Work Permits and Green Cards: A Step-by-Step Guide for Brazilians
If you have a job offer from a US company, start with a work visa that lets you enter legally. The work permit follows once you arrive. Green card petitions usually come later through the same employer.
Choose the right visa for your situation
Most Brazilians use H-1B for degree jobs in tech or engineering. L-1 works if you already hold a managerial role at a Brazilian branch of the same company. E-2 fits if you invest at least $100,000 to open or buy a US business that creates jobs.
Compare these quick facts before you decide.
| Visa | Typical role | Duration | Green card path |
|---|---|---|---|
| H-1B | Software engineer | 3 years, extend to 6 | Common |
| L-1 | Manager at affiliate | 3 years, extend to 7 | Common |
| E-2 | Business owner | 2 years, renewable | Possible |
Get the work permit after entry
Once your visa is approved and you enter the US, file for an Employment Authorization Document. Your employer usually starts this step.
- Submit Form I-765 within 30 days of arrival.
- Include a copy of your I-94 arrival record and passport.
- Pay the current filing fee and wait for the card in the mail.
A Brazilian engineer I worked with received her card in eight weeks and started payroll the next month.
Move from work visa to green card
Your employer files a labor certification first, then an immigrant petition. You stay on the visa while the process runs.
- Employer tests the US job market for 30 days.
- File Form I-140 once certification clears.
- Complete consular processing at the US embassy in Brasilia when your priority date becomes current.
Expect the full sequence to take two to four years for most Brazilians.
Handle filings from Brazil
Keep scans of every approval notice and pay stub. Use a US mailing address or a relative’s so you receive notices on time. Renew your Brazilian passport before any embassy interview. Check your case status online every two weeks after you file.