Green card

Nonimmigrant visa

Multinational Executives and Managers

Specialty Occupations

Corporate executives, High-level managers, Business owners

Software developers, Financial analysts, Medical professionals, Engineers, Scientists, University professors

• The U.S. job must be in an executive or managerial capacity.

• You must have been employed by a foreign branch, parent, subsidiary, or affiliate of the U.S. sponsor.

• You must have worked for the foreign company for at least one year within the three years preceding the visa application.

• The sponsoring company must have been operating in the U.S. for at least one year.

• You must hold a 4-year bachelor's degree or equivalent work experience (three years of professional experience for each missing year of formal education).

• The job must be a specialty occupation, requiring specialized knowledge typically obtained through a bachelor's degree or higher. This includes roles in fields like engineering, mathematics, and technology, where the complexity of the tasks necessitates advanced education.

• The employer must pay at least the prevailing wage for the position — a rate set by the U.S. Department of Labor based on the occupation, work location, and level of experience. This wage is not flexible and must be met at a minimum.

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

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

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

• The application process closely mirrors the L-1A visa process and uses similar documentation.

• Direct path to citizenship after 5 years.

• Facilitates a smooth transition to permanent residency.

• Requires minimal applicant qualifications beyond a college degree or professional experience.

• Requires sponsorship and a specific job offer from a U.S. company with a qualifying relationship to the foreign company.

• Limited to multinational executives and managers, significantly restricting eligibility.

• Most applications are subject to an annual lottery and a rigid application cycle (except for exempt cases).

• Lottery acceptance rates are typically below 20%.

• Requires employer sponsorship and a specific job offer in a specialty occupation.

• Stricter company requirements for entrepreneurs applying under this visa.

• Spouses and dependents do not receive work authorization.

Required

Required

Permanent residency

3 years

Every 10 years

Once, 3-year extension

10-18 months¹

2-3 months

45 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.

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