Looking for new opportunities in America? If your dream is to live in the United States, that path must begin with obtaining the right American visa for your personal and professional situation. Find out now which are the main visas used by immigrants and foreign residents, and learn more about how to get your American visa.

Visa categories

If you want to visit a foreign country, or even live there, you will certainly need a visa or prior authorization to make your trip or move. This authorization to visit a country (tourist visa) is usually granted by the local consulates of the country you wish to visit. Not only the United States requires visas for you to be authorized to enter its territory, but also other countries that are highly targeted by migrants and tourists.

The immigration procedures of these countries make different requirements and qualifications for you to get your tourist or permanent resident visa. As the number of people trying to visit or reside in the United States and other countries is high, each immigration office has different methods for selecting the best people to visit and live in that particular country, in order to promote the greatest possible well-being and development for that society.

Easily the most targeted country for immigrants in the world, the United States has strict rules for visitation and immigration. If you want to immigrate to the US and obtain a permanent residence visa, it's important to fully follow all US immigration rules.

And which visas allow me to study, visit, live and work in the United States?

Non-permanent visas

Student visas and tourist visas

In order for a foreigner to be able to study in the United States, even for short periods of time, such as on an exchange program, they need to obtain a student visa. The F visa category is granted to students at universities, schools, conservatories, seminars, language courses and any academic institutions.

An American F visa allows the holder to study in American territory and has a maximum duration of five years. This type of visa does not allow the holder to work within American territory and does not guarantee that the holder will be able to obtain a Green Card in the future. 

If someone only wants to travel to the United States as a tourist, they will need to obtain an American B-2 visa.

The American B-2 visa is granted by US immigration to all those who wish to visit the United States for tourism, to visit relatives or friends, to undergo medical treatment, to participate in social organization events, to take part in sporting and musical events, and short recreational courses.

There is also the American B-1 visa, which US immigration grants to those who will be carrying out a business, contract or commercial agreement in American territory, or those who will be attending scientific, educational, professional or business conferences in the United States.

Permanent visas

Permanent American visas are those that grant their holders the right to reside and work permanently in the United States, with rights and duties similar to those of American citizens. And those who have their permanent visas, respecting all American laws, will be able, in at least five years, to apply for American naturalization, becoming de facto citizens of the United States of America.

There are different categories of permanent American visas and different ways of obtaining a Green Card. A person can obtain a Green Card through their family, employment, special immigrant status, refugee status and other categories. But in a nutshell, most people who get their Green Cards use their family connections or professional experience to do so. 

For those who do not have first-degree relatives who are American citizens, the most widely used means of immigrating to the United States are the EB-1, EB-2, EB-3, EB-5 and EB-5 visa categories. In these visa categories, the applicant's professional experience and expertise is used to obtain a Green Card, and the EB-1 and EB-2 visas are for the most qualified professionals in their fields of knowledge.

And it is through EB-1 and EB-2 visas that the United States receives talent from all over the world, causing the famous "brain drain" phenomenon. 

In America, all expertise is valued, and qualified professionals can get their Green Card without needing a previous job offer in the USA. The EB-2 visa is the most widely used by Brazilian professionals who immigrate to the US, due to its more flexible eligibility criteria than the EB-1 visa.

And what are the requirements to get an EB-2 green card?

EB-2 NIW visa: What are the requirements?

If you have a bachelor's degree and more than five years of professional experience, exceptional or extraordinary skills in your field, you may be eligible for a green card.

And, if you are approved for a Green Card under this visa category, your spouse and children under the age of 21 will also be granted their respective Green Cards.

All this without you needing a previous job offer in the United States. 

Am I eligible for a green card?

Want to know if you are eligible for a green card? 

Fill in our form and we will get back to you as soon as possible.

Visit our blog for more content on immigration.