People are ranking into five different “priority groups” when seeking employment-based lawful permanent resident status. The rankings are based on the qualifications of the job and, in some cases, the qualifications of the individual.

• Priority Workers (EB-1): The highest-ranking workers are for those with “extraordinary ability” in arts, sciences, business or athletics. It can also be for outstanding professors and researchers, and the managers and executives of international companies based in the United States.
• Professionals With Advanced Degrees, or Persons With Exceptional Ability (EB-2): Professionals with advanced degrees must have a degree higher than a baccalaureate degree, or a baccalaureate degree and five years of related progressive experience. “Exceptional Ability” means proven ability in sciences, arts or business that is above ordinary. Persons who qualify to be in this priority group may also seek to petition based on a National Interest Waiver or under Schedule A Group II.
• Skilled Workers, Professionals and Unskilled Workers (EB-3): This covers jobs requiring a bachelor’s degree and less than five years of experience, positions requiring some experience but no degree, and jobs not in the other four categories.
• Certain Special Immigrants (EB-4): This group includes certain specific workers, including broadcasters, religious ministers, and people who have worked with the U.S. government in certain capacities.
• Investors (EB-5): To qualify for this category, an immigrant must be investing at least $1 million or $500,000 in Targeted Employment Area (TEA). A TEA is an area with high unemployment or a rural area.
  
  

Each category has a different wait time. Your wait time will also depend on which group you fall into and what country you are from. A certain amount of visas are allocated to each. Some, especially those in EB-1, EB-4 and EB-5, are available without a waiting list. Some have a waiting list that extends a decade.