US Permanent Residency: Overview

Introduction

The US organizes migrants to the US based on either family relationships ("family-based immigration") or professional activities ("employment-based immigration"). The "Employment-Based" ("EB") categorires indicate the degree to which the US "prefers" those kinds of migrants over others, and thus the categories also are called Preference Categories. The following are the most common preference categories for employment-based permanent residence at Purdue

Priority Workers (EB-1)

• Extraordinary ability in arts, sciences, education, business, or athletics
• Outstanding Professors and Researchers (EB-12)
• Multinational Executives and Managers

Advanced-degree Professionals (EB-2)

• Professionals holding advanced degrees (EB-21)
• Employees of exceptional ability in the arts, sciences or business

Professionals holding basic degrees, Skilled Workers and other Workers (EB-3)

• Professionals holding bachelor degrees