Oftentimes we hear about immigrants “getting in line” to come to the United States, but in many cases, there is no line for them. There are four main ways to enter the US:
- Family Sponsor
- Employer Sponsor
- Humanitarian Protection (such as the refugee resettlement program, applying for asylum, or receiving humanitarian parole)
- Winning the Diversity Visa Lottery
Most people in the world do not qualify to enter the US through these pathways. In fact, of those who do qualify for one of these paths, the wait for a visa is often years or even decades long.