Employment-based Immigration

The Immigration and Nationality Act authorizes a set number of visas to be issued annually. In total, this statutorily defined number is 140,000 employment-based immigrant visas per year. Most employment-based permanent residence petitions require applicants to submit Form I-140 to U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS).

Available visas are divided among five preference categories. Below is a general introduction to these categories.