When a foreign individual wants to enter the United States to live and work legally, he/she has several options available with the United States Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS).
Many visa options that permit applicants to work during their stay in the country require a job offer. However, is there a way to immigrate to the United States without a job offer in place? Keep reading to find out.
How Can I Immigrate to USA Without a Job Offer? – The Fundamentals
The USCIS permits applicants to file for two types of visas – immigrant visas and non-immigrant visas.
Regardless of whether a visa grants permanent or non-permanent stay in the US, most visa options that allow foreign individuals to work require a job offer from a US employer (especially employment-based visas).
When a certain visa requires a precedent job offer, a US employer must file a petition with USCIS on behalf of the employee (in this case, the visa applicant).
A non-immigrant worker visa permits a foreign professional to work temporarily in the United States and then return to his or her home country upon the visa expiration.
The applicant will be sponsored by a US company and will need to apply for a renewal to stay in the country after the expiration date. If the applicant decides to change his or her job, it will require a new visa application sponsored by the new sponsor.
Nonetheless, not all visas that permit an immigrant to live and work legally in the United States require a job offer. In the following topics, you will discover some of the most popular visa options that permit an applicant to work legally without requiring a precedent job offer.
How Can I Immigrate to USA Without a Job Offer? – Taking a Closer Look
EB-1 Visa
The EB-1 visa encompasses an employment-based category that includes individuals with extraordinary ability in the sciences, arts, education, business, or athletics through sustained national or international acclaim.
The EB-1 visa applies to outstanding professors and researchers, as well as certain multinational managers or executives with an expressive performance in their field. In any case, none of the subcategories require a job offer or labor certification (PERM).
Therefore, if an applicant can demonstrate to have the required skills to obtain an EB-1 visa, he or /she can enter the United States to live and work legally under lawful permanent residence (green card).
However, it is crucial to note that this visa category is highly selective, requiring applicants to demonstrate they are truly exceptional – which requires the guidance of an expert legal advisor.
EB-5 Visa
Created in 1990 to stimulate the American economy by incentivizing foreign investment and job creation, the EB-5 program permits eligible foreign investors to be admitted in the United States upon:
- Investing the required amount of capital in a US business enterprise, and
- Demonstrating the investment will create or preserve ten permanent full-time jobs for US workers
As of early 2022, the required standard minimum investment amount is $1.05 million, while the minimum investment amount for investment in a Targeted Employment Area (TEA) is $800,000. The EB-5 offers lawful permanent residence and a direct path to US citizenship – with no job offer requirement.
Immediately Contact an Expert Immigration Attorney at Jurado & Associates, P.A.
There are several strategic options you can explore to immigrate to the US without a job offer. Waste no time – contact an experienced immigration attorney from Jurado & Associates, P.A. by calling (305) 921-0976 or emailing [email protected] for an individual assessment.
