Green Cards - Contact a Lawyer
Green Cards : What are they?
The United States offers several ways to become a Permanent Resident (Green Card holder). A Green Card allows you to live and work permanently in the U.S.
Below is a list of the various ways that you may qualify for a Green Card.
1. Family Based Immigration
a. Relatives of U.S. Citizens
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- Spouse
- Unmarried Children (under the age of 21)
- Unmarried Stepchild (under the age of 21)
- Adopted child (under the age of 18) or
- Parent or stepparent
- Unmarried son or daughter (over the age of 21)
- Married son or daughter (any age)
- Brother or Sister
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b. Relatives of Green Card Holders
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- Spouse
- Unmarried Children (under the age of 21)
- Unmarried Stepchild (under the age of 21)
- Adopted child (under the age of 18) or
- Unmarried son or daughter (over the age of 21)
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2. Employment Based Immigration
a. Employment First Preference
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- Persons with extraordinary ability
- Outstanding professors and researchers
- Managers and executives in multinational companies
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b. Employment Second Preference
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- Professionals with advanced degrees
- Persons with exceptional ability
- Exceptional professors and researchers
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c. Employment Second Preference with National
Interest Waiver (NIW)
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- Persons with exceptional ability involved in activities that will substantially benefit the U.S.
national interest
- Advanced degree professionals involved in activities that will substantially benefit the U.S. national interest
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d. Employment Third Preference
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- Professionals with a U.S. bachelor's or foreign equivalent degree
- Skilled workers
- Unskilled workers
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e. Schedule A
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- Registered nurses and physical therapists
- Persons qualified to work in one of the shortage occupations on the Schedule A list
Schedule A List
Persons who will be employed as physical therapists, and who possess all the qualifications necessary to take the physical therapist licensing examination in the State in which they propose to practice physical therapy.
Aliens who will be employed as professional nurses; and (i) who have passed the Commission on Graduates of Foreign Nursing Schools (CGFNS) Examination; or (ii) who hold a full and unrestricted license to practice professional nursing in the State of intended employment.
Aliens (except for aliens in the performing arts) of exceptional ability in the sciences or arts including college and university teachers of exceptional ability who have been practicing their science or art during the year prior to application and who intend to practice the same science or art in the United States. For purposes of this group, the term "science or art" means any field of knowledge and/or skill with respect to which colleges and universities commonly offer specialized courses leading to a degree in the knowledge and/or skill. |
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3. Green Card Lottery
- Winners of the Green Card Lottery conducted by the U.S. Department of State.
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4. Investors
a. Foreign entrepreneurs who invest $500,000 in a commercial enterprise in a targeted employment area that will benefit the U.S. economy and create at least
5 full-time U.S. jobs.
b. Foreign entrepreneurs who invest $1,000,000 in a commercial enterprise that will benefit the U.S. economy and create at least 10 full-time U.S. jobs.
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5. Adoption
- Children under sixteen years of age adopted by U.S. citizens or green card holders.
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6. Registry
- Foreign Nationals who have resided continuously in the U.S. since January 1, 1972.
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7. Private Bill
- Foreign nationals that Congress (House of Representatives or Senate) believes have compelling humanitarian factors to stay permanently in the U.S. and for whom the USCIS cannot grant permanent resident status.
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8. Diplomats
- High-level diplomats on A-1 visa who are unable or unwilling to return to their home country because of persecution or a well-founded fear of persecution
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9. Asylum
- Foreign nationals in the U.S. who are unable or unwilling to return to their home country because of persecution or a well-founded fear of persecution on account of race, religion, nationality, or membership in a particular social or political group.
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10. Refugee
- Foreign nationals displaced by war, famine, and civil and political unrest or, unable or unwilling to return to their home country because of persecution or a well-founded fear of persecution.
- Foreign nationals in their home country who have experienced persecution in the past or have a well-founded fear of persecution in the future.
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11. Special Immigrants
a. Religious Workers
b. Former employees of U.S. Government
c. Former employees of the Panama Canal Zone
d. Former employees of U.S. Armed Forces
e. Retired employees of International Organizations
f. Former employees of the U.S. consulate in Hong Kong
g. Employees of International Broadcasting Companies
h. Special agricultural workers
i. Foreign medical graduates
j. Abused spouses and children of U.S. Citizens or Green
Card holders
k. Permanent Residents who departed the U.S. for more
than 12 months
l. Foreign children declared dependent in U.S.
juvenile courts
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Green Card Related Topics
1. Adjustment of Status
- Foreign nationals in the U.S. with approved immigration petitions may file for Adjustment of Status to adjust their nonimmigrant status to permanent residence (Green Card).
2. Consular Processing - Immigrant Visa
- Foreign nationals outside the U.S. with approved immigration petitions must apply for consular processing to receive permanent residence (Green Card).
3. Advance Parole
- Foreign nationals in the process of adjusting their Immigration Status, who are planning to travel abroad, must obtain advance permission prior to leaving the U.S in order to return to the U.S.
4. Employment Authorization
- Foreign nationals who have applied to adjust their status to permanent resident may obtain Employment Authorization Document.
5. Reentry Permit
- U.S. permanent residents planning to leave the U.S. for more than a year must obtain a Reentry Permit prior to leaving the U.S.
6. Removal of Conditions
- Marriage-based and Investment-based Green Card holders are subject to conditional residence for a two-year period. Conditional permanent residents must apply during the 90 days before their second anniversary to remove the conditions on their residence.
7. Replace or Renew Green Card
- You may replace a lost, stolen, mutilated, or destroyed Green Card.
- You may replace an expired Green Card or a Green Card that will expire within the next six months.
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