Green Card Pathways
Learn about your options to for U.S. permanent resident status, such as family and employment-based green cards.
Featured Resources
The H-1B is for working in a "specialty occupation" — a job requiring at least a bachelor's degree in a specific field and the application of highly specialized knowledge (e.g., engineers, computer scientists, and many others).
The O-1 is for individuals with extraordinary ability in the sciences, arts, education, business, or athletics (and those with a record of extraordinary achievement in film/TV recognized nationally or internationally).
When you complete your academic program you have a short window to act on several possible next steps. Here are the options, with links to the details.
FAQs
Compare the J-1 Research Scholar and Professor categories, their primary activities, shared rules, and how to choose the right program.
Learn who qualifies for the J-1 Research Scholar category, eligible activities, the 5-year limit, and key requirements for participating in the program.
Find your official F-1 or J-1 program completion date, understand which immigration document controls your status, and avoid status problems.
Find out how long F-1 and J-1 students can stay in the U.S. after completing their program, what the grace period allows, and key deadlines.
Find out when to apply for post-completion OPT, key filing deadlines, and how applying early can help avoid delays in starting work legally.
Explore your visa options after OPT or Academic Training, including J-1, H-1B, O-1, and green card pathways to remain in the U.S.
Stay informed about recent U.S. immigration policy changes, how they may affect your status, and where to find the latest updates and guidance.
Learn whether you can work or conduct research during your F-1 or J-1 grace period and what activities are allowed after your program ends.
Learn what you can do during your F-1 or J-1 grace period, including travel, preparing to leave, and eligible post-program options like OPT or transfers.
Transfer schools or change your academic level without risking your F-1 or J-1 status by following the correct SEVIS transfer process.
Understand what qualifies as specialized knowledge for an L-1B visa, who meets the standard, and how USCIS evaluates eligible positions.
Find out how the H-1B annual cap works, who qualifies for the master's cap, and which employers are exempt from the H-1B lottery.
Understand how much you need to invest for an E-2 visa, what "substantial investment" means, and the requirements for a qualifying business.
Review the 10 EB-1A extraordinary ability criteria, the three-criteria requirement, and how USCIS makes its final eligibility decision.
Find out when you can file Form I-130 and Form I-485 together, who qualifies for concurrent filing, and how a spouse's status affects timing.
Understand how the National Interest Waiver (NIW) lets eligible EB-2 applicants self-petition without employer sponsorship or labor certification.
Helpful Guides
The H-1B is for working in a "specialty occupation" — a job requiring at least a bachelor's degree in a specific field and the application of highly specialized knowledge (e.g., engineers, computer scientists, and many others).
The O-1 is for individuals with extraordinary ability in the sciences, arts, education, business, or athletics (and those with a record of extraordinary achievement in film/TV recognized nationally or internationally).
The most common employment green cards for graduates with a U.S. job offer, plus the National Interest Waiver, which can skip the job offer entirely.
When you complete your academic program you have a short window to act on several possible next steps. Here are the options, with links to the details.
Key considerations for switching from J-1 to F-1 status, including the two-year home-residency requirement and the change-of-status process.