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Business Immigration - Immigrant Visas

More Information about Immigrant Visas

Immigrant visas are more complex than nonimmigrant visas, and depending on the qualifications of the would-be immigrant, may involve a great deal of work on the part of the immigrant and the attorney. The United States government is also far more likely to scrutinize applications by foreign citizens who wish to enter the country permanently than it is nonimmigrants. The United States encourages immigration by persons who are perceived to benefit the country economically or culturally. As a result, the most readily available immigrant visas go to:

• professionals, artists, athletes and researchers who are highly regarded in their field or whose immigration is deemed to be in the best interest of the United States;

• managers or executives who have been transferred from an overseas company to a US company; and

• investors who are prepared to invest between $500,000 to $1,000,000 in the United States.

Immigrant visas may also be available to family members or relatives of current US residents or citizens, and to certain individuals who are selected at random and who come from countries which have not provided a large number of immigrants to the United States in the recent past.