Residing and legalizing in the United States provides an opportunity to get a good job and a decent salary. To move to the United States, a foreigner needs to obtain an immigrant visa and then a Green Card. Find out more about the proven ways to legally migrate to the United States and other important details for expats

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Since 2000, 90% of migrants have arrived in the US legally, because this way of moving provides expats with access to the labor market with a large number of vacancies and high wages, as well as the right to use medical services, social support and the opportunity to run a business. To move to the United States of America, a foreigner must obtain an immigrant visa, and then issue a Green Card (residence permit).

What methods are available to expats to legally move to the US in 2024? The top 6 most common ways to legally enter the country are below.

What are the proven ways to legally immigrate to the US?

To move to the United States of America for permanent residence, a foreigner can:

- Win a "green card".

- Get a Job.

- Open a business or invest in the country's economy.

- Enter an educational institution.

- Have close relatives in the USA.

- Ask for political asylum.

Green Card lottery

Each year, the US government raffles up to 50,000 Green Card immigrant visas to foreigners. Candidates with no criminal record and who are citizens of countries with a low level of immigration to the United States are eligible to participate.

The lottery is called the Diversity Immigrant Visa Program (DV Program), and it gives entrants with all levels of English proficiency, a high school education, and no serious medical conditions the opportunity to legally immigrate to the United States if they win. Immigrant visas are also issued among applicants who are already in the country, but do not have official documents for permanent residence (for example, live with a non-immigrant visa).

Applications for participation in the Green Card lottery can be submitted each fiscal year during a certain period of time, which changes regularly and is published on a special website. After registration, the applicant receives a unique number by which he can track the status of his application and find out about the results of the immigration program.

Winning the lottery does not automatically mean getting a Green Card. If successful, you will be required to attend an interview at the US diplomatic mission in your country of residence.

Work visa

The United States of America grants work visas to foreigners that entitle them to a local residence permit. Employers can sponsor a foreign worker with special skills if they cannot find qualified candidates in the US. There are several types of work visas. Some of them are for a certain period of time after which the foreign worker must return to his country of origin or long-term visas.

H1B visas are the most common, especially in Silicon Valley, where engineers and IT experts are in high demand.

The US government also issues E-immigrant visas to foreigners whose employment is of interest to the United States of America and who meet the general requirements for entry into the country (no criminal record, goodwill toward the United States, etc.). The average number of entry permits per year is 140,000.

There are four categories of work visas that allow you to immigrate to the United States of America for permanent residence:

- E1 visa: priority worker and persons with outstanding talents.

- E2 visa: specialists with higher education and persons with exceptional abilities.

- E3 visa: skilled workers, professionals and unskilled workers.

- E4 visa: some special applicants.

Student visas

Foreign nationals can legally move to the United States if they enroll in local educational institutions. You can apply for an F-1 or M-1 student visa if you meet the following requirements:

- You are studying full-time at a university, college, school, vocational school, language training institution, or other institution approved by the Student and Exchange Visitor Program (SEVP), Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE);

- You speak English or are registered for the relevant course;

- You have a sufficient amount of funds for self-sufficiency.

- You do not intend to renounce your citizenship abroad.

F-1 visa holders may only work on-campus during their first year and then off-campus if the position obtained is related to their field of study and approved by an authorized representative of the educational institution.

Practical activity for holders of M-1 visas is possible only after graduation.

Student visas in the US are non-immigrant and do not provide temporary or permanent residence permits. To remain legally in the United States after graduation, an alien must change status to another category, such as being officially employed or married to a local citizen. Immigrants do not need to leave the country to do this, they can apply through the United States Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS).

Business immigration

Moving to the United States is possible for people who are ready to invest in an already operating business in the United States or who want to open their own promising enterprise. The United States of America offers a special EB-5 visa for business immigration.

To obtain a visa, a foreign national must engage in business activities that will benefit the U.S. economy by providing jobs and capital investment.

Minimum investment amount for the EB-5 program:

- USD 1,050,000 in total;

- USD 800,000 for targeted areas of employment.

There are two ways to invest in the US economy to gain entry:

- Independently into an active business in the United States of America.

- Through regional centers whose task is to improve the economic situation of a separate state.

In addition to investing the specified amount, the foreigner must create and maintain full-time employment for at least ten US citizens within the next two years

Family reunion

Moving to America for permanent residence is possible for foreigners who have immediate relatives who are legal residents of the United States of America.

Citizens and legal residents of the United States may move with their spouse or fiancé and unmarried children under 21 years of age. You can also sponsor siblings aged 21 and over and parents.

Holders of a permanent Green Card in the USA can petition for family reunification only for legal spouses and unmarried children (including adults).

Upon arrival, the immigrant will be entitled to a local Green Card for permanent residence.

Political asylum

Refugee status in the United States of America is available to aliens who are already physically present in the United States and are not local citizens. You can ask for asylum if you can prove that you have been or could be persecuted in your country because of your race, religion, nationality, belonging to a certain social group or because of your political views.

  If the application is approved, the person receives asylum and after one year of residence in the United States of America is eligible for a permanent residence permit.

How to move to the USA? Step-by-step instructions

1. Choose the reasons for moving and the right type of immigrant visa.

2. Prepare documents and, if necessary, translate and apostill them.

3. Apply for a visa and receive an invitation to an interview.

4. Successfully pass the interview and receive permission from diplomatic representatives to enter the country.

5. Get an entry permit.

6. Prepare for the trip: check the expiration date of the passport, collect money and decide on the place of residence in the USA

7. Fly to the United States and apply for a residence permit (Green Card).

Daria Rogova, Head of Insurance at Visit World

To move, travel or work safely in a new country, you will need travel insurance. You can apply for an extended policy on our website here.

Products from Visit World for a comfortable trip:

Checklist for obtaining a visa and necessary documents in the United States;

Legal advice on migration to the United States;

Travel insurance for foreigners in the United States;

Medical insurance around the world.