For many people, the first step towards being able to permanently live and work in the USA is applying for an immigration visa (Legal Permanent Resident Status). There are 3 different paths you can take towards getting a Green Card: Through winning the Green Card Lottery, through your work or through your family.
A Green Card is an immigrant visa for the USA. There are several different paths you can take to apply for an immigrant visa to permanently reside in the USA. In general, all applications are sent to and processed by the U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS). After USCIS has approved the Green Card application, the main Green Card applicant will be invited to complete the so-called “consular processing” at the US embassy in their home country. Since 2004, the Green Card application must be completed and submitted online.
Admission requirements, application processes and features, waiting times, the authorities responsible, and costs all differ depending on the Green Card category. The first step is to identify which Green Card category applies to you. Maybe you have relatives in the USA, a job offer in the USA or have an idea for a new business in the United States? Some things never change though and the easiest way for USA fans to get a Green Card is to participate in the Green Card Lottery.
There are a few visa options for those seeking to take up work in the United States. Which visa is required depends on the type of work and under what conditions. Therefore, each case needs to be individually assessed. Crucial factors when deciding on a work visa include qualifications, citizenship, the planned length of stay and company affiliation or corporate constellation. The most common visa types (nonimmigrant) are those issued for temporary work in the USA. If you would like to permanently live and work in the United States, then you need to apply for an immigrant visa (Green Card) in one of the following categories. Furthermore, please be aware that applying for most U.S. work visas is a very complex and time-consuming process.
One of the longstanding foundations of the Green Card program is making sure families stay together when one member emigrates to the United States. Immediate relatives of and people who marry US citizens or Green Card holders also qualify for a Green Card. Each individual case is subject to category restrictions. Moreover, applicants must endure a waiting period before a Green Card becomes available and this differs strongly between the categories.
Immediate family members of a Green Card holder have the right to emigrate to the USA. Not only US citizens, but also Green Card holders (Permanent Residents) have the right, according to American immigration law, to file an application to bring certain family members to the USA through a Green Card. Bringing family to the USA is subject to restrictions.
Spouses are included in the Second Preference Category under the subsection F2A. There is a yearly quota for the number of visas issued in this category and applicants should expect a waiting period before receiving their Green Card (See Visa Bulletin).
Exact waiting times and immigration quotas can be found in the Visa Bulletin released monthly by the U.S. immigration authorities. The same conditions apply for adopted and step-children.
Take note: There is no possibility for Green Card holders to bring other relatives, such as married children, parents, siblings, grandparents, etc. to the United States under these family reunification conditions.
Please take note that US citizens cannot apply for an immigrant visa for other family members like aunts, uncles, grandparents, cousins, etc. and these relatives do not qualify for a Green Card through family unification.
Note: A US citizen who has lived for at least one year outside of the USA can file the petition with the US consulate in the country they are living in.
Please note that additional information concerning waiting periods for different visa categories and types can be found in the monthly-released Visa Bulletin. Here, the US authorities post all current immigrant and nonimmigrant visa information.
A visa is available for the applicant as soon as there is a “c” for current in the visa category table that pertains to their visa. However, depending on the workload of the authorities, the waiting time until approval can still be about 1 year or more. A cut-off date is shown if there are no more visas available in that visa category.The priority date is the date that the petition was properly filed with USCIS or the respective US consulate.
The easiest way to get the coveted Green Card for your own family is definitely a successful participation in the Green Card Lottery, as spouses and children under 21 years of age automatically receive the Green Card if you win. In case of a later family reunion, the waiting time until the Green Card is granted can currently be up to 2 years, even if the visa category is “current” according to the Visa Bulletin.
The simplest way to get a Green Card is through the Diversity Visa Program. The U.S. Department of State gives away 55,000 Green Cards through the Diversity Visa Program every year. Even though a fair amount of luck is needed, this path is the most available to those looking to make their dream of living in the USA come true. People in each participating country have a fair chance to win since no country receives more than 7% of the total Green Cards.
Getting one of these highly sought-after resident permits through the Green Card program is easy. All you must do is apply to participate in the drawing that takes place every year.
