How to Get USA Green Card . The USA Green Card is issued to immigrants who have been given permission to live in the country on a permanent basis.
This is the first step towards gaining citizenship of the United States and can be applied for under several categories.
If you are a green card holder you can enjoy many benefits that a standard visa or work permit cannot give you, including permission to work in a greater range of employments, receipt of social security benefits upon retirement, reduced cost of university tuition fees, equal rights under most US laws, a legal right to own property and any other assets within the United States as well as better access to financial products such as insurances and mortgages.
The green card does not give the holder the right to vote in American elections however, as this right is reserved for citizens.
Who is Eligible for a Green Card?
Only some people are eligible to apply for a US green card, and any applicant must fit within one of the stated categories in order to be accepted.
Family
Anyone with a close family relationship to a US citizen can be sponsored by their relative for a green card in the family category. Priority is given in a specific order:
First - the parents of a US citizen
Second A - the spouse and unmarried children aged fewer than 21 of a citizen
Second B - unmarried children over the age of 21 of a citizen
Third - married children of US citizens together with their spouse and children under the age of 21
Fourth - siblings of US citizens, their spouse and minor children
Employment
To be eligible under the employment category, you must be sponsored by a United States employer for green card status. Again there is a specific priority order:
First - workers with extraordinary skills and abilities such as talented professors and researchers.
Second - workers with exceptional skills and advanced degrees
Third - professionals, workers with qualifications and skilled workers
Fourth - workers with religious vocations
Fifth - entrepreneurs and investors
Refugees
Asylum seekers and refugees can apply for a green card after being resident in the country for a year.
Other Categories
There are some other programs that can be followed by those looking for a green card including the Diversity Immigrant Visa Program, Special Immigrant Juvenile Status and people who have been born to a foreign diplomat in America. More can be found out about these minor categories on the USCIS website.
How to Get USA Green Card
If you are eligible to apply, you will want to know how to get USA Green Card. The first step is to complete the relevant form for your application. This will be an immigrant petition form which outlines the reasons why you should be given permanent residency.
There are different forms for different categories, e.g. The I-130 is a family application while an I-140 is for employment status. Depending on the category being applied under, you may have to submit an application for an Adjustment of Status at the same time.
There are only a limited number of visas available every year (except for immediate relatives of citizens) so your application will be processed according to priority date (the date of submission), the category you are applying under and your home country.
You will usually also be required to submit relevant paperwork to prove your qualifications, financial circumstances and possibly your health status.
Proving Admissibility
You must also prove that you are admissible to the United States, as some people are excluded under grounds of criminal record, health or other security grounds.
If you are inadmissible, you may be able to apply for a waiver in some circumstances. Once all your paperwork has been received you will attend an interview and security checks will be carried out on you. Following this, the USCIS will make a decision about your application and inform you of the outcome.
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