Employment-based Immigration includes nonimmigrant visas (temporary work visas) and immigrant visas (permanent residency). Nonimmigrant visas include:

H-1B Visas, Transfers & Extensions: H-1Bs are provided to skilled professionals in specialty occupations.

L-1 Intra-Company Transfer Visas: L-1s are available to employees of international companies with offices in the home country and the United States.

> What Constitutes Specialized Knowledge?
> Blanket L Petition for L-1 Visas

O-1 Extraordinary Ability Visas: The O-1 visa is often called the "Superstar" visa. It is reserved for those who can demonstrate sustained national and international acclaim in science, education, business or athletics.

> The O-1 Visa Petition Process
> What constitutes Extraordinary Ability?
> Who may file an O-1 Visa Petition?

P-1 Visas: The P-1 visa is available to internationally recognized artists, entertainers or athletes.

Labor Certification/PERM: Labor Certification is the first step in the EB-2 and EB-3 preference filing process.

TN Free Trade NAFTA Visas: TN visas are available to qualified professionals from Mexico and Canada.

E-1 Treaty Traders: The E-1 Treaty Trader visa is a non-immigrant visa for nationals from countries having a treaty with the U.S.

E-2 Treaty Investors: The E-2 nonimmigrant visa is available to foreign nationals from countries having a bilateral investment and commerce treaty with the United States.

E-3 Visas for Australians: The E-3 is similar in many ways to an H-1B visa; however, it is available exclusively to Australians.

Immigrant visas are also available to foreign workers in several distinct categories. Immigrant visas allow foreign workers to obtain permanent residency and a green card in the United States. There are five different preference categories for employment-based immigrant visas:

EB-1 Priority Workers: This category includes persons of extraordinary ability in the sciences, arts, education, business and athletics, outstanding professors and researchers, executives and managers,

EB-2 Professionals with Advanced Degrees or Exceptional Ability: The EB-2 preference contains two subcategories. First, professionals holding advanced degrees or professionals holding a Baccalaureate degree and five or more years of experience. Second, aliens with exceptional abilities in the arts, sciences or business.

EB-3 Skilled or Professional Workers: Aliens in this category must be skilled workers or professionals holding a Baccalaureate degree. Labor Certification is necessary.

EB-4 Religious Workers: This includes ministers or other aliens intending to work in a professional capacity in a religious vocation.

EB-5 Investors: To qualify the alien must invest $500,000 to $1 million in a commercial enterprise in the United States.

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