How to immigrate to the United States

According to “Immigration by Country 2023” statistics (provided by World Population Review), United States has the highest number of foreign-born residents in the world (50.6 million). This country attracts people with its:

• High standard of living;
• No. 1 education system in the world (according to World Population Review);
• Diverse employment opportunities (main industries: electronics, finance, oil industry, software);
• The main language (American English) is the most widely spoken in the world;
• High level of salaries and more.

By applying for an immigrant visa, you can enjoy the benefits listed above and move to the United States. This involves meeting specific requirements, paying state fees, and providing the US government with sufficient reasons to live there. However, for anyone considering moving to the United States, there are sufficient types of immigrant visas available.

Types of US visas

The types of US immigrant visas differ depending on the basis of stay in this country. They all allow employment without restrictions and are valid for an unlimited duration of time. They also pave the way for obtaining US citizenship.

The most popular types of visas for permanent immigration to the United States are:

• Employment — Includes 5 categories that depend on your professional skills and the contribution you can make to the United States.
• Family — You should be a child, spouse, parent, widow, or sibling of a US citizen or immigrant visa holder;
• Diversity — United States randomly grants approximately 50,000 Green Cards annually;
• Humanitarian — Proof of refugee or asylum seeker status is required to start the immigration process.

Each of the visas listed above involves meeting different requirements, application processes costs, and approval time. Taking these factors into account is essential for a successful immigration to the United States.

How long does it take to obtain an immigrant visa to the US?

Depending on the immigrant’s individual case and the grounds for relocation, the timeframe for obtaining a visa in the United States varies. Average processing duration and application total costs of each are shown in the table below:

Immigrant visa type	Time-frames (months)	Cost per person ($)
Humanitarian	6 - 14	No fee
Diversity	7 - 14	330
Family	6 - 19	1400
Employment	2 - 7	1225

Employment and family-based visas involve additional immigration procedures, which means a higher cost of the application process. These include medical examinations and government fees. The time frames also differ greatly on the political situation in the country and the personal case of an immigrant.

It takes a lot of time and money to meet all the immigration requirements for moving to the United States. However, there are countries whose citizens do not need a visa to reside in the US.

Do EU citizens need a US visa?

In 1986, the United States created the Visa Waiver Program to open its borders to its closest allies. Citizens of 40 countries can travel freely to the US and stay there for up to 90 days. As a result, most EU passport holders do not need a visa to visit the United States. However, this is not the case for all European Union countries. The exceptions are:

• Cyprus;
• Bulgaria;
• Romania.

European Union citizenship is an advantage when traveling to the United States. EU citizens can enjoy the benefits of living in the U.S. without applying for an immigrant visa, saving their time and money.

Conclusion

For anyone looking to improve their quality of life, living in the United States is a dream come true. It is one of the most developed countries in the world. It has a wide range of employment opportunities, the best education system on the planet, and much more. Moving to the US means applying for an immigrant visa. This document grants you permanent residence in this state, but there are many requirements to meet. Citizens of most EU countries can enter the US without a visa, so having a European passport is an advantage when moving to the United States.