The U.S. green card, or permanent resident card, is a coveted document that gives you permission to live and work in the United States without having to worry about gaining an additional visa or other paperwork requirements. The process of obtaining a green card can be complicated and lengthy but with some guidance it’s possible to understand your options and make progress on the road to becoming a permanent resident. Here are some ways to get a green card:
1. Employment-Based Green Card: One way to obtain a green card is through employer sponsorship if you have specialized skills that are needed in the U.S., such as medical professionals or computer engineers. Companies that sponsor employees must prove they can’t find qualified candidates domestically and will be responsible for most of the green card paperwork. The employer must also provide proof that they’re paying you minimum wage and meeting other labor conditions.
2. Family-Based Green Card: If you are related to a U.S. citizen, you may be eligible for a family-based green card. This could include spouses, parents or even siblings depending on your relationship to the U.S. citizen in question. Generally speaking, the closer the relationship the easier it is to gain approval for a family-based green card; however, all necessary documentation must be filed correctly and timely as any mistakes tend to delay processing times considerably or can result in outright denial of your application.
3. Diversity Lottery Program: The Diversity Lottery Program is a lottery system for those who wish to obtain a green card but don’t have the necessary qualifications or family members needed for either of the two options above. In order to qualify, you must be from an eligible country and meet certain educational requirements. Winners are then randomly selected by a computerized drawing, with 50,000 people awarded green cards each year.
4. Refugee Status: Refugees may come to the U.S., often due to political upheaval in their home countries, and seek protection through asylum or refugee status. If they are able to prove they face potential harm if they were forced to return to their country of origin, they could qualify for refugee status which includes a possibility of obtaining permanent resident status after one year.
5. Asylum: As an alternative to refugee status, you can also qualify for asylum if you are already in the U.S., have been persecuted or fear persecution due to race, religion, nationality, membership in a particular social group or political opinion and are unable to return safely to your home country. If approved, applicants will be granted permanent resident status one year after they have applied for asylum status.
The process of applying for a permanent resident card is not always easy but with the right guidance it’s possible to obtain this valuable document. Whether through employer sponsorship, family-based applications, diversity lotteries or even asylums and refugees statuses there may be opportunity to gain legal residence in the United States.
It’s important to note that the application process can take anywhere from six months to a year or more as each green card request is unique and dependent on individual circumstances. The most important step you can take when applying for a green card is to make sure all paperwork is complete, accurate and filed in a timely manner so that the U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS) can process your request with minimal delays.
Additionally, you need to seek advice from a qualified immigration experts such as immigration lawyers or paralegals before beginning the permanent resident application process to ensure correct procedures are followed from start to finish. Our immigration paralegal team can help with your green card application here!
Good luck!
