Jocko Underground: If Someone Is From Iran and Wants to Move to The USA?

A young man born and raised in Iran, now living as an expat in the Gulf States, cannot return home because he chose not to serve in the IRGC military. He works 12-hour days starting at 5 AM, building a career in social media, but the American dream feels impossibly distant given his finances and the political tensions between Iran and the United States. At 24 years old, he asks: “What would you do if you were in my shoes?”

Jocko’s response is direct and practical. The good news, he says, is that the listener is 24—young enough to have time to execute a long-term plan. The bad news is that there are no shortcuts. The path to the U.S. will require building real skills that make him valuable enough for an employer or the government to sponsor him.

The employment-based visa pathway

The most realistic route, Jocko explains, is an employment-based visa, often called an EB-1, EB-2, or EB-3. These categories prioritize people with “extraordinary ability” in science, education, art, business, or athletics, as well as those with advanced degrees or exceptional skills. A skilled worker with a master’s or PhD can sometimes qualify. Even niche roles—broadcasters, certain entertainment professionals, or long-term government employees—have pathways.