US Immigration Guide 2025: 6 Pathways & Requirements Compared

Immigrating to the United States is a dream for many people, but the process is complicated and the threshold is high. In this article, Fuuffy Cargo will introduce you in detail to the six major methods, requirements and related costs of immigrating to the United States, helping you understand and choose the immigration channel that best suits you.

6 ways to immigrate to the United States

1. U.S. Investment Immigration

U.S. investment immigration is mainly divided into two ways: EB-5 investment immigration and EB-5 regional center:

1. EB-5 investment immigration

   • - The investment amount is US$1 million, which can be reduced to US$500,000 if the investment is in specific poverty-stricken areas
   • - Investment projects must create at least 10 full-time jobs
   • - The investment method can be to create a new enterprise, purchase an existing enterprise or directly invest in a designated project
   • - It is necessary to pass the legal review of the source of funds and submit a large number of financial documents to prove it
   • - The processing time is about 24-36 months, there is no quota limit but there is quota control
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   EB-5 Regional Center

   • - Lower threshold than EB-5 direct investment, with a minimum investment of US$500,000

   • - Indirect investment through a government-approved third-party investment company (regional center)

   • - The requirements for job creation are looser and the calculation method is more favorable

   • - The potential risk is high and the investment cannot be fully refunded

   • - The processing time is about 16-24 months, subject to annual approval quota

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2. The advantage of investment immigration is that you can get a permanent green card approved quickly, which is suitable for powerful investors</ span>. However, the cost is high, the rationality of funding sources is strictly reviewed, and there are no restrictions on employment and salary requirements.

Is the success rate of U.S. investment immigration high?

The success rate of U.S. investment immigration is generally considered to be relatively high, but it is not without risks. The attraction of investment immigration to the United States is that it lowers the academic and language thresholds and focuses on capital investment. U.S. EB5 is the most common investment immigration route, requiring large investments and job creation in the United States.

However, the success rate of U.S. investment immigration is affected by many factors, including project selection, legality of funding sources, policy environment, etc. Although the overall success rate is high, there is still a risk of U.S. investment immigration failure, such as project failure or approval delays.

2. U.S. relative-based immigration

U.S. relative-based immigration refers to an immigration application submitted by an applicant's immediate family member who has become a U.S. citizen or permanent resident. Mainly divided into the following categories:

1. Immediate family members

• Applicants who are spouses, unmarried children (under 21 years old) or parents of U.S. citizens can be exempted from quota restrictions. The U.S. relative immigration process takes about 11-19 months. .
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1. Married children

• The applicant is a married child of a U.S. citizen (over 21 years old). The current waiting time for immigrating to the United States is about 7 years.
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1. Brothers and sisters

• Applicants who are siblings of U.S. citizens are called the F4 visa category. Applicants must be the children of married siblings of U.S. citizens, regardless of age. Currently, the US family-based immigration process takes about 15 years, and the waiting time is extremely long.

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1. Spouse's immediate family members

• Applicants who are spouses, unmarried children or parents of U.S. permanent residents,are required to obtain Only after your green card is approved can you apply for relatives to come to the United States.
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In addition to family relationships, applicants must also meet other general immigration requirements, such as good conduct, no major criminal record, financial guarantee, etc. Family applications must include spouse and minor children. United States The advantage of the family-based immigration process is that you can wait in the United States during the waiting process and do not require employer sponsorship or investment. But it usually requires a long waiting time of several years or even more than ten years.

3. Immigration to study in the United States

• U.S. student immigration is not a formal immigration category, but a long road to permanent residence through study, internship and work. The main steps include:

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• 1. Student Visa (F-1)

  • Applicants must be officially admitted to a U.S. school and apply for an F-1 student visa after receiving the I-20 admission notice.F-1 visa validity period can be used to complete degree studies.

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  1. Curriculum Practical Training (CPT/OPT)

  • You can gain internship experience through Curriculum Practical Training (CPT) during school.After graduation, you can Apply for Elective Practical Training (OPT), which lasts for 12-36 months.

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  1. STEM OPT visa extension

  • Science and engineering students can apply to extend their OPT visa for 24 months after graduation.

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  1. EB-2/EB-3 employment immigration or EB-5 investment immigration

  • If you receive a job offer during the OPT period, the employer can apply for employment immigration. Master of Science or Ph.D. can apply for EB-2 visa, can also start a business Or invest to apply for EB-5 investment immigration.

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  1. Exceptional Talent EB-1A/EB-1B

  • Those with outstanding performance can apply for the EB-1A outstanding talent or EB-1B outstanding researcher/professor visa through their employer or themselves.

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  The whole process takes several years, and some stages apply There is also a risk of visa rejection. It is recommended to choose a popular major with good employment prospects, properly plan and prepare application documents, funds, etc., and hire a professional lawyer to assist throughout the process to be more certain of success.

4. U.S. skilled immigrants

• U.S. skilled immigrants are mainly divided into two categories: EB-2 and EB-3:
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• EB-2 Advanced Employment Immigration

  • - Applicable to professionals with a master's or advanced degree, or those with outstanding abilities in a certain professional field
  • - Applicants must obtain a job offer and labor certificate from the employer in advance
  • - The employer needs to demonstrate that it cannot recruit qualified U.S. workers locally to fill the position
  • - The review cycle is about 6-12 months
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  EB-3 Professionals, Skilled Workers, and Other Workers

• - EB-3(a) is suitable for applicants with a bachelor’s degree and engaged in professional work
  • - EB-3(b) is for skilled workers, requiring at least 2 years of relevant experience
  • - EB-3(c) is applicable to other ordinary workers
  • - The application process is similar to EB-2, but the waiting time is longer
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  In addition to academic qualifications and professional skills, applicants must also meet general identity review requirements, such as good conduct and no major criminal records. Some applicants with special expertise or outstanding achievements may also consider applying for the EB-1A or EB-1B talent immigration category.
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5. U.S. Marriage Immigration

• Marriage immigration is one of the important ways to obtain permanent residence in the United States. It refers to marrying a U.S. citizen or permanent resident and applying for immigration status through a legal marital relationship. The key review point for marriage immigration is to prove the authenticity and durability of the marriage and avoid immigration fraud.
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• Applicants need to provide a large number of documents such as marriage certificates, financial certificates, and no criminal records, and undergo multiple interviews. The overall process takes approximately 12-18 months, during which a formal interview with the National Visa Center will be arranged. Once approved, you can obtain a temporary visa K-3 to enter the country and then apply to adjust your status to a permanent resident; or you can directly receive an immigrant visa CR-1/IR-1 and enter the country and get a green card valid for 10 years.
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• However, within 2 years after entry, the newlywed green card needs to be reviewed to prove that the marriage continues to be genuine and free of fraud. If the Immigration Bureau discovers that there is immigration fraud such as sham marriage, it will be subject to severe civil and criminal penalties. The advantage of marriage immigration is that the procedure is relatively simple and straightforward, and does not require employer sponsorship or investment funds. However, the review of the authenticity of marriage is very strict, and the amount of document preparation is huge.
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6. U.S. Nurse Immigration

The United States lists the nursing profession as a popular industry with a shortage of workers, and has a special EB-3 occupation immigration category.

The basic conditions for applying for nurse immigration include:

- Hold nursing related degrees and diplomas

- Obtain a nursing license through the Nurse Licensing Examination

- Obtain proof of employment from a U.S. hospital or medical institution

During the application process, the employer needs to apply for a labor certificate for the applicant, proving that qualified American workers cannot be hired locally, and the position must be filled by foreign nurses. Once approved, the applicant can obtain a work visa to work in the United States and then apply to adjust to permanent resident status. The overall process takes about 1-2 years, during which a large number of supporting documents need to be submitted, and interviews may also be required.

Basic conditions and requirements for immigrating to the United States

1. 1.  

   2. • - Age, good conduct, no major criminal record

      • - Have appropriate academic qualifications, professional qualifications and language skills

      • - Have sufficient financial resources and will not burden public resources

      • - Passed professional physical examination, no infectious diseases endangering public health

      • - The application materials are complete and true, with no false statements or omissions

      • - Must pass interview, fingerprint collection and various background checks

2.  

3. Apply to the United StatesRequired documents for immigrationDocuments

   1. • 1. Birth certificate, marriage certificate and other identity documents

      • 2. Degree certificates, employment certificates and other academic and work certificates

      • 3. Documents proving financial resources such as deposit certificates and tax records

      • 4. Notarized certificate of no criminal record

      • 5. Physical examination and vaccination report

      • 6. Specification photos and fingerprint records

      • 7. Other supplementary materials, subject to specific circumstances

    

Application fees for immigrating to the United States

Application fees will vary greatly depending on the immigration category, mainly including:

• - Family-based immigration I-130/I-485 adjustment of status fee 535-1,140 USD
• - Employment-based immigration I-140/I-485 adjustment of status fee 700-1,225 USD
• - Investment immigration I-526/I-485 adjustment of status fee USD 3,675-1,500
• - Work permit I-765 application fee $410
• - Biometric identification fee (fingerprint collection) is about US$85
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• In addition, attorney fees, physical examination fees, immigration fees, translation and notarization fees, etc. also need to be paid,Some application fees will be adjusted based on the specific circumstances of the applicant. The exact amount can be found < span style=""color: #e67e23;"">Official website of the United States Citizenship and Immigration Services.

Preparation for immigrating to the United States

Preparing to immigrate to the United States is a long and complicated process that requires comprehensive preparation. Here are some important things to prepare for immigrating to the United States:

1. Financial preparation

• - Estimate and prepare sufficient funds, including application fees, US immigration company fees, physical examination fees, travel expenses, etc.
• - Prepare documents proving financial resources, such as bank deposit certificates, asset certificates, income certificates, etc.
• - Consider living expenses after moving to the United States to ensure a stable source of income
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1. File preparation

• - Prepare and organize all necessary documents, such as birth certificates, academic certificates, marriage certificates, criminal record certificates, etc.
• - Verify that the documents are complete and meet the requirements, arrange translation and notarization
• - Prepare latest photos and fingerprint information

1. Medical Preparation

• - Arrange physical examinations and preventive vaccinations for immigration requirements
• - Prepare original and English translations of all medical records and reports
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1. Immigration moving arrangements

When immigrating to the United States, you must transfer your propertySending goods from Hong Kong to the United States is a complicated task. If you are a small family of 1 to 2 people and only have a small amount of belongings to send to the United States, you may consider shipping by air, which is fast and relatively cheap. Shipping cannot transport electronics and food, and the delivery time is longer, so air freight is more suitable for sending valuables, electronics, food and urgent items.

If requiredimmigration moving services, you need to contact Fuuffy logistics specialists in advance, compare options, and reserve sufficient budget for moving expenses. Fuuffy International Express Price Platform provides exclusive discounts for major international express delivery services such as UPS, DHL, Fedex, etc., which are cheaper than the public price on the express delivery official website!

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