How to get a Green Card?
Now that you know what a Green Card is, it's time to see how (and if) you can get one and become an American legal resident. Here you can read about the different paths you can use to get a Green Card.
These are the most common paths of getting a green card:*
- Diversity Lottery
- Family member immigration
- Investment in the USA
- Refugee or Asylum status
- Employment immigration
Diversity Lottery
The diversity visa lottery, better known as the Green Card Lottery, is probably the most famous Green Card path of all. This is due to the fact that all other paths are made for smaller groups and are not available for most immigrants. The idea of the diversity visa is that people from places that have lower chances of immigrating to America will get their chance to move to the USA legally. This allows a more diversify society, which is the idea behind the green card lottery - Diversity Visa. You can go to our Green Card lottery page to read more about it.
USAGC helps you with the process of applying to the green card lottery with our experience. We know what's needed to avoid disqualification of the application; We accept your registration any time you want to do it and we can help with getting your picture and documents ready for the process.
CLICK HERE TO START NOW →
Family member immigration
This path is opened for American citizens' immediate relatives - spouse (opposite sex), minor children and parents. The family member immigration (family sponsored) has no numerical annual quota. The sponsor must be 21 years or older in order to sponsor parents
US citizen's 21 and older children - should be unmarried - (limited annual quota - LAQ).
Opposite sex spouse and younger than 21 unmarried children of lawful permanent resident - green card holder (LAQ).
USA citizen's married children (LAQ)
USA adult citizen's brother / sister (LAQ)
Investment in the USA
This route is for entrepreneurs (and their spouse and unmarried children under 21). To get this green card, you must invest at least $1,000,000 or half of this in rural or high unemployment rates areas. This investment may grant conditional permanent residence to the investor. (LAQ)
There are also other investments paths which are opened to specific countries.
Refugee or Asylum status
Normally, asylees and refugees can apply for a green card one year after entry to the USA or after getting the asylum status. Read more about Asylum and refugees in the official USICS Humanitarian page (LAQ)
Employment immigration
- Priority workers:
"extraordinary ability" in sciences, education, arts, business, or athletics (LAQ)
- Outstanding professors or researchers with experience in teaching or research who are recognized internationally.
- Managers and executives.(LAQ)
- Holders of advanced degrees - Ph.D., MA, or at least five years of progressive post-baccalaureate experience. (Not available for individuals from China and India - LAQ)
- Skilled workers and professionals (LAQ)
- Special immigrants: ministers, religious workers etc. (LAQ)
Now that you're familiar with the important green card paths, you can apply for American residency through one of these paths. If the green card lottery is the only available path for you, click here to apply to the next DV lottery and maybe you will get a green card!
*There are a few other paths but these are the most common and they are the relevant route to most of the immigrants to the USA. Each of the above has a separated annual quota and different rules.
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