Visas

 

Family and Immediate Relative Sponsored	Employer/Employment Sponsored
Type of Visa	Type of Visa
Certain Family Members of Lawful Permanent Residents (F2A, F2B)	Diversity Immigrant Visa (DV)
Certain Family Members of the U.S. Citizens (IR2, CR2, IR5, F1, F3, F4)	Afghans Who Worked for/on Behalf of the U.S. Government (SQ)
Fiance(e) to marry U.S. Citizen and live in U.S (K-1)	Iraqis Who Worked for/on Behalf of the U.S. Government (SQ)
Intercountry Adoption of Orphan Children by U.S. Citizens (IR3, IH3, IR4, IH4)	Iraqi and Afghan Translators/Interpreters (SI)
Spouse of a U.S. Citizen (IR1, CR1)	Religious Workers (SD, SR)
Spouse of a U.S. Citizen awaiting approval of I-130 Immigrant Petition (K-3)	Employment-Based Immigrants including: Certain Special Immigrants (S) Employment Creation/Investors (C5, T5, R5, I5) Professionals and Other Workers (E3, EW3) Priority Workers (E1) Professionals Holding Advanced Degrees and Persons of Exceptional Ability (E2)

 

Description of Visas:

 

• Certain Family Members of Lawful Permanent Residents (F2A, F2B): A foreign citizen seeking to live permanently in the U.S. They require an immigrant visa and in order to be eligible to apply a foreign citizen must be sponsored by an immediate relative who is at least 21 years of age and is an U.S. citizen or a U.S. Lawful Permanent Resident (green card holder)

• • There are two types of family-based immigrant visas 
    • Immediate Relative: Based on a close family relationship with a U.S. citizen, such as a parent, spouse, or child. The number of immigrants in these categories is not limited each year
    • Family Preference: For more distant family relationships with a U.S. citizen and some specified relationships for a Lawful Permanent Resident. The number of immigrants in these categories is limited each year
      • A U.S. citizen can file an immigrant visa for: brother, sister, spouse, parent, son, or daughter
      • A U.S. Lawful Permanent Resident can file an immigrant visa for: a spouse or an unmarried son or daughter
• Fiance(e) to marry U.S. Citizen and live in U.S (K1): This visa is a nonimmigrant visa for a foreign-citizen fiancee of a United States citizen. This visa permits the foreign-citizen fiancee to travel to the United States and marry his or her U.S. citizen sponsor within the first 90 days of arrival. You will then appLy for adjustment of status to a permanent resident with the Department of Homeland Security and USCIS. 
  • Under U.S. immigration law, a foreign-citizen fiancee of a U.S. citizen is the recipient of an approved Petition for Alien Fiance where they will be issued a nonimmigrant visa for travel to the United States in order to marry his or her fiance. Both the U.S. citizen and foreign-citizen fiance must be legally free to marry at the time the petition was filed and remain so after the fact. The marriage must also be legally possible according to the laws of the United States.
    • In general, both the sponsor and the foreign citizen must have met in person within the past two years. USCIS may grant an exception if based on an extreme hardship for the U.S. sponsor to personally meet the foreign-citizen, or it is contrary in both the sponsor or the fiances culture to meet before marriage
• Intercountry Adoption of Orphan Children by U.S. Citizens (IR3, IH3, IR4, IH4): Intercountry adoption is considered a high priority. Children in need have the option of permanent homes when it is in their best interest and domestic solutions have been considered. Thousand of children a year are adopted, and this is the process where you can adopt a child from a country other than your own through permanent legal means. You may then bring that child to your country of residence to live with you permanently.

 

• Spouse of a U.S. Citizen(IR1, CR1): A spouse is a legally wedded husband or wife. You are not qualified for this visa if you merely live together, but common-law spouses may qualify as spouses for immigration purposes depending on the laws of the country where the common-law marriage occurred. In cases of polygamy, only the first spouse can qualify as a spouse for immigration.
• Spouse of a U.S. Citizen awaiting approval of I-130 Immigrant Petition(K-3): Is for the foreign-citizen spouse of a United States citizen. This visa allows for a shortened time of physical separation for spouses by having the option to obtain a nonimmigrant K-3 visa overseas and enter the United States to await the approval of an immigrant visa petition. Upon arrival of the petition the K-3 recipient will apply to adjust status to a permanent resident. 
  • Under U.S. immigration law, a foreign citizen who marries a U.S. citizen outside the U.S. must apply for the K-3 visa in the country where the marriage took place
  • Eligible children of K-3 visa applicants receive K-4 visas. Both K-3 and K-4 visas allow their recipients to stay in the United States while immigrant visa petitions are pending approval
  • Same-sex spouses of U.S. citizens and Lawful Permanent Residents along with minor children are now eligible for the same immigration benefits as opposite-sex couples

• Diversity Immigrant Visa (DV): Also known as the Green Card lottery, the diversity immigrant visa is a United States government lottery program for receiving a United States Permanent Resident Card. About 50,000 Diversity Immigrant Visas are given out every year, yet have millions of applicants each year as well.
• Afghans Who Worked for/on Behalf of the U.S. Government (SQ): An immigration program which authorizes the issuance of Special Immigrant visas (SIVs) to Afghan nationals who meet requirements and who were employed in Afghanistan by or on behalf of the U.S. government in Afghanistan, or by the International Security Assistance Force (ISAF) in a capacity that required the applicant to serve as an interpreter or translator for U.S. military personnel while traveling off-base with personal, or to perform sensitive and trusted activist for U.S. personnel

 

• • Iraqi and Afghan Translators/Interpreters (SQ): Available to persons who worked with the Chief of Mission authority or U.S armed forces in Iraq or Afghanistan as a translator or interpreter. You must meet all of the following requirements: 
    • You must be a national of Iraq or Afghanistan; and
    • You must have worked directly with the U.S. Armed Forces or under COM authority as a translator or interpreter for a period of at least 12 months; and
    • You must have obtained a favorable written recommendation from a General or Flag Officer in the chain of command of the U.S. Armed Forces unit that was supported by you, as a translator or interpreter, or from the Chief of Mission from the embassy where you worked

• Religious Workers (SD, SR)

• Employment-Based Immigrants including (S):

• Certain Special Immigrants
• Employment Creation/Investors
• Professionals and Other Workers
• Priority Workers
• Professionals Holding Advanced Degrees and Persons of Exceptional Ability