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Permanent residence also is called immigrant status and is documented with a I-551 Alien Registration Card (also called a green card). Fermi Research Alliance (FRA) may sponsor qualified individuals in good standing for permanent residence, provided that they now hold tenure-equivalent (nonterm) jobs, and tenure-track positions of Associate Scientists and Application Physicists.

Preference categories

Types of permanent residence filings	Category includes
The 1st Preference (EB-1) category	Persons with Extraordinary Ability and Outstanding Researchers and Professors.
The 2nd Preference (EB-2) category	Professionals with Advanced Degrees and Aliens of Exceptional Ability. Labor certification normally is required.
The 3rd Preference (EB-3) category	Professionals with Bachelor’s Degrees. Labor certification is always involved.

Immigrant visa backlogs and priority dates

The process for obtaining permanent residence involves two key filings:

• Form I-140: Immigrant Worker Petition
• Form I-485: Adjustment of Status Application

In some cases, both forms can be filed at the same time. This depends on the current status of the visa backlog in the EB category.

Visa limitations and backlogs

Each fiscal year, from October 1 to September 30, Congress limits the number of immigrants allowed into the U.S. The immigration process is categorized by country of birth to ensure no more than 7 percent of the total annual immigration comes from any single country. Countries like the Philippines, India, Mexico, and China often reach this limit, leading to a backlog for immigrants from these nations.

Understanding the Visa Bulletin

The Department of State (DOS) issues a Visa Bulletin each month. The bulletin indicates the availability of immigrant visas in three ways:

• Current (C): No backlog; visas are available.
• Unavailable (U): Backlog extends beyond the end of the fiscal year.
• Date: Applicants with a priority date the same as or earlier than the date listed may file their I-485 application. Those with later priority dates must wait.

Priority Dates

The priority date is crucial in determining when you can proceed with your application:

• For EB-1 and NIW filings: The priority date is the date the Form I-140 petition is filed.
• For other cases requiring Labor certification: The priority date is the date the Labor Certification Application is filed.

To proceed with your I-485 application, the Visa bulletin must show either “C” for current or a date that is the same as or earlier than your priority date.

For additional information and to check the current Visa Bulletin, visit the Department of State’s Visa Bulletin page.