Green Card & Visa News

Indians who are thinking of migrating to the United States have a few options when it comes to the immigration process. If they have close relatives currently residing in the United States who are already permanent residents or citizens, they can have their family members sponsor them. Alternatively, if they have any special skills or work in a position which is in high demand in the United States, they may opt to apply for an employment-based visa.

There are five different categories of those eligible for employment-based visas with the code E1 (Employee First Preference) taking precedence over the other codes; namely E2, E3, E4 and E5. Those who have extraordinary skill in different industries i.e. arts, sciences, business can be considered for this category. Additionally, professors or researchers, and/or those who are currently being employed in the branch or subsidiary of a US employer may be eligible under E1.

However, there is a clause in immigration laws of the United States whereby they reserve the right to waiver or deem ineligible certain categories of applicants. If you had previously suffered from or are currently suffering from any communicable disease, have a history of violent behavior of mental illness, are a terrorist or have terror affiliations, have previously committed violent acts, then you would not be eligible for a green card.

The Immigration Department of the United States also visas for foreign religious workers; of which there are two different visas. Religious workers include those who have been given the right by their denomination to preside over religious worship. Only those who have taken life-long vows and have been ordained into the denomination are covered under the definition of religious workers. Examples are monks and nuns.

Religious workers who are filing petitions to migrate to the United States have to fulfill an important condition – they should at least have been a member of that particular denomination for at least two years prior to the application, and who have been working for the past two years in a professional capacity. The applicant should fill up form I-130 after which if the application has been approved, he will be notified of the next step in the immigration process.