Employment-based visas are a type of immigrant visa for individuals who have a job offer from a U.S. employer. These visas allow foreign workers to come to the United States and live permanently in order to work for the U.S. employer.

There are five categories of employment-based visas, each with its own requirements and eligibility criteria. They are:

1. EB-1: For individuals with extraordinary abilities, outstanding professors and researchers, and multinational managers and executives.
2. EB-2: For individuals with advanced degrees or exceptional ability in the sciences, arts, or business.
3. EB-3: For skilled workers, professionals, and unskilled workers.
4. EB-4: For certain special immigrants, such as religious workers, employees of U.S. foreign service posts, and certain broadcasting employees.
5. EB-5: For investors who invest at least $900,000 in a new commercial enterprise that creates at least ten jobs in the United States.

The U.S. employer must file a petition with U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS) on behalf of the foreign worker, demonstrating the job offer and the foreign worker’s qualifications for the position.

Once the petition is approved, the foreign worker can apply for a visa through the Department of State’s consular process, or they can adjust their status to a permanent resident if they are already in the United States legally.

It’s important to note that employment-based visas are subject to immigration regulations and the terms and conditions of the visa must be met in order for the individual to remain in the United States legally.