Emigrating to the United States is one of the common goals that thousands of Cubans have who want to seek a better quality of life, however, doing it legally can be a very complicated process for those who do not know what to do.
This text shares the options that people outside the United States have to emigrate in a legal, orderly and safe manner to North American territory.
To legally enter the country, a visa is required to later obtain a permanent residence card (Green Card).
It is important to note that there are different types of visas, each designed for those who have different purposes in the North American country, such as tourism, work and studies.
Types of visas
Family visas:
Obtaining permanent residence in the United States is usually done with the help of family ties, an option that is available to unmarried children under 21 years of age, and parents or siblings of citizens who have turned 21 years of age.
Likewise, the option is available for children and spouses of permanent residents in the US. However, there is an annual visa limit in each family category, and the waiting period depends on the country of origin and current demand.
Types of family visas
- IR-1: This type of visa is for the spouses of a US citizen.
- CR-1: for spouses of a US citizen whose marriage is less than two years.
- IR-2: visa for unmarried children under 21 years of age of resident citizens.
- IR-3: type of visa granted to orphans adopted abroad by a US citizen.
- IR-4: this type of visa is for orphans who will be adopted in the US by a US citizen.
- IR-5: visas for parents of US citizens who are at least 21 years of age.
- F1: visa for the unmarried sons and daughters of a US citizen.
- F2A: type of visa granted to spouses and unmarried children under 21 years of age of legal permanent residents.
- F2B: visas issued to unmarried children over 21 years of age of legal permanent residents.
- F3: visa for married children of US citizens, as well as their spouses and minor children.
- F4: visa issued to siblings of adult US citizens, as well as their spouses and minor children.
Fiancé visas
If engaged to a US citizen, a person can apply for a K-1 visa, commonly known as Visas for Fiancé. To do this, the person must marry the citizen within a maximum period of 90 days after her arrival in the United States, with which she can request an adjustment of status later to become a resident.
Obtaining a permanent residence through employment
Permanent residence or Green Card can also be obtained with the help of job offers, which allows several companies to hire individuals outside the country to work in the United States.
This option includes visas for specialized workers, that is, H-1B; transfers within the same company, L-1; investors and entrepreneurs, E-2, and other specialized employment categories.
This process begins by making a request for labor certification. The employer must do this before the Department of Labor. Subsequently, a request must be made to the Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS). Similar to the family category, there is an annual limit on the number of documents.
Diversity Visa Lottery
People can also immigrate to the US if they win the Diversity Visa Lottery program, which seeks to promote immigration from countries with low migration rates. The North American country annually draws 50,000 visas among applicants who meet certain education and work experience requirements.
To do this, interested parties must register on the Department of State (DOS) website during a period that opens in October. Then, they must wait for the results, which are usually published in May of the following year.
Visas for students and exchange visitors
These individuals receive an F-1 or M-1 student visa, depending on the academic program selected. These documents allow you to reside in the United States during the academic year and work up to 20 hours a week on campus.
Optionally, the J-1 visa can be requested by people seeking to participate in cultural, educational or professional exchange programs that exist in the country.
Humanitarian visas
Those people who experience persecution or violence in their countries of origin can apply for one of these documents in the US to request asylum. Applicants must demonstrate a credible fear of harm due to race, religious belief, nationality or political opinion. If accepted, these people will be able to obtain permanent residence after one year.
Nonimmigrant visas for medical treatment
This document is given to people who require medical treatment in the United States. The visa is usually type B-2, that is, for tourism, as it is used for temporary visits for recreation or medical treatment.
Program of Parole humanitarian
These programs constitute legal procedures designed to allow the entry of citizens of certain countries, such as the Words humanitarian aid offered to Cubans, Haitians, Nicaraguans and Venezuelans who have a sponsor in the North American country.
Investor Visas
The Immigrant Investor Program allows foreign citizens who want to make a significant investment in a US company or within the territory, to receive a special visa called EB-5.
To do this, foreigners must invest around one million dollars, or about 500,000 USD in specific employment areas around the country.
