottery

The Diversity Visa Lottery program promotes diversity in the United States. Applicants are eligible if they are from a country that has low rates of immigration to the US.

The process to apply for a diversity visa and to get a green card involves completing a simple online form. This application does not have a cost, making accessible to a wide range of immigrants. Lottery winners are randomly selected and will receive green cards for themselves and their families.

Eligibility for this visa first depends on the country you are applying from. Applicants from certain countries are not permitted if those countries have a high number of people already immigrating to the US. Additionally, applicants must have a high school diploma or equivalent or two years of work experience.

Selected applicants will usually be informed of their application’s approval about seven months after applying.