Green card

Nonimmigrant visa

Extraordinary Ability in Sciences, Arts, Education, Business, or Athletics

Temporary Agricultural Workers

Entrepreneurs, Industry experts, Researchers, STEM professionals, Athletes, Artists

Agricultural workers, Seasonal farm workers, Horticultural employees, Forestry workers, Dairy farm workers, Orchard workers

• Demonstrate sustained extraordinary achievement in your field with at least 3 of 10 types of required evidence, such as receiving prestigious awards, being featured in media or professional publications, earning a high remuneration relative to your peers, or holding a critical or relevant role in a distinguished organization or project.

• Continue working in your area of extraordinary ability in the U.S.

• The employment must be of a temporary or seasonal nature.

• Employers must prove there are no available U.S. workers who are willing, qualified, and able to perform the temporary work.

• Employers must certify that hiring H-2A workers will not adversely impact the wages and working conditions of similarly employed U.S. workers.

• Provides complete flexibility to work, live, and study in the U.S.

• Does not require employer sponsorship, offering significant independence.

• No labor certification is required, simplifying the application process.

• Offers the fastest pathway to a green card among EB categories.

• Direct path to citizenship after 5 years.

• Provides a legal pathway for foreign agricultural workers to work in the U.S.

• Addresses critical labor shortages in the agricultural sector.

• Allows for seasonal employment flexibility, matching crop harvest cycles.

• High standard to demonstrate extraordinary ability.

• Limited exclusively to agricultural work and subject to seasonal demands.

• No pathway to permanent residency or long-term employment.

• Spouses and dependents do not receive work authorization.

• Employers must undergo a rigorous certification process.

• Requires employer sponsorship and a specific job offer.

Not required

Required

Permanent

Duration of labor certification, up to 1 year, renewable twice in 1-year increments for a total of 3 years.

Every 10 years

Twice in 1-year increments for a total of 3 years.

10-24 months¹

1-3 months¹

15 business days²

15 business days

Yes

No

¹Applicants from India, China, or Mexico may experience longer wait times.

²Available only for the first stage of the process, while the second stage typically takes an additional 9-18 months.

¹Varies based on processing center workload and employer need; fee applicability uncertain.