There are many ways to get a Green Card depending on your situation including…

• Family

• Employment

• Immigrant Investor

• Special Immigrant Status

• Refugee or Asylee Status

• Human Trafficking and Crime Victims

• Victims of Abuse

• Registry

Below is a summary of Green Card options from the Government website. Please keep in mind that regulations and eligibility can change so always check directly with the government or contact us as to your individual eligibility. Also remember, just because you are “eligible” for a Green Card, doesn’t mean you’re guaranteed one. You must also must not be “inadmissible” which depends on many factors including when and how you came into the country and your immigration status since you arrived. This is a complicated area of the law so as always, check first with a qualified attorney before taking any legal action. 

You may be eligible to apply for a Green Card through… 

• Immediate relative of a U.S. Citizen meaning you are the

  • Spouse of a U.S. citizen

  • Unmarried child under the age of 21 of a U.S. citizen

  • Parent of a U.S. citizen who is at least 21 years old

• Family member of a U.S. citizen, meaning you are the:

  • Unmarried son or daughter of a U.S. citizen and you are 21 years old or older

  • Married son or daughter of a U.S. citizen

  • Brother or sister of a U.S. citizen who is at least 21 years old

• Family member of a lawful permanent resident, meaning you are the:

  • Spouse of a lawful permanent resident

  • Unmarried child under the age of 21 of a lawful permanent resident

  • Unmarried son or daughter of a lawful permanent resident 21 years old or older

• Person admitted to the U.S. as a fiancé(e) of a U.S. citizen (K-1 nonimmigrant)

• Person admitted to the U.S. as the child of a fiancé(e) of a U.S. citizen (K-2 nonimmigrant)

• Widow or widower of a U.S. citizen and you were married to your U.S. citizen spouse at the time your spouse died

• Abused spouse of a U.S. citizen or lawful permanent resident

• Abused child (unmarried and under 21 years old) of a U.S. citizen or lawful permanent resident

• Abused parent of a U.S. citizen

• Have extraordinary ability in the sciences, arts, education, business or athletics, or

• Are an outstanding professor or researcher, or

• Are a multinational manager or executive who meets certain criteria

• Are a member of a profession that requires an advanced degree, or

• Have exceptional ability in the sciences, arts, or business, or

• Are seeking a national interest waiver

• A skilled worker (meaning your job requires a minimum of 2 years training or work experience), or

•  A professional (meaning your job requires at least a U.S. bachelor's degree or a foreign equivalent and you are a member of the profession), or

• An unskilled worker (meaning you will perform unskilled labor requiring less than 2 years training or experience)

• Are a physician who agrees to work full-time in clinical practice in a designated underserved area for a set period of time and also meets other eligibility requirements

Immigrant investor                                                                   

• Have invested or are actively in the process of investing at least $1 million (or $500,000 in a targeted employment area) in a new commercial enterprise in the U.S. which will create full-time positions for at least 10 qualifying employees

Special ImMIGRANT STATUS

• Are a member of a religious denomination coming to the U.S. to work for a nonprofit religious organization

• Are a child who has been abused, abandoned, or neglected by your parent and you have SIJ status

• Afghanistan or Iraq national who:Served as an Afghan or Iraqi translator for the U.S. government; Were employed by or for the U.S. government in Iraq on or after March 20, 2003, for at least one year; Were an Afghan employed by the International Security Assistance Force (ISAF)

• International broadcaster coming to work in the U.S. as a member of the media

• Are a retired officer or employee of certain international organizations, or NATO, and certain family members

Refugee or Asylee Status

• Were granted asylum status at least 1 year ago

Human Trafficking and Crime Victims  

• Human trafficking victim who currently have a T nonimmigrant visa

• Crime victim who currently have a U nonimmigrant visa

Victims of Abuse

• The abused spouse of a U.S. citizen or lawful permanent resident

• The abused child (unmarried and under 21 years old) of a U.S. citizen or lawful permanent resident

• The abused parent of a U.S. citizen

• Are a child who has been abused, abandoned, or neglected by your parent and you have Special Immigrant Juvenile (“SIJ”) status 

• You were selected for a diversity visa in the Department of State’s diversity visa lottery

Registry

• if you have resided continuously in the U.S. since before Jan. 1, 1972.