Apply for a U.S. visa for advanced degree professionals (EB-2) in Kosovo

$345 for each intending immigrant, to the U.S. Department of State, on the approved I-140. The petitioner, your employer or you with a National Interest Waiver, pays USCIS $715 for the I-140, or $665 online, plus the Asylum Program Fee.^2,3,9

Professionals with an advanced degree, or a bachelor’s degree and at least 5 years of progressive experience in the profession, and people with exceptional ability in the sciences, arts or business.²⁹

An exemption from the job offer and the labor certification, so you file the I-140 yourself. USCIS weighs 3 factors: your endeavor has substantial merit and national importance, you are well positioned to advance it, and on balance waiving the job offer benefits the United States.^3,30,31,6

Yes, by priority date. Only applicants whose priority date is earlier than the Visa Bulletin’s final action date for the second preference can get the visa now; Kosovo is in the column for all countries not listed.^3,32

Five, with about 140,000 visas each fiscal year. EB-1 is for people of extraordinary ability, outstanding professors and researchers, and multinational managers. EB-2 for professionals with advanced degrees or exceptional ability. EB-3 for skilled workers, professionals and other workers. EB-4 for special immigrants, such as religious workers. EB-5 for investors in a new U.S. business that creates jobs.³

The labor certification, when your category needs one. Your U.S. employer first gets it from the Department of Labor, to show there are not enough U.S. workers for the job, then files Form I-140 with USCIS. EB-2 and EB-3 generally need it, EB-4 does not, and EB-2 can be exempted by a National Interest Waiver.^3,7

Usually with a petition. A U.S. citizen or permanent resident relative files Form I-130, or a U.S. employer files Form I-140, with USCIS. USCIS must approve it before your case moves to the National Visa Center (NVC).³³

USCIS sends your case to the National Visa Center (NVC). NVC creates it and sends you a Welcome Letter, with which you log in to CEAC. There you pay the fees and submit the forms and documents, and NVC reviews them before an interview can be scheduled. In categories with a yearly limit, you wait until a visa number is available for your priority date, the day the petition was filed.¹³

$345 per person, for an application on an approved I-140 or I-526. Each intending immigrant pays it, whatever their age, and it is not refunded. Pay only when and where the NVC tells you. The I-140 filing fee is separate and goes to USCIS.^2,3

A birth certificate, marriage and divorce certificates, and police certificates if you are 16 or older. They must be issued by the official authority in your country. Documents not in English, or in the official language of the country where you apply, need a certified translation.^19,20

You, the principal applicant, at any age, and each family member immigrating with you who is at least 14 on the day of the interview. A family member with their own case number attends at any age. Your petitioner does not need to attend.²¹

On the State Department’s Visa Status Check, at ceac.state.gov. Choose your visa type, then enter your passport number and the first five letters of your surname.³⁴

No. Any claim that someone can guarantee a visa is fraudulent. A consular officer decides at the interview whether you qualify.³⁵