The short answer
The main groups are immediate relatives of U.S. citizens (no waiting line), family preference categories (F1, F2A, F2B, F3, F4), employment categories (EB-1 to EB-5), the diversity lottery, and humanitarian and special categories.
What to know
- Immediate relatives: spouses, unmarried children under 21 and parents of U.S. citizens (the citizen must be 21 or older to petition for parents).
- Family preference: other relatives, with yearly limits and waiting lines.
- Employment: EB-1 (extraordinary ability, managers, researchers), EB-2 (advanced degrees, national interest), EB-3 (skilled and professional workers), EB-4 (special immigrants), EB-5 (investors).
- Diversity visa lottery: about 55,000 numbers a year for people from eligible countries.
For the exact rules, forms and fees, see USCIS.
Visa Status is an unofficial site. This is general information in plain words, not legal advice. Rules, fees and forms change, so check the official website and your own papers. Written October 2026.