To legally live and work in the United States on a permanent basis, you will need to obtain a Permanent Resident Card, more commonly known as a Green Card. According to the U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services, you may be eligible for a Green Card under one of several categories of immigration. Here are a few of these categories:
- Family immigration: Certain relatives of a U.S. citizen or a lawful permanent resident may be eligible for a Green Card.
- Employment immigration: Immigrants that have job offers from the U.S. and meet the preferred criteria may be eligible for a Green Card.
- Special immigration: Immigrants in special circumstances that meet the criteria to be classified as a special immigrant (e.g., religious workers) may be eligible for a Green Card.
What should I do if I am eligible for a Green Card?
Applying for a Green Card is not an easy process. Once you have determined that you are eligible for a Green Card through family immigration or another category, you should refer to the criteria listed under the category you are applying under to determine what your next steps should be. Generally, someone else will file an immigrant petition for you, basically agreeing to sponsor you, or you will file the petition yourself.
If your petition is approved, you will likely have to fill out a Green Card application form with U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS). You will then schedule a biometrics appointment, where you will provide your fingerprints, photos, and signature.
Following your appointment, you will have to be interviewed by USCIS. You may bring a lawyer to your interview and an interpreter, if needed. The purpose of this interview is to verify the information you provided in your application and find out more about you. Once your interview is complete, the USCIS will determine whether to approve your application. If your application is denied, you may be able to file an appeal.
