EB-1—Priority workers include persons of extraordinary ability in the arts, sciences, education, business, or athletics; persons of exceptional ability or with an advanced degree in the Sciences, Arts or Business.

EB-2—This category includes professionals with advanced degrees or persons with an exceptional ability in the Sciences, Arts, or Business; qualified physicians practicing medicine in under-served areas of the United States.

EB-3  Foreign nationals with bachelor’s degrees who do not qualify for the higher preference categories, skilled workers with a minimum of two years training and experience, and unskilled workers.

EB-4—This category includes special immigrants who are foreign national religious workers, as well as current and former employees of the U.S. government in overseas capacities.

EB-5—Individual investors may also apply for permanent residency through an investment of $1,000,000 in new commercial enterprises that create full-time employment for at least 10 workers.

A permanent labor certification issued by the Department of Labor (DOL) allows an employer to hire a foreign worker to work permanently in the United States. Through this process a person can obtain lawful permanent resident status by being employed.