Employment-Based Green Cards for Artists & Athletes
Master's-degree graduates in music, art, and sports — EB-2 sponsored by churches and other non-profits
For many years our office has focused on EB-2 employment-based green cards for graduates with a master's degree or higher in music, visual art, or sports, sponsored by churches and other religious organizations or non-profit employers. EB-1A and NIW, which rest on awards and performance records, are reviewed alongside as the next step.
Our Focus — Employer-Sponsored EB-2
Even without a long list of awards, a master's degree plus a position that requires it can support a green card through an employer petition. Our office regularly handles cases where churches and other religious organizations or non-profits employ arts and sports graduates and serve as the sponsor.
Who qualifies
Holders of a master's degree or higher in music (voice, instruments, conducting, composition, church music), visual art, or sports — whether the degree was earned in the United States or in Korea.
Who sponsors
Churches and other religious organizations, and non-profits in education, culture, the arts, or sports. The employer creates and petitions for a position that requires the degree — music director, accompanist, choir conductor, art or sports instructor, and similar roles.
What we do
From designing the position and matching the degree requirement with the sponsor, through labor certification (PERM), the I-140 petition, and adjustment of status (I-485) or consular processing — handled end to end in one office.
How it proceeds
- 01Consultation — we review your degree, field, and experience together with the sponsor's situation and assess EB-2 eligibility.
- 02Position design — we work out with the sponsor how to structure a position that requires the master's degree.
- 03Labor certification (PERM) — the employer files for labor certification with the Department of Labor.
- 04I-140 petition → adjustment of status (I-485) or consular processing — the green card follows approval.
Other Paths We Review Alongside
For those with a substantial record of awards, performances, exhibitions, and press, we also review self-petition paths that need no employer, and the non-immigrant O-1.
EB-1A Extraordinary Ability
A self-petition path documenting sustained national or international acclaim at the top of the field.
EB-2 NIW
A self-petition path requesting a waiver of labor certification — the requirements and field-by-field guides are on the NIW page.
Read the NIW guideO-1 Visa (non-immigrant)
Not a green card, but a non-immigrant visa for work in the arts and athletics that can be reviewed alongside green-card preparation.
Read the O-1 guideNIW Guides by Field
Preparing a green card with a master's degree in the arts or sports?
We review your degree and experience together with the organization that could sponsor you, and walk through EB-2 and the other paths.
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