Your Guide to Employment-Based Green Cards in 2026

An employment-based Green Card is the ultimate goal for many skilled professionals coming to the United States. This document grants lawful permanent residency, allowing you to live and work in the U.S.

Each year, the government sets aside 140,000 of these Green Cards for workers with specific skills. The process for getting one depends on your expertise and job offer.

What is an employment-based Green Card?

An employment-based Green Card is a way for foreign nationals to obtain lawful permanent residence in the United States through their job skills or a job offer. Unlike temporary work visas, such as the H-1B or O-1, permanent resident status does not have an expiration date. A Green Card allows you to work for almost any employer and provides a path to U.S. citizenship.

Employment-based Green Cards are divided into five preference categories, labeled EB-1 through EB-5. Each category has different requirements. Some are reserved for world-class researchers and executives, while others are for professionals with bachelor’s degrees or workers without degrees. Because there’s a limit on how many Green Cards are issued each year, some applicants may face long wait times based on their home country and category.

The 5 employment-based Green Card categories

The U.S. government divides employment-based Green Cards into five preference categories. Generally, the more specialized your skills are, the higher your preference category will be and the less time you’ll wait for a visa.

EB-1 priority workers (1st preference)

The EB-1 category is for people with the highest skill levels. It’s one of the most sought-after paths because it often moves faster than others.

• Who it’s for: People with extraordinary ability (EB-1A), outstanding professors or researchers (EB-1B), and multinational managers (EB-1C)
• Requirements:
  • EB-1A: You have won major awards (like a Nobel Prize) or meet at least three out of 10 specific criteria, such as a high salary or original contributions to your field.
  • EB-1B: You have received international recognition, with at least three years of experience in teaching or research and a permanent job offer from a U.S. university or certain private employers.
  • EB-1C: You had employment for at least one year prior to entering the U.S., as a manager or executive by an overseas affiliate or parent of your U.S. employer.

• Benefits: All EB-1 categories let you skip the long labor certification process, and you often don’t need a job offer for the extraordinary ability path (EB-1A).
• Could be a fit for: Startup founders, award-winning artists, elite athletes, and high-level corporate executives

EB-2 professionals with advanced degrees (2nd preference)

This EB-2 is for professionals whose jobs require high-level education or those with proven exceptional ability in their field.

• Who it’s for: Workers with a master’s degree, a PhD, or a bachelor’s degree plus five years of experience
• Requirements: Usually requires a job offer and a PERM labor certification. You can bypass these with an EB-2 NIW (national interest waiver) if you can prove your work has substantial merit and national importance to the U.S.
• Benefits: The EB-2 NIW allows you to self-petition.
• Could be a fit for: Engineers, medical researchers, and data scientists

EB-3 skilled workers and professionals (3rd preference)

The EB-3 category covers a wide range of workers. Because it’s so broad, it often has longer wait times than EB-1 and EB-2.

• Who it’s for: Skilled workers (two or more years of experience), professionals (with a bachelor’s degree) and other workers (“unskilled” labor)
• Requirements: You must have a permanent, full-time job offer. Your employer must complete the labor certification process to prove that no U.S. worker can do the job.
• Benefits: This may be a reliable path for those who have a solid job offer but don’t meet the extraordinary standards of EB-1.
• Could be a fit for: Registered nurses, engineers, teachers, and trade workers

EB-4 special migrants (4th preference)

The EB-4 is a catch-all category for specific types of workers and situations.

• Who it’s for: Religious workers, special immigrant juveniles, certain international broadcasters, certain U.S. government employees stationed abroad, and members of the U.S. armed forces
• Requirements: You must provide specific proof of your role or situation, such as a letter from a religious organization or a court order for juveniles.
• Benefits: Doesn’t require a labor certification.
• Could be a fit for: Ministers, priests, and military translators

EB-5 immigrant investors (5th preference)

The EB-5 category is for people who move to the U.S. to make significant investments in a business and to create American jobs.

• Who it’s for: Business investors
• Requirements: You must invest at least $800,000 in a targeted employment area (TEA) or $1.05 million in other areas. Your investment must create at least 10 full-time jobs for U.S. workers.
• Benefits: You can self-petition and don’t need a job offer or employer sponsor.
• Could be a fit for: High-net-worth individuals and international entrepreneurs

Employer-sponsored vs. self-petition employment-based Green Cards

There are two main ways to apply for an employment-based Green Card: having company support or applying on your own.

Employer-sponsored Green Cards

Most people use this path, in which a U.S. company sponsors you by offering a full-time job and filing the paperwork with the government.

• Visa types: EB-1B, EB-1C, EB-2 (standard), and EB-3
• Benefits: The company usually pays the legal fees and handles the PERM process.

Self-petition Green Cards

This path allows you to apply for a Green Card without a job offer or company sponsor.

• Visa types: EB-1A, EB-2 NIW, and EB-5
• Benefits: You can change employers or start your own business without risking your Green Card application. It also saves time by skipping labor certification.

What to know about applying for an employment-based Green Card

Applying for a Green Card is a multi-step process. Here is the typical path.

Get a PERM

For most EB-2 and EB-3 cases, your employer must first complete a PERM labor certification. This involves testing the U.S. job market to prove that no local worker is available for your role. PERM processing times may be one to two years.

File a visa petition

Once the PERM is approved, or if you’re in a category that skips it, your employer (or you if you’re self-petitioning) files Form I-140. This form asks the government to confirm you’re eligible for the Green Card category you chose. USCIS processing times for the I-140 could add another year or more to your wait.

Wait for a current priority date

The day your PERM or I-140 is filed becomes your priority date. Because only 140,000 employment-based Green Cards are issued annually, USCIS doesn’t allow all eligible applicants to apply at all times. You’ll know you can move on to the final application once your date matches the one listed in the monthly Visa Bulletin. This is known as having a current priority date.

Submit the correct application

When your date is current, you finish the process in one of two ways:

• Adjustment of status: If you’re in the U.S. on a valid visa, you go through a process called adjustment of status. It requires you to file Form I-485.
• Consular processing: If you’re living abroad, you must go through consular processing, which follows a similar application but requires you to attend an interview at a U.S. embassy or consulate.

Which employment-based Green Card category is best?

There’s no single Green Card that’s best for everyone. The right choice depends on your professional background, your location, and how much time you have for the process.

For example, a startup founder with major press and awards might aim for an EB-1A to skip the job offer requirement. Meanwhile, a registered nurse or software engineer with a bachelor’s degree may find the EB-3 to be a more realistic and reliable path, even if it requires an employer sponsor and a longer wait.

To find your best fit, ask yourself these questions:

• Do I have a U.S. employer willing to sponsor my application and complete the PERM process?
• What kind of degrees and work experience do I have?
• Can I prove my work has national importance or that I’ve reached the top of my field to bypass the job offer requirement?

Because every case is different, you should speak with an experienced immigration attorney to review your specific circumstances and build a strategy that makes sense for you.

When to speak with an immigration attorney about an employment-based Green Card

The U.S. immigration system is complex and constantly changing. Working with an experienced attorney can help ensure your application is accurate and follows the best legal strategy for your career goals. At Manifest Law, our attorneys are focused on helping ambitious professionals navigate the path to permanent residency with clarity and confidence.

👉 Request a consultation with Manifest Law today to start building your future in the United States.

Frequently asked questions

Can family members join me on an employment-based Green Card?

Yes, your spouse and unmarried children under 21 can typically apply for their own Green Cards as derivatives when you apply. They’ll be able to live, work, and attend school in the U.S., just like you.

What’s the difference between an employment-based Green Card and a work visa?

A work visa can refer to employment-based Green Cards, but also temporary permits like the O-1 or H-1B, which often tie you to one employer for a set number of years. A Green Card is permanent, allowing you to live in the U.S. indefinitely and work for almost any company.

How long does it take to get an employment-based Green Card?

Processing Form I-140 can take almost two years, and the wait for a visa can add years more depending on your visa category and home country. Using premium processing for certain forms can speed up some things.

Can I apply for more than one employment-based category at the same time?

Yes, you can have multiple petitions pending at once if you meet the requirements for each one. This can be a smart strategy if you’re worried about a long backlog.