General Information

Visa Categories

By U.S. Immigration law, immigrants to the United States are divided into two general categories: those who may obtain Legal Permanent Resident status without numerical limitation, and those who are restricted by an annual limitation on the number of persons who may enter as permanent residents.

The second category of immigrants is further divided into family-sponsored immigrants, employment-based immigrants and diversity immigrants. Non-numerically limited immigrants include the immediate relatives of United States citizens (the spouse or minor children of a U.S. citizen, or the parent of a U.S. citizen over 21 years old) and returning residents (immigrants who have previously lived in the United States as Legal Permanent Residents, who have been forced to remain abroad for more than one year by circumstances beyond their control).