Most companies start with an H-1B petition for workers who were students before, and later they may move toward sponsoring for a green card. The path depends on the company’s willingness and resources.

If your employer is serious, the first step is usually paperwork with USCIS to move you into a work visa like H-1B. Later, they might begin the green card process, which involves labor certification and showing the job couldn’t be filled locally. Timelines can be long, so it’s important to know their commitment.

Employer sponsorship can go two ways: temporary work visas or permanent residency. Temporary options like H-1B give you the ability to work while the company decides whether to invest in a green card process. Green card sponsorship requires more legal steps, including labor certification in many cases. It’s best to talk to the HR department or an attorney about their plan so you don’t risk falling out of status.

When a company sponsors an employee, they typically start with a work visa like H-1B and may later pursue a green card through labor certification and permanent residency steps.