This person is called a green card holder or simply a lawful permanent resident who moved to the United States and who desires to become America’s permanent resident having the rights of green card holders. A foreign person can come to the USA and leave for his or her home country as often as desired and work, seek employment, and stay in the United States forever as long as a foreign national complies with the laws of the United States. However, any green card holder can take and be granted a very high immigration status of US citizenship through naturalization which is the highest immigration status acknowledged by the US legislation. In this article, we will get prevailing categories of persons who are eligible for the green card in the US.
Immediate Relatives of U.S. Citizens
There exist grades of relationship and the closer you are to the sponsor or the immigrant affected, the larger the chances of getting the American green card. This category deals with:
- Spouses of U. S. Citizens: This entails: same-sex spouses, on condition that the marriage was legal in some jurisdiction where it took place.
- Unmarried Children under 21 with a U. S. Citizen Parent: Regular readers will recognize the following criterion of eligibility: children.
- Parents of U. S. Citizens: If the U. S. citizen child has reached the age of 21 years and above in any circumstance.
- Stepchildren and Stepparents of U. S. Citizens: Insofar, however, as the marriage constituting the stepfamily relationship was entered into before the stepchild’s eighteenth birthday.
- Adopted Children of U. S. Citizens or Permanent Residents: Whenever the adoption occurred before the child’s 16th birthday, First and other pertinent characteristics apply.
New Green Cards, there are no restrictions on their number; those are for the immediate relatives of a U. S. citizen who has filed the I-130 visa petition for the given relative. This means that there are people out there, who can get a Green Card the moment that they fill the documents that need to be completed and undergo the application process.
Other Family Members of U.S. Citizens or Lawful Permanent Residents
US citizens and lawful permanent residents can sponsor close relatives for green cards, allowing them to live and work in the US, but these relatives must wait their turn in the “preference categories”, which have a annual limit of 480,000 green cards.These categories include:
- First Preference (“F1”): Multi-parous women who are single and are 21 years of age and above and have at least one parent who is a U.S. citizen.
- Second Preference (“F2A” and “F2B”): Immediate relatives of green card holders; F2A refers to spouses and children below a specified age which is 21 years F2B refers to children above 21 and unmarried.
- Third Preference (“F3”): Spouses intending to join a partner already in the United States for any purpose who is at least 21 years of age and carrying out one or more of the following activities: Having at least one U.S. citizen parent.
- Fourth Preference (“F4”): Siblings of U. S. citizens: For citizens of the United States of America and their siblings where the U.S. citizen Sibling is above 21 years of age.
Taped green card availability often depends on the type of visa, nationality, the complexity of procedures, and the existing demand for people in the United States Immigration Services. For example, the time that it takes to have your application processed if you are from a large country such as China, India, Mexico, or the Philippines may be considerably long because many people from such countries apply to study in the United States.
Preferred Employees and Workers
A total of 140000 green cards are issued every year to immigrants, green cards are issued to immigrants with special skills sought in the U.S. market. Generally, the employer must have an offer of employment within the U. S. and show that the employer tried to hire eligible and qualified American workers for the position in question without success.
These employment-based preference categories include:
- First Preference (EB-1): Employment-Based: This is for priority workers, including individuals with extraordinary ability in science, arts, education, business, or athletics, outstanding professors or researchers, and executives and managers of organizations in the U.S. that have subsidiaries, affiliates, regional headquarters, or co-ordinating centers outside the United States.
- Second Preference (EB-2): Scientists, teachers, engineers, doctors, artists, etc., and other specialized workers who require specialized training or possess extraordinary skills.
- Third Preference (EB-3): Employed persons and managers, the employed and production or other operatives as well as technicians and associated supervisors, semiskilled, and unskilled bench or clerical workers.
- Fourth Preference (EB-4): Religious workers and persons of other special status, including workers in several miscellaneous categories and other “special immigrants. ”
- Fifth Preference (EB-5): Prospective buyers and sellers wishing to invest in America through a business venture.
To target such workers, employers seeking to hire foreign workers in these positions have to meet specific tests proving the need for such workers and the process of getting approval to recruit these workers.
Annual Diversity Green Card Lottery
The U.S. government offers 50,000 green cards through the Diversity Visa Lottery to individuals from countries that have not had many citizens immigrate to the United States recently, and those selected through this lottery can apply for a green card if they meet the required education level, with the registration process taking place annually. State Department. However, sometimes getting lucky does not mean that you are going to be successful; there is also a time frame when one can go for approval.
Special Immigrants
However, there are special circumstances in which certain laws for green cards are provided to the people. Some of the citizens include those who came under the perforation of the juvenile court, those involved in international broadcasting, and retired employees of the U. S. government working in foreign countries. Although the specific requirements for the former may remain similar to before, those for the latter category can be much more nuanced and may change over time, therefore the reader should refer to the current legislation for the specific information.
Refuge and Asylum
Asylum in the United States applies to those people who feel or experience persecution in their country of origin due to their race, religion, nationality, political view, or for being a part of any social group. As for asylum, one can apply for it if the person is already within the territory of the United States or if in the territory of the United States or is located at the border of the United States; a refugee applies through the U.N. High Commissioner of Refugees. After being accepted as a refugee or asylum seeker for at least a year, an individual can then apply for a green card at a U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS) office or authorized service location.
Long-time residents of the United States
Some unlawful residents in the U. S who have been in the country for over ten years may seek permanent residence as a lawful defense under immigration law courts. This remedy usually known as the “ten-year green card” entails one to demonstrate that the intended exclusion causes exceptional and extremely unusual hardship to the US citizen or permanent resident family members. In instances like these, it is advisable to seek the services of an immigration attorney for legal advice.
Special Cases
In exceptional cases, individual members of the U.S. Congress may intervene for humanitarian reasons to help a foreign national obtain U.S. permanent residence, even when no existing category allows it.
For More Information and Help
Understanding your eligibility for a green card and navigating the application process can be complex. For detailed guidance and assistance, consider consulting with an immigration lawyer. They can help you evaluate your options, develop a strategy, prepare necessary forms, and guide you through the bureaucratic maze of U.S. immigration.
In conclusion, obtaining a U.S. green card is a significant milestone that offers numerous benefits and opportunities. It’s essential to explore the available avenues carefully and seek professional guidance when needed to increase your chances of success.
How Law and Visas Can Help?
At Law and Visas, our team of expert immigration consultants is here to make your travel to the United States straightforward and successful. Whether you’re applying for an Employment-Based Green Cards or Family-Based Green Cards , we handle every step from preparing your application to gathering the required documents.
Our immigration Consultants and Lawyers ensure that your application meets the highest standards, with no details missed. We’ll also keep you informed throughout the process, coordinating with the immigration office or embassy on your behalf.
Law and Visas has a strong record of helping clients secure the visas/permits they need to do the United States. Call us today at +234 812 5505 986 to learn how we can assist you.
