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How to Get a Green Card
Getting Permanent Residency
What is a Green Card?
An Alien Registration Receipt Card (a.k.a. “green card”) allows a person to stay and to work in the United States permanently. A green card is slang for a card which serves as evidence of an immigrant’s permanent residence status. The first cards made were in fact green and the name stuck even though the color of the card has changed several times over the years. Green cards allow foreign nationals to live and work in the United States permanently. While a green card offers a great deal of opportunity for immigrants, getting one can be a very frustrating process that can take years to complete.
What Rights Does a Green Card Give an Immigrant?
Permanent residence status does not afford all the rights of U.S. citizenship, but does offer an immigrant the opportunity to work and live in the United States permanently (barring any illegal activity which can result in removal and loss of permanent residence status). A person who has a green card may leave the United States for work or vacation, but may not be allowed back if he is out of the United States for a long period of time. A person with permanent resident status should apply for a reentry permit if he plans to leave the United States for any reason to ensure his admittance upon his return to the United States.
How to Get a Green Card
In order to get a green card, an individual must first have an immigrant visa number.
The United States limits the number of immigrant visa numbers available each year. There are different limits for different categories as well as limits for each country. As a result, the waiting time for applicants from some countries can be considerably longer. . The number is only issued at the time of approval of the I-485 adjustment of status application.
There are many different categories of green cards and each category has specific eligibility and application requirements. Some of the categories include the following:
- Get a green card through an employer in the U.S.
- Get a green card through a family member who is a legal resident of the U.S.
- Get a green card through making an investment in the U.S.
- Get a green card by winning the diversity lottery (takes some luck!)
Get Legal Help Before You Begin Your Green Card Process!
There are so many different paths you can take in getting a green card. An experienced immigration attorney can assess your situation and discuss what the fastest path for a successful green card might be for you. You will invest time and money in the process of getting a green card and it is a smart decision to do it right and get some help.