US Lists 8 Conditions Foreign Professionals With Bachelor’s Degrees Need for Permanent Residence
- The US government has released the eligibility conditions for foreign professionals with at least a bachelor's degree to obtain a Green Card through employment-based immigration
- Applicants must file Form I-485, be physically present in the US, and have an immigrant visa immediately available at the time of filing
- The USCIS guidance also covers what happens when a worker changes jobs after their Form I-140 petition has been approved
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The United States government has published the conditions that foreign professionals holding at least a bachelor's degree must satisfy to qualify for a Green Card, which grants lawful permanent residence, through the employment-based third preference (EB-3) immigrant category.
The guidance, issued by US Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS), applies to applicants who are already physically present in the United States and wish to adjust their status from within the country.
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The full details are available on the USCIS official website.
Conditions required for US Green Card
According to USCIS, a foreign professional with a bachelor's degree who is already in the US must meet all of the following conditions to be eligible:
1. Properly file Form I-485, Application to Register Permanent Residence or Adjust Status.
2. Have been inspected and admitted, or inspected and paroled, into the United States by an immigration officer.
3. Be physically present in the United States at the time of filing Form I-485.
4. Be eligible to receive an immigrant visa.
5. Have an immigrant visa immediately available both at the time of filing Form I-485 and when USCIS makes its final decision on the application.
6. Have a job offer that still exists with the employer who filed Form I-140, Immigrant Petition for Alien Worker, on the applicant's behalf, and intend to accept that job once the Form I-485 is approved.
7. Be admissible to the United States for lawful permanent residence, or be eligible for a waiver of inadmissibility or another form of relief.
8. Merit a favourable exercise of USCIS discretion.
US Green Card: What happens if you change jobs
USCIS noted that workers who switch employers after their Form I-140 has been approved are not automatically disqualified.
Under section 204(j) of the Immigration and Nationality Act, an approved Form I-140 can remain valid for adjustment of status purposes if the new job falls within the same or a similar occupational classification as the original petition, and the Form I-485 has remained unadjudicated for at least 180 days.
For self-petitioners, the same principle applies: they must intend to work in the same or a similar occupational field as specified in their original Form I-140.
USCIS also clarified that to be eligible to adjust status, an applicant must generally have entered the US after being formally inspected and either admitted or paroled, with limited exceptions outlined in the USCIS Policy Manual, Volume 7, Part B, Chapter 2.
Nigerians should verify new immigration opportunities before applying
Nigerians considering new permanent residency and citizenship opportunities should understand the requirements and verify important documents before making immigration decisions.
Speaking exclusively with Legit.ng, Barrister Chidera Divine Ebimnamaonye said:
“Nigerians whom wish to travel should in realities of current changes in immigration policies:
"(a) Documents intended to be used for travel should be verified through the Nigerian immigration service and no individuals vis a vis agents.
"(b) you have to focus on employer sponsored routes because it is more secured for transitioning.
"(c) you have to account for your proof of funds, insurance, housing and months of living expenses.”
In a related story, Legit.ng reported that the US shared three conditions that foreign professionals must satisfy to get a Green Card without having a job offer.
Family members eligible for US Green Card
Meanwhile, Legit.ng previously reported that the US released the five categories of family members who qualify for a Green Card.
Under the rules, certain relatives of US citizens and lawful permanent residents can obtain lawful permanent resident status based on their specific family ties.
Immediate relatives of US citizens, such as spouses, minor children, and parents, fall under a separate application process.
Proofreading by James Ojo, copy editor at Legit.ng.
Source: Legit.ng
