Live in USA
There are a few different ways for applying for U.S. permanent residence, where you would obtain what is known as a Green Card. The most common way to get a Green Card would be through one of two methods: (i) Family-Based Immigration, (ii) Employment-Based Immigration.
Seeking refuge is also a way someone may be able to receive permanent residence in the United States. You may be eligible for a green card if the government granted you asylum due to life threatening circumstances in your home country. Individuals granted asylum can apply for a green card after one year of residence in the U.S.
Long-time resident non-citizens may escape deportation proceedings and apply for a green card if they can prove their removal from the country would cause severe hardship to another U.S. citizen or permanent resident.
65281
GDP Per Capita (2019, USD)
328.2
U.S. Population (2019)
5480
Average Monthly Income (USD)
Get a Green Card
A Green Card holder (permanent resident) is someone who has been granted authorization to live and work in the United States on a permanent basis. As proof of that status, U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS) grants a person a permanent resident card, commonly called a "Green Card."
You can become a permanent resident several different ways. Most individuals are sponsored by a family member or employer in the United States. Other individuals may become permanent residents through refugee or asylum status or other humanitarian programs. In some cases, you may be eligible to file for yourself.
What's the Easiest Way to Get a U.S. Green Card?
There is no single answer to this question. And of course, immigration eligibility depends in part on one's personal circumstances. The green card categories people mostly use to enter the U.S. include:
- The diversity visa lottery.
- Having a job with a U.S. employer.
- Family relationships.
Family Based Petitions or Family Sponsorships
Depending on your situation, you may be eligible to apply for a U.S. Green Card using a family-based petition for having relatives living in the U.S. as U.S. Citizens or Green Card holders. Certain family members may be eligible to sponsor or petition you for a Green Card.
A foreign citizen seeking to live permanently in the United States requires an immigrant visa (IV). To be eligible to apply for an IV, a foreign citizen must be sponsored by an immediate relative who is at least 21 years of age and is either a U.S. citizen or U.S. Lawful Permanent Resident (that is, a green-card holder).
There are two types of family-based immigrant visas:
Immediate Relative – these visas are based on a close family relationship with a U.S. citizen, such as a spouse, child or parent. The number of immigrants in these categories is not limited each fiscal year.
Family Preference – these visas are for specific, more distant, family relationships with a U.S. citizen and some specified relationships with a Lawful Permanent Resident (LPR). The number of immigrants in these categories is limited each fiscal year.
Keep in mind that U.S. citizens can file an immigrant visa petition for their:
• Spouse
• Son or daughter
• Parent
• Brother or sister
Employment-Based Petitions for a Green Card
You may have a U.S. employer who is willing to petition for you to become a permanent resident of the States. In this case, most applicants are usually already in the U.S. on a valid U.S. work visa such as an L-1 visa or an H-1B visa.
These Green Card applications are called employment-based petitions and usually involve filing an I-140 application to the Service Center located in the jurisdiction of the place of employment.
Every fiscal year (Oct 1st – Sep 30th), approximately 140,000 employment-based immigrant visas are made available to qualified applicants under the provisions of U.S. immigration law. Employment based immigrant visas are divided into 5 preference categories. Certain spouses and children may accompany or follow-to-join employment-based immigrants.
The First Steps toward an Immigrant Visa: Labor Certification and Filing a Petition
To be considered for an immigrant visa under some of the employment-based categories below, the applicant's prospective employer or agent must first obtain a labor certification approval from the Department of Labor.
Once received (if required), the employer then files an Immigrant Petition for Alien Worker, Form I-140, with the U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS) for the appropriate employment-based preference category.
NOTE: Persons with extraordinary abilities in the Employment First preference category are able to file their own petitions.
Frequently Asked Questions
Find answers to frequently asked questions about immigrating permanently to the United States of America.
You may have a U.S. employer who is willing to petition for you to become a permanent resident of the States. In this case, most applicants are already in the U.S. on a valid U.S. work visa such as an L-1 visa or an H-1B visa.
These Green Card applications are called employment-based petitions and usually involve filling an I-140 application to the Service Centre located in the jurisdiction of the place of employment.
Attempting to get a Green Card is a crucial process. Any slight mistake could result in a failed attempt. Immigration Lawyers have helped thousands of individuals to successfully get U.S. permanent residence.
If you marry a U.S, citizen, you won't be eligible for U.S. citizenship right away. But you might become eligible for a U.S. green card, which can lead to U.S. citizenship. If you marry a U.S, citizen, you won't be eligible for U.S. citizenship right away.
- Hold a green card for three years;
- Be married to and living with your US citizen spouse for three years;
- Live within the state that you're applying in for three months; and.
- Meet all other requirements for US citizenship.
It can take anywhere from 7 to 33 months for your green card application to be processed. The amount of time it takes will depend on the type of green card you are applying for, the processing center you use, and other factors.
The easiest way to get permission to move to the US is to have an employer sponsor your move. If a US employer wants to hire you, they begin the process by filing a petition with the United States Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS) on your behalf. Employer sponsorship allows you to stay permanently in the US.
If eligible, the permanent resident can apply for U.S. citizenship. Once a U.S. citizen, the petitioner can file Form I-129F and bring his/her fiancé to the United States. Alternatively, the couple can marry outside the United States. Once married, the permanent resident can petition the spouse.
The current fee to become a U.S. citizen through naturalization is $725. As of writing, this is the fee you will have to pay to file your Form N-400.
A U.S. citizen who wishes to marry a non-U.S. citizen or permanent resident can help their fiancé(e) obtain permanent residence in different ways. ... Once you marry, your spouse can apply for permanent residence and remain in the United States while we process the application.
The short answer is: yes, you can get married in the US while on a B-1/B-2 tourist visa or on a visa waiver program. ... In fact, you are even allowed to come to the US as a visitor with the sole intention of getting married.
Your work permit will arrive within five months — up to seven months, in some cases — after U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS) receives your work permit application. (Until recently, the typical processing time for a work permit application was 90 days, but a growing backlog has caused additional delays.
Actualize your dream to immigrate to USA
The first step towards immigrating to the US is getting an assessment of your case. Please click the "Get Started" button so we can determine your eligibility to move to America.