¿Cómo obtener una visa de empleo basada en el EB-2 “Preferencia 2” en California?

EB-2 (employment-based, preference 2) visas allow foreign workers with (1) advanced degrees or (2) exceptional abilities to immigrate to California for work.

Common professions that fall into the EB-2 category in California include UC professors , actors, and nurses.

The biggest advantage of EB-2 visas is that they come with green card status. Therefore, immigrants may eventually be eligible to naturalize as U.S. citizens.

In this article, our California immigration attorneys discuss EB-2 immigrant visas in California, including application procedures, fees, and deadlines. Click on a question to jump to the answer.

• 1. What is an EB-2 visa in Los Angeles, CA?
• 2. How do I show that I qualify for an EB-2 visa?
• 3. What is the application process for an EB-2 visa?
• 4. How much does it cost to obtain an EB-2 visa?
• 5. When can I get an EB-2 visa?
• 6. Can my family come with me to California on an EB-2 visa?

Please also see our informative articles on EB-1 Visas in Los Angeles, California , EB-3 Visas in Los Angeles, California , EB-4 Visas in Los Angeles, California , and EB-5 Visas in Los Angeles, California .

1. What is an EB-2 visa in Los Angeles, California?

EB-2 visas are intended for outstanding foreign professionals. There are three categories of EB-2 visas available:

1. Advanced Degree : The foreign national is applying for a job in the U.S. that requires an advanced degree, which the foreign national has already earned.
2. Exceptional Ability : The alien has exceptional ability in the sciences, arts, or business.
3. National Interest Waiver : The alien has exceptional ability in the sciences, arts, or business, and would significantly benefit the U.S. by working there.

2. How do I show that I qualify for an EB-2 visa?

The supporting documentation that a foreign national must produce to obtain an EB-2 visa depends on the visa category for which he or she is applying:

EB-2 Visas with Advanced Degrees:

Foreign workers applying for an EB-2 visa with advanced degrees must demonstrate that they have:

• an advanced degree, or
• a bachelor’s degree and a minimum of five (5) years of post-graduate work experience in the designated area.

EB-2 Visas with Exceptional Ability :

Foreign workers applying for an EB-2 visa with exceptional ability must submit three (3) of the following documents:

1. Official academic record showing that you have a degree in your field;
2. Letters demonstrating at least ten (10) years of full-time work experience in the field;
3. A license to practice the profession;
4. Proof that he/she receives a certain salary;
5. Membership with a professional association;
6. Recognition from peers, government agencies, or other professional organizations; and/or
7. Other comparable tests of eligibility.

EB2-NIW Visas with National Interest Waiver :

To qualify for an EB2-NIW visa, the foreign worker must meet both of the following requirements:

• meet at least three (3) of the above criteria for exceptional ability, and
• demonstrate that working in the U.S. will benefit the U.S.

3. What is the application process for an EB-2 visa?

The first step in obtaining an EB-2 visa is for the U.S. employer to obtain a labor certification (PERM) . (This may not be necessary if the foreign national is eligible for a national interest waiver .)

The U.S. employer can then file Form I-140 with the U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS). Assuming the petition is accepted, the foreign national will receive instructions on how to complete the process.

4. How much does it cost to obtain an EB-2 visa?

The processing fee for an EB-2 visa is $345. And the filing fee for Form I-140 is $700.

5. How long will it take to get an EB-2 visa?

The time required to obtain an EB-2 visa varies depending on the foreign national’s country of origin. It can take from a few months to more than a year.

6. Can my family come with me to California on an EB-2 visa?

Yes. The spouse and unmarried children under 21 years of age of an EB-2 visa holder may immigrate to the United States.

Call a California Immigration Lawyer…

You may be eligible for an EB-2 visa in California if you are an alien of extraordinary ability. Call our Los Angeles immigration attorneys for a free consultation. Go to our main California visa page . Also meet our Nevada EB-2 visa attorneys .