For certain, you may know that you want authorization to work in the United States. However, you may struggle to find a U.S.-based employer willing and able to sponsor you for the necessary green card. If you are eager to gain legal entry into the country sooner rather than later, you may explore your options for self-petitioning. With that being said, please continue reading to learn whether you can sponsor yourself and how an experienced green card lawyer in Milwaukee, WI, at Sesini Law Group, S.C., can still work to support you at this time.
Is it possible to sponsor yourself for a green card?
Simply put, certain employment-based green card categories offer a self-petitioning option for foreign applicants. For one, there is the EB-1A visa, or the extraordinary ability visa. This visa type is designated for individuals with extraordinary abilities in science, arts, education, business, or athletics. Specifically, extraordinary abilities may be reflected through an individual’s national or international acclaim or recognition.
Secondly, the EB-2 visa (i.e., National Interest Waiver visa) is meant for individuals with working capabilities that may particularly benefit and thereby be in the national interest of the United States. Naturally, with this, an individual must showcase their work history and how it might translate to national importance here.
Last but not least, there is the EB-5 visa, otherwise known as the immigrant investor visa. This visa type is made for foreign investors who can and intend to invest substantial capital in a new commercial enterprise. Namely, this enterprise should create plenty of job opportunities for U.S. workers, the minimum being at least 10 full-time positions. For this, an individual must have the financial capacity to invest $1.8 million or more in an enterprise or $900,000 in a targeted employment area.
What other self-petitioning options do I have?
You may feel drawn toward a self-sponsoring opportunity as it allows you to maintain autonomy throughout your immigration process. With this, you may choose amongst several different job opportunities opened to you, instead of being contained to work with the one U.S.-based employer who decided to sponsor you. In turn, you may more closely follow your ultimate career goals.
Unfortunately, though, you may not qualify for any of the employment-based self-sponsoring visa options mentioned above. Do not fear, though, as you may be afforded other chances to self-petition. For example, there is the Violence Against Women Act (VAWA) visa if you have been made the victim of abuse from a domestic or intimate partner who is a U.S. citizen or lawful permanent resident. Or, a self-petitioning widow(er) visa if you are the spouse of a deceased U.S. citizen.
To ensure you do not go through this critical yet complex process by yourself, please reach out to a skilled green card lawyer in Milwaukee, WI. Our team at Sesini Law Group, S.C. is more than happy to serve you.