Career development can be a successful way to gain legal entry into the United States for yourself and some of your loved ones. Professionals with exceptional skills or higher education may eventually qualify for employment in the United States.
Those who have worked for an international company with locations in the United States and those who have made a name for themselves within their profession may eventually qualify for work-based immigration. There are numerous employment visa programs that apply to workers ranging from health care professionals to engineers.
The industry in which you work and the kind of job you hope to take will influence which work-related visa program is right for you. One of the earliest questions you may want to answer about employment visas is whether or not your family members can travel with you when you enter the United States. Will a work visa help your loved ones enter the country too?
Your immediate family can also apply when you do
When you qualify for a work visa, you don’t have to choose between professional opportunities and family relationships. The United States Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS) allows the immediate family of certain workers to apply for their own visas.
Typically, only spouses and unmarried children under the age of 21 will qualify for subordinate visas when one family member receives a job-related visa. Extended family members, like parents and siblings, typically cannot travel with a worker entering the United States for job opportunities.
What requirements must your family meet?
In addition to having a spousal or parent-child relationship with you, your family members have to meet the same basic immigration criteria that you do. They will have to provide medical records and submit to a background check. The same charges typically apply for their visa applications.
The family members approved to travel and live with you can renew their visa when you renew yours. Like you, they may become eligible for a green card while living in the United States if you remain in the country for long enough and meet certain standards.