Who Are Priority Workers?

When choosing players for a sports team, coaches typically first choose those who already have the relevant background and skills. The United States uses the same approach when selecting people to give permanent residency to. Each year, the country provides approximately 140,000 employment-based visas, giving importance to certain outstanding workers.

Spotting Priority Workers

Priority workers are non-citizens with extraordinary abilities, outstanding teaching or research skills or business expertise fit for multinational executive or manager positions. They have remarkable intelligence and talent in various fields such as the sciences, academics, business, arts and sports. They have trained and excelled in their fields to the point of national and international recognition.

Categories By Employment

The United States Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS) classifies the priority workers into three categories:

• Extraordinary ability. This category refers to individuals who demonstrate exceptional ability in the sciences, education, business, arts or athletics recognized nationally or internationally. • Outstanding professors and researchers. This includes members of the academe who exhibit their excellent achievements internationally and are competent enough to pursue tenure positions in relevant institutions in the country. • Specific multinational managers or executives. This refers to individuals who excel in the business field and have skills enough for them to gain and maintain a high-ranking position in a registered U.S. company.

But while the country gives these individuals first preference, they still have to meet the criteria set by the USCIS and submit the requirements to qualify. For instance, those with extraordinary abilities must provide evidence of their outstanding achievement in their respective fields such as a Pulitzer, Oscar or Olympic medal.

Immigration visas can be complex. It is a difficult process that requires many steps. Based on athletic ability, education or business skill some people might have an easier path to receiving a visa. Do not hesitate to explore your options.