There are a number of individuals that currently work and live in Washington, D.C. thanks to a temporary worker visa. A man that exactly fit this description came to the United States eight years ago from Germany as a genomics researcher with high hopes of landing a tenure-track academic position.
The man was living here temporarily on a non-immigrant work visa that was rounding in on the maximum number of allotted years that allowed the man to continue working and living in the United States. The man wanted to further his career in the states and decided that he wished to achieve permanent-resident status by securing a green card.
Individuals seeking to secure a green card may aware that the employment-based immigration process can be highly complex, necessitating several qualifications that must be met. This man was prepared to meet these expectations, but even with a strong determination, the man found the process to be arduous, and that was in the absence of any major glitches.
This man successfully obtained his green card with the aid of an immigration attorney that advised he file his application under two of five preference categories. One such category presented the individual as a man of “extraordinary ability.” Further, the man needed to secure several letters of recommendation.
However, all of the preparation was certainly worth it because this man is thrilled that his application for a green card was successful. He is now seeing his dreams actualized as he accepted a tenure-track position as an assistant professor in microbial genomics at the University of Texas at San Antonio. This man learned from his successful experience that guidance and ample time for filing and completing all necessary steps are crucial in endeavors of this nature.
Source: Nature, “Immigration: Waiting for Green,” Karen Kaplan, Nov. 14, 2012