U.S. Green Card Options: Pick the Right Route Before You File
For professionals, researchers, executives and investors who want permanent U.S. residence and want to know, before filing, which route fits. Since 1991, AIA has guided 25,000+ clients, and independent U.S. attorneys handle the filing.
since 1991
- Four employment-based routes matter here: EB-2 NIW, EB-1A, EB-1B and EB-5.
- EB-2 NIW and EB-1A are green cards you file for yourself. EB-5 is an investment. EB-1B needs a U.S. employer to file for you.
- EB-1A has the higher bar. EB-2 NIW judges your work and its value to the U.S.
- A visa-number wait may apply for some countries (Visa Bulletin). Check yours early.
- AIA is not a law firm. Independent U.S. attorneys give legal advice and file for you.
Why do people pick the wrong green card route?
Most people pick a green card route by what a friend used, not by what fits their record or capital. USCIS judges each category on its own test, and a filing that does not fit its test can be denied. USCIS filing fees are generally not refunded (USCIS).
Here is how it usually goes wrong. You file EB-1A when your record is not at the top yet. You plan EB-5 around an amount that has changed. Or you assume EB-1B works without an employer.
Underneath, the feelings are real. You feel eager, because a green card changes your life. You feel confused, because the codes sound alike. And you feel worried about paying for the wrong filing.
None of that means you made a mistake. It means no one lined the routes up side by side. The table below does that.
Who is behind your green card plan, and why trust them?
Amir Ismail & Associates has guided 25,000+ clients since 1991, from offices in Toronto, Dubai and Karachi. We help you pick your route and plan your evidence, and independent U.S. attorneys handle the legal work and the filing. We also tell you straight when another route fits you better.
Empathy: We know how much a green card means, and how costly it is to guess.
Authority: Amir Ismail has worked in immigration since 1991. Over 35+ years, our team has guided 25,000+ clients from Toronto, Dubai and Karachi. That includes many people choosing between the United States and Canada.
Philosophy: We believe you should pick your route before you spend money. We believe a good advisor tells you when the bar is too high today. And we believe you should know exactly who files your case.
Why clients choose Amir Ismail & Associates
Since 1991, AIA has guided 25,000+ clients from offices in Toronto, Dubai and Karachi. We help you pick your U.S. route, and independent U.S. attorneys handle the legal work and the filing.
Honest route check
We tell you when a route does not fit, before you spend money.
A plan for your profile
We look at your record, citizenship and capital, not a template.
Clear on who does what
AIA organizes your plan. Independent U.S. attorneys give legal advice and file.
A two-country view
We know the Canada and U.S. sides, so you can compare both.
Built for your passport
We check your citizenship first, so you never plan around a visa you cannot use.
Since 1991
35+ years in immigration, 25,000+ clients guided, and the 2026 Canadian Choice Award.
Which U.S. green card route fits you?
The route that fits you depends on your record and your capital. EB-2 NIW fits an advanced degree and a project that helps the U.S., EB-1A fits the top of your field, EB-1B fits an outstanding professor or researcher with an employer, and EB-5 fits an investor. Each row links to its page.
| EB-2 NIW | EB-1A | EB-1B | EB-5 | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Who files | You, on Form I-140 | You, on Form I-140 | Your U.S. employer, on Form I-140 | You, on Form I-526 or I-526E |
| Money needed | None | None | None | $1,050,000, or $800,000 in a targeted employment area or infrastructure project, plus 10 full-time jobs |
| What USCIS judges | Your work and its value to the U.S. | You and your acclaim | Your research or teaching record | Your capital, the business and the jobs |
| Best for | Advanced degree and a project that helps the U.S. | Top of your field, with proven acclaim | Outstanding professors and researchers with at least 3 years of experience | Investors who want permanent residence |
| Page | EB-2 NIW | EB-1A | EB-1B | EB-5 |
USCIS says the EB-5 amounts adjust automatically on 1 January 2027. EB-1B needs a qualifying employer, so it is not a self-petition. A Visa Bulletin wait may apply for some countries on every route (USCIS, U.S. Department of State).
Read across, not down. One column should match you better than the rest.
Who this is not for. If you want to start working in the U.S. sooner than a green card allows, look at the work and investor visas. If you are Canadian, see U.S. immigration for Canadians.
How our process works
You take three steps: answer the short form, get your route review, and meet an independent U.S. attorney. AIA helps you pick the route and organize your evidence, and the attorney handles the legal work and the filing.
Step 1: Answer the short form
Tell us your field, your record and your capital.
Step 2: Get your route review
If your answers fit a green card route, we call you to go over it. For EB-2 NIW, this step is a paid Strategy Consultation with Amir.
Step 3: Meet an independent U.S. attorney
They confirm your eligibility, advise you on the law, and file for you once they are engaged under your signed agreement.
Find my U.S. route
Answer a few questions. A member of our team will contact you. No obligation.
AIA is not a law firm. U.S. legal services are provided by independent, licensed U.S. immigration attorneys we arrange for you under a signed agreement.
Questions about cost, time and results
Most people ask three things before they start: what it costs, how long it takes, and whether they will qualify. The answers below are honest and short. If yours is missing, the short form lets you ask.
Can I get a U.S. green card without a job offer?
Yes, EB-2 NIW and EB-1A let you file for yourself with no employer and no labor certification (USCIS). EB-5 needs an investment instead. EB-1B is the one route here that needs an employer to file for you.
What does a green card cost, and who do I pay?
You pay different parties for different things: the government, your attorney, and the cost of gathering your evidence or making your investment. Government fees are set by USCIS, and each attorney sets their own fees. EB-2 NIW starts with a paid Strategy Consultation with Amir.
We do not quote fees on this page.
A wrong filing costs more than a good plan, because government fees are generally not refunded. Picking your route first is the cheaper path.
How long does the process take?
It depends on your route, your country, how ready your evidence is and how busy USCIS is. Some countries also have a Visa Bulletin wait for green cards. We do not quote dates before we review your case, because a guess helps nobody.
Will I qualify?
No one can promise you will qualify. The short form and route review tell you honestly where you stand, including when a route is too early. If another route fits better, we say so before you spend money.
A better-fitting route beats a hopeful filing.
What happens if you wait, and what does success look like?
If you wait, you keep guessing, and the wrong filing gets more likely. If you pick your route first, you move forward with the right plan and the right attorney. The short form takes a few minutes.
If you stay stuck: another year of comparing codes. Records and funds sit unmapped. A filing that does not fit costs you months and fees you will not get back.
If you act now: you know which route fits, you know what to build, and you know who files your case. You feel relieved and confident, because the next step is clear. That is what we help you reach.
Last updated: 14 October 2026
U.S. legal scope. AIA is not a law firm and is not licensed to practice law in the United States. U.S. legal services are provided by independent, licensed U.S. immigration attorneys, chosen case by case for fit and cost, whom we arrange for you under a signed agreement. Any attorney-client relationship is between you and that attorney. AIA’s Canadian immigration services are separate. This page is general information, not legal advice.
