The famous Green Card o Green Card is one of the most coveted documents today. This is a permit that makes immigrants permanent residents of the United States.
One of the greatest advantages of a Green Card is that it enables its holders to work legally in the United States, as well as allowing them to enter and leave the territory without problems. This benefits many foreigners who are looking for greater economic stability for themselves and their families.
The ways to obtain a Green Card there are four: through a family member, a job, a shelter or the visa lottery. Each of these categories has its specific requirements and limitations. Next, we will delve into the various possibilities that exist to obtain permanent residence.
How to get a Green Card?
La Green Card o Green Card is the document that enables people to reside permanently in the United States. By obtaining the Green Card, their owners can apply for legal work and benefit from many rights that any U.S. citizen has.
To obtain this document, It is necessary to complete a process through which the United States government ensures that all the requirements to be considered eligible are met, in other words, that the applicant has the legal capacity to be elected to become a permanent resident and that he will not become a burden for the State.
After five years of residing in the country legally through a Green Card, a resident can apply for naturalization or U.S. citizenship. This period is shortened to three years if the resident is married to a U.S. citizen.
How do you get a green card in the USA?
To obtain the Green Card in the United States, you must first be considered under one of the four eligibility categories, under which Adjustment of Status may be requested. These categories are:
- Through an American relative
- Through a job
- Through the visa lottery
- Through refugee status
Within each category, there are a number of characteristics that applicants must meet to be considered eligible. It is important to identify yourself correctly within one of these categories.
On the other hand, the four categories have different prices and different deadlines for carrying out the procedure, given that, according to the United States government, some cases have a higher priority than others. Rates range from $535 to $3600, depending on the type of request.
But this should not worry you, since the approval of the procedure, the applicant will obtain an immigrant visa to remain in the country until the process ends.
Before making any request, remember to consult with a lawyer specializing in immigration procedures and rights about the different options available to you.
Requirements to obtain the Green Card
The requirements to obtain the Green Card depend on the route by which the document is to be requested. Once you are inside the United States, you must take the following steps:
By family connection
The immigrant must file and pay Form I-485 for Adjustment of Status after being inspected and admitted into the country. For their part, the U.S. family member, who is 21 years of age or older, must complete Form I-130 Petition for a Foreign Relative on behalf of the relative who is applying for the Green Card. Both forms must be filed with USCIS (U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services).
By employment
As in the previous process, to obtain employment residency, it is necessary for the employer to apply as a sponsor of the immigrant, using Form I-140. However, the number of work visas granted per year is limited (only about 65,000). The applicant must file Form I-485 if they meet the conditions of any of these three preferred categories:
- be an outstanding professional or with extraordinary abilities in the sciences, arts, business or sports, or manager or executive of a multinational company;
- be a professional with an advanced degree (postgraduate);
- be specialized workers, professionals and other workers.
By visa lottery
Known as the Diversity Visa Program, this is a benefit that is granted every year to countries with the least immigration to the United States. The list changes every year and the choice of the 50,000 beneficiaries is made completely at random.
By refugee status
Those who received asylum or refuge in the United States for at least one year can file Form I-485 to obtain the Green Card.
In most cases, the immigrant will be required to Medical Exam And a Affidavit of Economic Sponsorship. It is recommended to consult the official USCIS website to learn more about the requirements of each category.
How to check the status of my Green Card?
Once all the required documentation has been submitted and the corresponding fees have been paid, you can check the deadlines on the USCIS Processing Time page, entering the details of the procedure carried out in the search engine.
You can check the status of the request on the page Online Case Status, using the Form I-485 receipt number. If you think that your procedure is outside the estimated time, you can send a case inquiry. And if you want to speak with an official, USCIS makes its 800-375-5283 phone line available.
