The employment-based immigration process is a great way for a lot of people born outside of the United States to get a green card (lawful permanent residency). Employers who are ready to sponsor foreign nationals frequently have access to financial, legal, and other resources that can ease the route toward a successful immigration application, so it can not only take considerably less time than family-based immigration.

Despite this, the U.S. government doesn’t make it simple to obtain permanent resident status despite being fully aware of its high demand. Congress established numerous visa “preference categories,” which give priority to some jobs and careers over others when determining who will be able to petition for permanent residency. These categories were constructed with the U.S. job market and the requirements of the country in mind. In short, simply receiving a job offer will not necessarily be enough.

While you are awaiting a green card, you are permitted to work in the US. However, you will need to acquire a work permit, generally known as an Employment Authorization Document (EAD).

The good news is that getting an EAD can be rather simple for you. The majority of the time, all you have to do is have your immigration lawyer file an application together with the necessary cost. People who apply (if they are eligible) frequently get an EAD within a few months.

You are free to work in the US after you get your EAD. You should be aware that there are some limitations on the kind of work you are allowed to undertake, such as not being able to work for the government. But in general, an EAD allows you to work for any employer in the United States.

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Only particular occupations and careers have a better, and occasionally faster, chance of serving as the foundation for a green card application. Let’s examine how the preference categories function and which employment might be more advantageous for obtaining a green card.

While you are awaiting a green card, there are no restrictions on the kind of job you can hold. As long as you hold an EAD, you are allowed to work any legal job in the United States.

Employment-Based Preference Immigration

There are several subgroups inside each of the five employment-based categories. The eligibility requirements primarily categorize employment according to the amount of education required to carry out the job obligations within each category. For instance, a position as a beginning computer programmer would probably require a bachelor’s degree in computer science, whereas a post as a nuclear physicist would probably require at least a master’s degree in physics.

Look at the Visa Bulletin, a monthly publication of the U.S. Department of State. The Visa Bulletin specifies the general education criteria for each category of employment-based visa.

Only those with “extraordinary ability,” outstanding academics or researchers, or multinational executives or managers are eligible for the employment-based First Preference category (EB-1). This category, as you might expect, is for the “cream of the crop.”

Usually, those who fall into this category of preferences are Nobel Prize winners, well-known international scientists like Albert Einstein or Stephen Hawking, and well-known worldwide performers like Yo-Yo Ma or Vicente Fernández.

Also included in First Preference are “multinational executives or managers.” These are not line managers or lower-level supervisors; rather, they are top-level corporate officers and business executives with broad discretion to make choices that have an impact on entire businesses. Mark Zuckerberg, Meg Whitman, and Jeffrey Bezos are three excellent examples of the kind of person this group encompasses.

Congratulations if your professional and creative endeavors fall into this truly remarkable category: You may be eligible for First Preference, in which case you’ll probably receive an immediate immigrant visa number and a simple path to obtaining a green card. (You also probably have a lawyer who can easily explain what you must understand and do!)

Not everyone has the good fortune to be a “extraordinary ability” or a powerful multinational CEO. However, you can be eligible for the Second Preference category (EB-2) if your career path calls for an advanced degree, such as a master’s degree or higher, or if you have extraordinary talent in the arts, sciences, or business.

Although not as beneficial as the First Preference category, visa numbers for Second Preference applicants are frequently issued quickly and with little to no wait period. Even better, there are more occupations available that fit the Second Preference criteria.

You may be eligible for Second Preference if your prospective position typically needs at least a Master’s degree or the equivalent and your company is willing to sponsor you for a green card. Accountants, civil engineers, computer engineers, financial or investment managers, business or management analysts, and chemists or chemical engineers are common professions at this level.

The U.S. Department of Labor’s O*NET Online website is a useful resource for researching emerging profession categories that likely meet the Second Preference standards. This website aggregates statistical information about American job markets and career sectors, including typical educational and professional experience requirements, popularity and demand, and possible wages. Importantly, this website can assist you in determining which professions and industries are in great demand in the US. The needs of the American labor market are always very much in the minds of immigration officials.

Alternately, you can potentially be eligible for Second Preference if you possess remarkable talent in a certain field of science, the arts, or business. However, this can be challenging to achieve, much like the First Preference “extraordinary ability” criteria. You must be able to provide evidence of your noteworthy accomplishments and contributions to your industry or field, including letters from your former employers attesting to your ten or more years of experience in your field, industry, government, or peer recognition, awards and salaries recognizing exceptional ability, publications and peer-reviewed papers you have authored, and awards and salaries recognizing exceptional ability.

Positions needing at least a Bachelor’s degree or the equivalent to perform the job’s requirements fall under the Third Preference category (EB-3). In terms of legal requirements, Third Preference is a far more convenient way to obtain a permanent residence through employment. The EB-3 category is popular among those seeking permanent residence, which lengthens the wait for available visa numbers.

After an employer submits a Third Preference petition, you could have to wait four years or more before you can begin the process of applying for a green card.

In this assessment of the “best types of jobs” to obtain a green card, the remaining two employment preference groups are less important. The EB-4 category is reserved for “special immigrants,” including clerics. And EB-5 is for investors who have a lot of money to pour into the American economy.