Studying in the USA offers unparalleled opportunities for academic and personal growth. Home to world-renowned universities, cutting-edge research facilities, and diverse cultural experiences, the USA is a top destination for international students. Programs cater to a wide range of interests, from technology and business to arts and humanities. With a flexible education system, students can explore interdisciplinary studies and gain practical experience through internships. The USA also provides access to vibrant campus life, global networking opportunities, and career advancement. While the application process and visa requirements demand careful preparation, studying in the USA promises an enriching journey toward achieving academic and professional goals.

The B-1 Visa (Temporary Business Visitor) is for individuals traveling to the U.S. to engage in business activities. Because the B-1 Visa is not an employment visa, work is not allowed. Individuals usually apply for a B-1 Visa when they cannot enter the U.S. under the visa waiver program (ESTA) because, for example, they wish to remain in the U.S. longer than 90 days or have a prior visa refusal or are otherwise disqualified from the ESTA-Program.

If you want to live in the USA for a longer period of time, a U.S. E visa is a good option. The E-1 visa is available for both employees and self-employed persons. Unlike most other visa types, E visas can be extended indefinitely. However, the visas do need to be renewed every two to five years. While an L visa requires the holder to leave the USA again after seven years at the latest and bars them from entering the USA again with an L or H visa for one year, an E visa practically allows permanent residence - at least as long as the relevant requirements are met.

The E-2 investor visa is for persons who want to live their American dream and start their own business in the USA. The determining factor in this is not whether an investment has already been made in an existing U.S. company for some time, whether such a company has been purchased or whether a new company is to be founded in the USA. Depending on the arrangement, different points, however, have to be considered.

The H-1B visa is for workers who wish to work in a U.S. company for a limited period of time. The advantage of this visa category is that, in contrast to the L visa and the E visa, there are no special requirements for the U.S. company. The requirements for the applicant are also much fewer; in particular, the applicant is not required to hold a managerial position in the U.S. company.

Since December 18, 2012, only nationals of certain countries are eligible to apply for an H-2B visa. For a long time, German nationals were not eligible, unlike nationals from many other EU countries, including Switzerland, Austria, the Netherlands and Spain. However, as of January 30, 2018, Germans nationals are eligible for an H-2B visa. Other nationals currently eligible for an H-2B visa are listed below.

A. Establishing a branch, subsidiary or office in the USA
For entrepreneurs who have already established a going concern in Germany, it is possible to apply for a so-called L-1 visa in order to, after formal establishment, set up a branch office, a new office or a subsidiary in the USA or to send employees to an already existing, affiliated company.
B. The L-1 visa as an alternative to the E-2 visa
An L-1 visa can also be considered, in particular, if the path to the USA via an E visa is blocked because the relevant requirements, for example with regard to existing trade, the required investment or citizenship - which plays an important role in the E visa -, are not or cannot be fulfilled.
An L-1 visa for nonprofit organizations
Furthermore, the L-1 visa also offers nonprofit organizations, which per se cannot qualify for an E visa, the opportunity to gain a foothold in the USA.

The O visa allows artists, entertainers, actors, athletes, scientists and the like to live and work in the USA for a limited period. The prerequisite for an O visa is that the applicant would like to work in the USA in the field related to their extraordinary abilities. It is not necessary to find a U.S. employer who is looking to hire the applicant on a permanent, long-term basis. If such an employer exists, they may file the petition. However, if a U.S. employer is not available, a U.S. agent must file the O-1 petition.

The EB-1A visa is an excellent choice for individuals who possess exceptional skills in the fields of science, business, arts, technology, education, sports, or similar areas. Although the number of these visas is limited like other employment-based immigrant visas, there are typically rarely waiting times. In other words, the quota is seldom exceeded. If there are waiting times, they are usually relatively short for the EB-1A visa, for instance, one year. Moreover, neither a labor market test nor a U.S.A employer is necessary

The EB-1C visa is the perfect choice for international executives and managers wishing to apply for a green card. While the number is restricted like other work-based immigrant visas, there are rarely any waiting periods, i.e. the quota is seldom exceeded. If waiting periods do occur, they are typically relatively short for an EB-1C visa (e.g. one year). Currently, there are no waiting periods (as of August 2022). Furthermore, neither a labor market test nor a U.S. employer is necessary. The requirements can also be fulfilled by mid-sized companies with a well-established U.S. location

An EB-2 visa is a U.S. immigrant visa. It can be used to apply for a U.S. green card. The EB-2 visa is accessible in two sub-categories: The first category comprises individuals engaged in a profession that typically necessitates a master's degree, or alternatively a bachelor's degree plus five years of work experience. The second category encompasses individuals who possess exceptional ability in their field of work in the areas of science, business or the arts. Unlike the EB-1A visa, an EB-2 visa is not applicable to workers in the field of education and, with certain exceptions, in the field of sports.

The EB-5 visa is an ideal option for anyone seeking to obtain a U.S. green card through an investment in the USA. As with other employment-based immigrant visas, the number of EB-5 green cards is limited. Up to 10,000 immigrant visas can be issued annually for investors; accompanying family members do not influence the quota. However, anyone interested in applying for an EB-5 green card needs to know that it is a long-term endeavor. The waiting time for an EB-5 visa is usually relatively short to virtually non-existent, as the quota is never exceeded. On the other hand, the processing time for the EB-5 petition is a different story. This period is currently approx. 48.5 months (as of July 2022).

If you are married to a U.S. citizen, you can apply for a green card (a permanent residence permit). The spouse of a green card holder may also apply for one. This also applies to same-sex couples insofar as they have entered into a union that is equivalent to marriage. While an unlimited number of green cards are available for spouses of a U.S. citizen, green cards for spouses of a green card holder are limited, i.e. only a limited number are issued each year. Because more applications or petitions are usually filed than there are green cards available, the excess applicants are placed on a waiting list. The current waiting period was approximately twenty-two months as of May 2019. In other words, applications that were submitted before July 2017 were processed in May 2019. Currently (October 2020), there are no waiting periods. However, it is quite possible that a petition is submitted at a time when there were no waiting periods, but that such periods then occur during the course of the processing. For some applicants (e.g. Chinese nationals), other, often even longer, waiting periods apply. These waiting periods are updated every month in the so-called Visa Bulletin and can be viewed there. In the following, we would like to give you a brief, general overview of the multi-step procedure for obtaining such a green card (United States Permanent Resident Card, I-551).