A COMMON ROUTE
1. The EB-3 green card
- Nurses are a Schedule A occupationNo labor certification needed
- Your employer files the petitionForm I-140
- It's a green card, not a temporary visaPermanent residence
Source: USCIS.
WHO CAN COME
2. Your family can come too
- Your spouseMarried, with proof
- Your unmarried children under 21Each one is listed
- They can apply with you or after youOnce your petition is approved
Source: USCIS.
KIDS NEAR 21
3. Watch the birthdays
- A child must be under 21 and unmarriedTo come as your child
- The Child Status Protection Act can helpIt sets a formula for a child's "CSPA age"
- Ask an attorney earlyDon't wait for a birthday
Source: USCIS.
CANADIAN OR MEXICAN?
4. TN status works differently
- Your spouse and kids under 21May get TD status
- TD family members can studySchool and college are allowed
- But they can't work in the USPlan your budget for one income
Source: USCIS.
TIMING
5. The wait depends on where you were born
- The Visa Bulletin comes out monthlyFrom the US State Department
- Cutoff dates differ by countryAnd can move back as well as forward
- Check it every monthYour attorney can read it with you
Source: US Department of State.
YOUR PLAN
6. Start your family file now
- Marriage certificate and every child's birth certificate
- Passports for everyone, valid for a long time
- List each child's birthday next to 21
- Talk to an immigration attorney before you sign a job offer
Educational only, not legal or immigration advice. Talk to an immigration attorney about your case.
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