Green Card allows foreign nationals to permanently reside and work in the United States. Our immigration system offers several ways of becoming a Permanent Resident (Green Card holder), among which are obtaining a Green Card based on family ties, being sponsored by an employer, investing in the U.S. economy, going through the Asylum process, or being selected in Diversity Visa Lottery. Below is an overview of each Green Card category.
Family-based Green Card
Foreign nationals, whose immediate relatives are either U.S. citizens or permanent residents, might be eligible for Green Card. A U.S. citizen parent, sibling, spouse, or child can petition a foreign national for Green Card. Applicant’s family members, such as a spouse or children can also be eligible beneficiaries.
Employment sponsored Green Card
An eligible U.S. employer can sponsor a foreign national for Green Card. There are multiple subcategories within employment-based Green Card category, depending on immigrant worker’s skills, qualifications, and education. With certain exceptions, this process is almost always employer-driven, meaning that a U.S. company petitions a foreign worker for Green Card by first submitting an application with the U.S. Department of Labor, and then with the U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS).
Green Card through investment
Foreign investors can be eligible for Green Card if they invest $1M in the U.S. economy and create at least 10 new full-time positions in the U.S. In certain cases an investment amount of $500,000 may be enough, when investing in a targeted employment area, such as a rural area of an area with high unemployment rate.
Green Card for Asylees
Foreign nationals who have been present in the U.S. for at least one year in the Asylum status can apply for Green Card. Asylum is granted to certain immigrants, who are unable to return back to their home country because of past prosecution and/or a well-founded fear of future prosecution based on their race, religion, nationality, political opinion, or membership in a particular social group.
Diversity Visa Lottery Green Card
Every year the U.S. Department of State conducts a Diversity Visa Lottery and awards 50,000 Green Cards to randomly selected winners. Only applicants from specific countries with low immigration rates to the U.S. in the past can participate in the lottery. Enrollment begins in October and the first results are available in May. Those, who are selected in the lottery, must go through an interview process to obtain their Green Cards.
In addition to these five Green Card categories, the U.S. Government issues some other types of Green Cards. If you are planning to apply for Green Card, it is highly recommended to work with a knowledgeable immigration attorney who can guide you through the process and provide viable advice. At Root Law Group we offer free in-office consultations with our experienced immigration attorneys specializing in all aspects of U.S. Immigration. Over the years, we helped 2500+ clients and are proud to have a high 95% success rate on most of our cases. Call us today at (323) 456-7600 to schedule your free in-office consultation!
