Lighthouse Library
Resources for every visa path
Practical guides for founders, researchers, and the teams moving them to the United States.
EB1 vs EB2which green card path fits you in 2026Everything you need to know about EB-1 vs. EB-2 green cards in 2026, including eligibility, NIW and PERM requirements, approval rates, priority dates, costs, and processing timelines.READ GUIDEH-1B AmendmentWhen To File And What It CostsEverything you need to know about H-1B amendments, including material changes, worksite and remote-work moves, filing triggers, costs, timelines, and when an amendment is not required.READ GUIDEH-2B VisaHow It Works And Who Qualifies In 2026Everything you need to know about the H-2B visa in 2026, including eligibility, annual and supplemental caps, employer requirements, costs, filing steps, and compliance duties.READ GUIDEH-1B Wage LevelsHow They Work And Why They MatterEverything you need to know about H-1B wage levels, including the four salary tiers, prevailing wage calculations, wage-weighted lottery selection, and how employers determine the right level.READ GUIDEI-9 AuditWhat Employers Need To Stay Compliant In 2026Everything you need to know about I-9 audits in 2026, including ICE inspections, Form I-9 requirements, common compliance violations, penalties, and how employers can prepare.READ GUIDELabor Condition Applicationwhat employers must fileEverything you need to know about Labor Condition Applications, including employer attestations, filing steps, H-1B requirements, and public access file compliance.READ GUIDE
VISA PATHWAYS
Explore the visa that is right for you
Select a visa for deeper detail on fit, sponsor model, timing, and the evidence that usually drives the case.Nonimmigrant visas
O-1AFor science, business, education, or athletics leaders with sustained acclaim.Extraordinary abilityEmployer or U.S. agentO-1BFor artists and entertainment professionals with distinction or extraordinary achievement.Arts and creative achievementEmployer or U.S. agentH-1BFor specialty roles requiring highly specialized knowledge and a related degree.Specialty occupationU.S. employerH-1B1A treaty-based specialty occupation option for Chilean and Singaporean citizens.Chile and Singapore specialty occupationU.S. employerTNFor Canadian and Mexican citizens working in listed professional roles.USMCA professionalsU.S. employer or entityE-3A specialty occupation route reserved for Australian nationals.Australian specialty occupationU.S. employerJ-1For approved work-and-study exchange programs administered through a sponsor.Exchange visitorDepartment of State-designated sponsorL-1AFor executives and managers moving within a qualifying company group.Executive or manager transferQualifying multinational employerL-1BFor employees with specialized company knowledge moving to a U.S. affiliate.Specialized knowledge transferQualifying multinational employer
Green cards
EB-2 NIWFor advanced degree or exceptional ability candidates whose work serves the national interest.Self-petition green cardSelf-petition availableEB-1AA self-petition green-card path for extraordinary ability candidates.Extraordinary ability green cardSelf-petition availableEB-1BFor outstanding researchers and professors with international recognition.Outstanding professor or researcherU.S. employerEB-1CFor multinational executives and managers moving into long-term U.S. leadership roles.Multinational manager or executiveQualifying multinational employerEB-2/EB-3with PERMEmployer-sponsored permanent residence through PERM labor certification.Employer-sponsored green cardU.S. employer