Employment based Green Card: your complete guide

Green Card holders are granted the right to permanent residence (also called PR status) in the US. If you’re planning to settle in the US to live and work, a Green Card means you can stay as long as you like with more flexibility and greater freedoms than holding a visa or work permit. Getting a Green Card is also an important step to anyone hoping to naturalize as a US citizen.

This guide walks through the full employment Green Card process, including eligibility, application stages and interview preparation.

📑 Table of Contents

Who is eligible for the employment based Green Card? What are the categories of work Green Cards? Getting an employment Green Card: step by step Common questions about obtaining an employment based Green Card How long does the process for obtaining a Green Card take? What are the fees for getting a Green Card? Can you work or remain in the US while your petition for immigration is being processed? What happens if you change jobs or employers during the processing of your petition? Are there any travelling implications for a legal permanent resident? Can employment Green Card holders bring their families to the US? Relocating to the US? Wise can help you get started

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Who is eligible for the employment based Green Card?

You may be eligible for an employment based Green Card if you’re working in the US on a permanent basis. Annually, around 140,000 employment based Green Cards are made available — although because the Green Card confers permanent residence it’s not usually appropriate for people doing work which is temporary or which will come to a natural end, such as post-doc research posts.

In most cases, your employer will need to sponsor you for your Green Card. Many employers will have their own criteria covering who they will and will not sponsor — you may need to be at a certain level within the organisation, or have been employed for a fixed period for example. If your employer agrees to sponsor your Green Card application, you’ll apply under one of the Green Card eligibility categories described below¹. The process will vary slightly based on whether you’re already in the US or not at the point of applying, but the steps — which we’ll cover in just a moment — are broadly similar.

Applying for a Green Card without an employer sponsor

It is technically possible to apply for a Green Card without an employer sponsor, if you fall into the EB-1 Extraordinary Ability category² or if you’re a second preference candidate³ with a National Interest Waiver.

The Extraordinary Ability category is very narrow and requires you to be among the very highest achievers in your field. You’ll need to demonstrate your achievements, such as winning national and international awards, commanding an unusually high salary for your position, or being written about in the mainstream media. Most successful applicants in this group will be national level sportspeople, performers or holders of prestigious awards like the Nobel Prize or an Oscar.

Securing a National Interest Waiver is also unusual, as you’ll need to show you have exceptional ability and also are coming to the US to do work which is in the national interests of the country.

What are the categories of work Green Cards?

The type of employment based Green Card you can apply for will depend on the type of work you do. Green Cards are split into different preference immigrant categories as follows:

EB-1: Priority workers

The first preference category is EB-1, Priority workers². This category covers people of extraordinary ability, outstanding professors and researchers, and certain multinational managers or executives. If you’re applying under the extraordinary ability category you won’t need an employer sponsor, but you will need to demonstrate your achievements through extensive evidence. USCIS gives examples of this eligibility category as those holding an Olympic Medal, a Pulitzer Prize or similar — setting a pretty high bar for regular applicants.

This category also covers professors and researchers who have international recognition for their achievements and who are being offered a job with a private employer, and high level managers and executives coming to work in the US.

EB-2: Professionals with advanced degrees and those with exceptional abilities

This Green Card category is for professionals with advanced level degrees, or foreign workers who can show they have exceptional abilities³. There is also a National Interest Waiver category in this priority group, which is used for people with exceptional ability coming to the US to carry out work which is in the national interest of the country.

To be granted a Green Card based on your advanced degree you’ll need to show you meet the labor code for the job you’ve been offered, and that you hold an advanced degree or another relevant qualification with 5 years or more of work experience. Getting a Green Card based on exceptional ability will require you to hit a range of criteria such as work experience, relevant qualifications, membership of professional bodies and recognition by your peers.

EB-3: Skilled, unskilled, and professional workers

Priority 3 Green Card applicants can fall into the skilled, unskilled or professional categories⁴. In all cases you’ll need a labor certificate and a permanent, full time job offer to go down this route. Professionals will usually have a relevant degree, skilled workers will have at least 2 years of relevant work experience, and unskilled workers can cover anyone doing unskilled work which is not temporary or seasonal.

EB-4: Special workers

The priority 4 EB-4 Green Card category is a niche category for special workers, covering a diverse range of individuals including religious workers, those who have served in the US army, and some physicians⁵. To qualify under this category you’ll need to demonstrate your eligibility, based on the nature of your situation.

EB-5: Investors

Individuals moving to the US to invest in businesses which will create jobs for US citizens may be able to apply for an EB-5 Investor Green Card⁶. At the time of writing there are changes being made to the investor program, but you can expect to need to invest between 500,000 USD and 1 million USD, and create 10 or more jobs for local people.

Getting an employment Green Card: step by step

The process you follow to get a work based Green Card will depend on whether you are already in the US or not at the point you apply. If you are in the US and wish to move from a visa or work permit to a Green Card, you’ll need to follow the USCIS Green Card application process. People who are not yet in the US will have to apply through their local US consulate⁷ ⁸.

Work based Green Card process — outside the US

If you’re not yet in the US, the steps you’ll usually need to take are as follows: Your prospective employer must receive a labor certification approval from the Department of Labor Your prospective employer will then file an immigrant petition: Form I-140⁹ Once this petition has been approved by USCIS it is sent to the National Visa Centre (NVC) When a visa becomes available, the applicant will need to pay the fees and submit their full visa application including supporting documents Applicant will then need to attend a biometrics appointment to give fingerprints, photos and a signature The applicant may also need to attend an interview After the interview the applicant will receive the Green Card decision, and if approved they are able to travel to the US to receive their Green Card

Work based Green Card process — inside the US

For people who are already in the US, the process is slightly different and is known as applying to adjust your status to become a Green Card holder¹⁰: Your employer will file an immigrant petition: Form I-140⁹ The applicant will then need to use the Visa Bulletin to check when a visa becomes available for their priority category When a visa becomes available, the applicant will need to pay the fees and submit Form I-485, Adjustment of Status, including supporting documents Applicant may then need to attend a biometrics appointment at their Application Support Centre to give fingerprints, photos and a signature The applicant may also need to attend an interview After the interview the applicant will receive a Green Card decision in writing, and if approved, a Green Card will be mailed to their registered address

The Green Card interview

Depending on your situation you may be invited to an interview to discuss and demonstrate your eligibility for an employment based Green Card.

During the interview you may be asked to show your supporting evidence and documents, to establish the category of entrance you are eligible for. It’s important to prepare in advance for the interview, and to gather all the proof you may need according to your application type.

Read also: the Green Card interview

Common questions about obtaining an employment based Green Card

Immigration processes are often complex and can be daunting. Let’s take a look at some common questions related to the work based US Green Card process.

How long does the process for obtaining a Green Card take?

The number of Green Cards issued annually is limited across most categories, with additional limits based on nationality of applicants, which means that you may face a wait to get your employment based Green Card.

To check how long it will be before you can apply in full for your Green Card, take a look at the Visa Bulletin. Here you’ll find live information about which visa applications — by eligibility category and the nationality of the applicant — are being processed.

What are the fees for getting a Green Card?

There are a range of fees involved in getting a Green Card. These include some fees your employer may have to pay, and other costs for your application¹², interview, biometric appointment, and any required medical checks. You may also want to budget extra for other costs such as travel to interviews and appointments, and your trip to the US once your Green Card is approved.

Learn more: Green Card fees

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International transfers are easier — and cheaper — with Wise

If you’re paying for your Green Card fees in a foreign currency, you need Wise. Wise offers low cost international payments which use the real mid-market exchange rate with no markups and no hidden fees. You can also get a free online Wise Multi-currency Account to hold and manage 50+ currencies, send and receive international payments, and spend easily as you travel.

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Can you work or remain in the US while your petition for immigration is being processed?

If you’re already in the US and hold a valid visa, you’ll be entitled to remain in the country while your Green Card application is being processed. Whether or not you can work will depend on whether you have been granted work authorization previously. Check the full details online based on your specific visa type and personal situation to make sure you stay on the right side of the law¹³.

What happens if you change jobs or employers during the processing of your petition?

If you need to change jobs before your Green Card application is completed and approved you’ll want to understand the implications on your petition.

For the vast majority of employment based Green Card applicants, having an employer petition on their behalf is essential. If you then change employment, this sponsorship may be at risk. However, the process is complex and will depend on the reasons for the change in situation, the length of time your application has been pending, and whether or not the employer petition was approved prior to your moving roles.

Take specialist advice to check the impact a change of position may have on your Green Card application, so there are no surprises down the line.

Are there any traveling implications for a legal permanent resident?

Once you are granted a Green Card, you’ll want to check out your rights and responsibilities to ensure you can maintain your PR status¹⁴.

If you plan to leave the US for a year or more, you’ll usually have to apply for a re-entry permit before you go, to ensure you’re readmitted. If your stay abroad is longer than 2 years, your re-entry permit will expire and you’ll need to apply for permission to return to the US at your local consulate or embassy¹⁵.

Can employment Green Card holders bring their families to the US?

Some Green Card holders are able to apply to have their spouse and unmarried children under the age of 21 come to the US with them. This is known as being a derivative applicant, as the legal basis for application derives from the original employment based Green Card.

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Relocating to the US? Wise can help you get started

Whether you’re already in the US, or applying to travel there with your work based Green Card, you need Wise.

Wise offers solutions for anyone living an international lifestyle. Get cross border payments with low fees and the mid-market exchange rate, and why not open a Wise Multi-currency Account which can be 6x cheaper than your regular bank?

Open your Wise account for free online and you can activate USD bank details to convert and receive payments like a local before you even arrive in the US. Hold and manage 50+ currencies, so you can send and spend money around the world for less.

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Getting a work-based US Green Card means you can stay in the country on a permanent basis, without needing to change and update your visas and permits. It’s also a step on the road to becoming a US citizen.

Being approved for your Green Card is exciting — but can also be a lot of work. Use this guide as a reference point, take professional advice when you need it, and use all the resources available to you, to make sure your application goes through smoothly.

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Sources:

1. USCIS - Green Card for employment based immigrants
2. USCIS - Employment based immigration first preference
3. USCIS - Employment based immigration second preference
4. USCIS - Employment based immigration third preference
5. USCIS - Employment based immigration fourth preference
6. USCIS - EB-5 immigrant investor program
7. USCIS - How to apply for a Green Card
8. Travel.State - Employment based immigrant visas
9. USCIS - Form I-140
10. USCIS - Adjustment of status
11. Travel.State - Visa Bulletin for March 2021
12. USCIS - Form G-1055
13. USCIS - While your Green Card application is pending
14. USCIS - After we grant your Green Card
15. USCIS - International travel as a permanent resident

Sources checked on 07.27.2021