9 categories among which family-sponsored and employment-based immigrant preference visas have been distributed since fiscal year 1992.
There are 4 family-sponsored preferences:
- Unmarried sons and daughters of U.S. citizens;
- Spouses, children, and unmarried sons and daughters of permanent resident aliens;
- Married sons and daughters of U.S. citizens;
- Brothers and sisters of U.S. citizens.
There are 5 employment-based preferences:
- Priority workers (persons of extraordinary ability, outstanding professors and researchers, and certain multinational executives and managers);
- Professionals with advanced degrees or aliens with exceptional ability;
- Skilled workers, professionals (without advanced degrees), and needed unskilled workers;
- Special immigrants; and
- Employment creation immigrants (investors).
