US Immigration Guide | Tips and Strategies

Author Name: Tiffany Lee – Marketing Analyst at FreightAmigo

Many people today are considering immigrating to the United States. It is not surprising that many people from Hong Kong are considering moving there given the size of the nation, its strong economy, and its top-notch educational system. Have you ever considered Immigrating to the United States yourself? If so, do you know how to apply? A guide to immigrating to the US has been created by FreightAmigo with all the details you need to get started and make the move successful!

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US Immigration 1: Permanent Worker Visa

First Preference EB-1:

Priority Worker and Persons of Extraordinary Ability

Age	Nil
Language	Nil
Educational Requirements / Work Experience	（EB-1 a）Persons with extraordinary ability in the sciences, arts, education, business, or athletics. （EB-1 b）Outstanding professors and researchers with at least three years experience in teaching or research, who are recognized internationally. （EB-1 c）Multinational managers or executives who have been employed for at least one of the three preceding years by the overseas affiliate, parent, subsidiary, or branch of the U.S. employer.
Family of EB-1 Visa Holders	Spouse and unmarried children under the age of 21 may be eligible to apply for admission to the United States in E-14 or E-15 immigrant status
Application Process	Applicant's employer must be able to demonstrate a continuing ability to pay the offered wage as of the priority date

Second Preference EB-2:

Professionals Holding Advanced Degrees and Persons of Exceptional Ability

Age	Nil
Language	Nil
Educational Requirements / Work Experience	The job you apply for must require an advanced degree and you must possess such a degree or its foreign equivalent (a baccalaureate or foreign equivalent degree plus 5 years of post-baccalaureate, progressive work experience in the field).
Family of EB-1 Visa Holders	Spouse and unmarried children under the age of 21 may be eligible to apply for admission to the United States in E-21 and E-22 immigrant status
Application Process	Applicant's employer must be able to demonstrate a continuing ability to pay the offered wage as of the priority date

Third Preference EB-3:

Skilled Workers, Professionals, and Unskilled Workers (Other Workers)

Age	18 - 50
Educational Requirements / Work Experience	-- “Skilled workers” are persons whose jobs require a minimum of 2 years training or experience, not of a temporary or seasonal nature. The skilled worker must meet the educational, training, or experience requirements of the job opportunity. Relevant post-secondary education may be considered as training. -- “Professionals” are persons whose job requires at least a U.S. baccalaureate or foreign equivalent degree and are a member of the professions. -- The “other workers” subcategory is for persons performing unskilled labor requiring less than 2 years training or experience, not of a temporary or seasonal nature.
Family of EB-1 Visa Holders	Spouse and unmarried children under the age of 21 may be eligible to apply for admission to the United States in E34 (spouse of a “skilled worker” or “professional”) or EW4 (spouse of an “other worker”). and E35 (child of a “skilled worker” or “professional”) or EW5 (child of an “other worker”).
Application Process	Applicant's employer must be able to demonstrate a continuing ability to pay the offered wage as of the priority date

US Immigration 2: EB-5 Immigrant Investor Program

Age	> 18
Language	Nil
Educational Requirements / Work Experience	Nil
Family of EB-1 Visa Holders	Investors (and their spouses and unmarried children under 21) are eligible to apply for lawful permanent residence (become a Green Card holder)
Other Requirements	-- Make the necessary investment in a commercial enterprise in the United States; and -- Plan to create or preserve 10 permanent full-time jobs for qualified U.S. workers.

US Immigration 3: Family-based immigrant visas

Immediate Relative

This visa is designed for close relatives of U.S. citizens, such as spouses, unmarried children under 21, or parents. There is no limit to the number of visas available for this category.

Family Preference

A limited number of visas are allocated each year for other relatives of a U.S. citizen, such as married children, siblings, or cousins, as well as spouses and unmarried children under 21 of legal permanent residents (Green Card holders).

US Immigration 4: Diversity Immigrant Visa Program (Green Card Lottery)

Since 1990, the United States has been offering the Diversity Visa Program (DV), also known as the “Green Card Lottery,” which randomly selects 50,000 applicants each year and awards them with a DV to attract people from various ethnic backgrounds to work in the United States. Applicants only need to have a high school diploma or equivalent education or have two years of work experience within the past five years.

In the past, Hong Kong residents were welcome to apply for the “Green Card Lottery,” but in the application guidelines for the 2022 Diversity Visa Program, the United States made an exception and stated that Hong Kong residents are no longer eligible to participate. However, residents of Macau and Taiwan still qualify for the Green Card Lottery program.