IMMIGRATION LAW

Employment path

Step 1: OPT (Optional Practical Training), which is applied by the student's school and approved by USCIS. It is valid for either 12 months or 29 months depending on the field of study.
Step 2: H-1B, which is work visa applied by the employer and approved by the USCIS. It is valid for three years and renewable for another three years.
Step 3: PERM, which is the process for labor certification, which assures that employer could not find willing and competent U.S. work for the job. It is applied by the employer and approved by the U.S. Department of Labor.
Alternative step 3: NIW: Alternatively, the alien can petition USCIS for NIW (National Interest Waiver). If the national interest so warrants, the alien may bypass the labor certification process.
Step 4: I-140, which is the immigration application by the employer and approved by the USCIS.
Step 5: I-485, which the alien's application to adjust status, approved by USCIS

Other paths