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GENERAL CATEGORIES OF IMMIGRANTS

An immigrant visa is required of anyone who wishes to enter the United States to reside there permanently, whether or not that person plans to seek employment in the United States. U.S. immigration law provides for the issuance of immigrant visas in four general categories: Immediate relatives, family-based, employment-based and Diversity Immigrant Visa Program, known as the "Green Card Lottery."

Immediate Relatives

Immediate relatives of U.S. citizens are eligible to qualify for immigration in the immediate relative category.

Spouse or Minor Child of a U.S. citizen	An immigrant visa may only be processed for a child if he/she has no claim to U.S. citizenship
Parent of a U.S. citizen	U.S. citizen must be 21 or over
Step-parent or child of a U.S. citizen	Step-parent, step-child relationship must occur before the child's 18th birthday
Spouse of a deceased U.S. citizen	Petition must be filed within 2 years of the death of the U.S. citizen

Family-Based Immigration

Persons seeking to immigrate in one of the family-based preference categories will qualify for immigrant status only if they have the necessary relationship to a U.S. citizen or Lawful Permanent Resident (LPR) as described below.

Unmarried Son or Daughter over the age of 21 of a U.S. Citizen
Spouse or Unmarried Son or Daughter of a Lawful Permanent Resident
Married Son or Daughter of a U.S. Citizen
Brother or Sister of a U.S. Citizen	U.S. citizen must be 21 or over

Employment-Based Immigration

In general, a specific offer of employment from a U.S. based employer is required to qualify for immigration in the employment-based preference categories.

Priority Workers	Persons of extraordinary ability in the sciences, education, arts, business or athletics; outstanding professors and researchers; certain multinational executives & managers.
Members of "The Professions", Persons with exceptional ability in the sciences, arts and business	Defined as a member of the professions holding an advanced degree or equivalent, or baccalaureate degree plus at least 5 years of progressive experience in the specialty; and persons of exceptional ability in the sciences, arts and business.
Professionals	A person who holds a baccalaureate degree and who is a member of the professions.
Skilled and Unskilled Workers	Skilled workers with at least two years training or experience and unskilled workers whose skills are in short supply in the U.S. Note: The Embassy does not keep a list of these professions.
Special Immigrants	Certain religious workers and ministers of religion, certain international organization employees and their immediate family members, qualified and recommended current and former employees of the U.S. government and returning residents.
Investors	Investors Persons who will create employment for at least ten unrelated persons by investing a minimum of $1,000,000 in a new commercial enterprise in the U.S.

Diversity Immigrant Visa Program

An annual diversity immigration program, makes available each year by random selection 55,000 immigrant visas to people from countries with low rates of immigration to the U.S. Eligibility to apply for this program is determined by a person's place of birth, not citizenship.

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