IMMIGRANT VISA UNIT
PRIORITY WORKERS
1. Priority Workers, employment first preference, receive 28.6 percent of the yearly worldwide limit. All Priority Workers must be the beneficiary of an approved Form I-140 petition for prospective Immigrant Employee. Within this preference there are three sub-groups:
I. Persons of extraordinary ability in the sciences, arts, education, business or athletics. Applicants in this category must have extensive documentation showing sustained national or international acclaim and recognition in the field of expertise. Such applicants do not have to have a specific job offer so long as they are entering the United States to continue work in which they have extraordinary ability. Such applicants can file their own petition with the USCIS, rather than through an employer.
II. Outstanding professors and researchers with at least three years experience teaching or research, who are recognized internationally. No labor certification is required for this classification, but the prospective employer must provide a job offer and file a petition with the USCIS.
III. Certain executives and managers who have been employed at least one of the proceeding years by the overseas affiliate, parent, subsidiary or branch of the U.S. employer. The applicant must be coming to but the prospective employer must provide a job offer and file a petition with the USCIS.
