As a foreign-born individual, you may be wondering about the different pathways available to become a lawful permanent resident (LPR) in the U.S. Please continue reading and contact our determined Essex County Green Card Attorneys, who can help you determine whether you meet the eligibility requirements for obtaining a green card.
What are the different pathways to obtaining a green card?
Every year, the U.S. government issues over a million green cards to foreign-born individuals wishing to make the U.S. their home. Generally speaking, the first step in making the U.S. your home is obtaining lawful permanent resident status, also known as a green card. LPR status authorizes non-citizens to live permanently within the U.S. to, work, own property, receive financial assistance to pay for post-secondary education, and even join the Armed Forces. However, one of the most crucial benefits of obtaining LPR status is a legal pathway to becoming a naturalized U.S. citizen. Despite the various benefits, qualifying for a green card can be challenging due to the strict eligibility requirements and the limited number of green cards issued each year. Even when you are eligible to obtain a green card, you will face various fees and extended processing time waits for specific categories.
The process for obtaining a green card depends on which type you are applying for, as each category has different eligibility requirements. One of the most widely used categories is family-based green cards. Individuals who are immediate relatives of U.S. citizens qualify for this type of green card. However, they must fit the definition of an immediate relative:
- A spouse or widow
- Children & stepchildren who are unmarried and under the age of 21
- Stepparents
- Siblings
- Adopted children s long as the adoption took place before the child reached the age of 16
No restrictions exist on how many immediate relatives can obtain green cards each fiscal year. Extended family members such as cousins, aunts, uncles, and grandparents do not qualify.
Another widely used category is employment-based green cards. Multiple subcategories of workers can apply for LPR status if they possess extraordinary skills needed in the U.S. workforce, as there are no U.S. citizens with the proper skill set to fill these positions. However, they must have a job offer before seeking a green card.
Moreover, you may qualify for a humanitarian green card which is available to refugees and asylees if you have had to leave your country of origin due to the fear of persecution based on your race, religion, political opinions, nationality, or membership in a particular social group, you can apply for a green card one year after receiving refugee or asylee status in the U.S.
Furthermore, you can also obtain a green card through the diversity immigrant visa program, where fifty thousand green cards are issued to randomly selected individuals from a country with a low immigration rate to the U.S. Ultimately, there are several pathways to obtaining a green card.
If you want to make the U.S. your permanent home, contact our knowledgeable Essex County Green Card Attorneys, who can help you determine whether you qualify for any of the above-listed pathways to obtain a green card.
