Visa & Immigration

How to Move to the USA: Visa Routes Explained

A practical overview of the main visa routes to move to the USA, family, employment, the Diversity Visa lottery, study, and humanitarian paths

Reviewed by the GetInfoUs research teamLast reviewed: 2026-06Editorial policy

Understand the Main Routes to the USA

There is no single "move to America" visa. Instead, the U.S. immigration system is built around a handful of distinct pathways, and the right one for you depends almost entirely on your personal situation. The four routes that cover the vast majority of new arrivals are family sponsorship, employment, the Diversity Visa lottery, and humanitarian protection. A smaller number of people arrive through investment or special categories. Each route has its own eligibility rules, its own forms, its own government fees, and its own waiting times, and these waiting times can range from a few months to well over a decade. Before you spend money on anything, it is worth honestly mapping your circumstances against these categories: do you have a close relative who is a U.S. citizen or green card holder, do you have a skill or job offer that an employer will sponsor, were you born in a country eligible for the lottery, or do you have a protection claim? Answering that question first saves enormous time and avoids the common mistake of applying for a route you do not qualify for.

Family-Based Immigration

Family ties are the largest source of permanent immigration to the United States. The process almost always starts when a U.S. citizen or lawful permanent resident files Form I-130, Petition for Alien Relative, to establish the family relationship. From there the cases split into two groups. Immediate relatives of U.S. citizens, spouses, unmarried children under 21, and parents, have no annual numerical limit, so visas are available as soon as the paperwork clears. Everyone else falls into the family-preference categories (F1 through F4), which cover adult children and siblings of citizens and the spouses and children of green card holders. These categories are capped each year, which creates backlogs. The U.S. Department of State publishes a monthly Visa Bulletin showing the "priority date", essentially your place in line, that is currently being processed. For some categories and countries the wait is short; for others it stretches many years. Understanding your priority date is the single most important thing in a family case.

Employment-Based Visas and Green Cards

If you have skills, education, or a job offer, the employment route may fit. It splits into temporary (non-immigrant) work visas and permanent (immigrant) green cards. Common temporary visas include the H-1B for specialty occupations, which is subject to an annual lottery; the L-1 for employees transferring within a multinational company; the O-1 for people with extraordinary ability; and the TN for certain Canadian and Mexican professionals. Many people use a temporary visa as a stepping stone and later move to a green card. The employment-based green cards run from EB-1 (priority workers and people of extraordinary ability) through EB-2 (advanced degrees, including the National Interest Waiver that lets some applicants self-petition without an employer), EB-3 (skilled and professional workers), to EB-5 (investors who create jobs). Most employer-sponsored cases require a labor certification (PERM) proving no qualified U.S. worker is available. As with family cases, annual caps and per-country limits create waiting lines tracked in the Visa Bulletin.

Study, Exchange, and Temporary Stays

A very common path is to arrive first as a student or exchange visitor and transition later. The F-1 student visa lets you study at an accredited U.S. school; after graduation, Optional Practical Training (OPT) allows a period of work, extended further for many STEM graduates. The J-1 exchange visitor visa covers scholars, trainees, au pairs, and researchers, though some J-1 holders face a two-year home-residency requirement before they can switch. These visas are temporary and do not by themselves lead to permanent residence, but they put you inside the country with U.S. credentials and work experience, which makes a later H-1B or employment-based green card far more realistic. If your long-term goal is to settle, treat the student years as the first deliberate step and build relationships with employers who sponsor work visas.

Diversity Visa Lottery and Humanitarian Routes

The Diversity Immigrant Visa program makes up to roughly 55,000 green cards available each year to people from countries with historically low rates of immigration to the United States. Entry is free and submitted online during a short annual window; selection is random, and being selected only gives you the chance to apply, not a guaranteed visa. Because many high-volume countries are excluded, you must check each year whether your country of birth qualifies. Separately, humanitarian routes exist for people who cannot safely return home. Asylum is claimed by people already in the U.S. or at a port of entry, while the refugee program processes people abroad through referrals. These categories have their own complex rules and evidentiary standards, and timelines depend heavily on policy and capacity. They are not a substitute for the family or employment routes but are vital for those who genuinely need protection.

From Visa to Green Card to Citizenship

Becoming a permanent resident happens in one of two ways. If you are already lawfully inside the United States, you may file Form I-485 for "adjustment of status." If you are abroad, your case is handled through "consular processing": after the petition is approved it moves to the National Visa Center, you complete Form DS-260, and you attend an interview at a U.S. embassy or consulate. Some green cards, such as those based on a recent marriage or an EB-5 investment, are granted conditionally for two years, after which you must file to remove the conditions. Once you hold a green card, the clock starts toward citizenship: most permanent residents can apply to naturalize after five years (three years if married to and living with a U.S. citizen), provided they meet continuous-residence, physical-presence, and good-moral-character requirements. Naturalization is requested on Form N-400 and includes an English and civics test.

Frequently asked questions

How long does it take to move to the USA permanently?+

It depends entirely on the route. Immediate relatives of U.S. citizens and lottery or some EB-1 cases can finish in roughly a year, while family-preference and many employment categories from high-demand countries can take several years to over a decade because of annual caps. Check the monthly Visa Bulletin for your specific category and country.

Can I move to the USA without a job offer?+

Yes, in several ways. The Diversity Visa lottery, family sponsorship, the EB-2 National Interest Waiver, EB-1 for people of extraordinary ability, and the EB-5 investor route do not require a U.S. employer to sponsor you. Most other employment routes, including the H-1B and standard EB-2/EB-3 green cards, do require an employer.

Do I need an immigration lawyer?+

It is not legally required, and straightforward immediate-relative or lottery cases are often handled without one. However, employment cases, anything involving past visa issues, or complex family situations benefit greatly from a licensed attorney. Avoid unlicensed "consultants" who promise guaranteed results.

What is the Visa Bulletin and why does it matter?+

The Visa Bulletin is a monthly U.S. State Department publication that shows which priority dates are currently being processed in each capped category. Because family-preference and employment green cards are limited each year, your priority date determines when you can actually move forward. It is the key tool for estimating your wait.

How much money do I need to move to the USA?+

There is no fixed figure. Government filing fees range from a few hundred to over a thousand dollars per form, and sponsors must usually prove income above set thresholds through an Affidavit of Support. Investment routes like EB-5 require a large qualifying investment. Budget separately for legal help, travel, medical exams, and initial living costs.