Learn About US Green Card Application Process

Understanding What a US Green Card Is and Why It Matters

A US Green Card, officially called a Permanent Resident Card, is a document that shows you have permission to live, work, and study in the United States permanently. The card itself is a wallet-sized plastic document with your photo, fingerprint, and personal information on it. The name "green card" comes from its historical color, though modern cards are not actually green.

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According to the US Department of Homeland Security, there were approximately 13.1 million green card holders in the United States as of 2022. These individuals come from countries all around the world and represent diverse backgrounds, professions, and reasons for immigrating. A green card is different from a visa—a visa is temporary permission to visit or work for a set period, while a green card allows you to stay indefinitely and build a life in the US.

Green card holders have several important rights and responsibilities. They can work for any employer without needing separate work permission. They can travel outside the US and return, though they must maintain their permanent resident status. Green card holders can eventually become US citizens if they meet certain requirements, which typically includes holding the green card for at least five years (or three years if married to a US citizen). However, they cannot vote or serve on juries until they become citizens.

Green card holders must follow all US laws and can be deported if they commit serious crimes or violate immigration laws. They must also file US income taxes on their worldwide income, just like US citizens do. If you plan to move to the United States permanently and want to work and live here long-term, understanding how green cards work is an important first step in your immigration journey.

Practical Takeaway: A green card represents permanent resident status that allows you to live and work in the US indefinitely. Understanding the difference between a green card and a visa helps you understand what type of immigration status you might need.

The Different Pathways to Obtain a Green Card

There are several distinct ways to obtain a green card, and the pathway you might pursue depends on your personal situation. Understanding these different routes helps you learn which category might be relevant to your circumstances. The US immigration system is built around the idea that people come to the country through different circumstances, and there are processes designed for each situation.

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One major pathway is family-based immigration. US citizens and green card holders can sponsor certain family members to immigrate. US citizens can sponsor spouses, children, parents, and siblings. Green card holders can sponsor spouses and unmarried children. According to the US State Department, family-based immigration accounts for about 66% of all green cards issued. For example, if you are married to a US citizen, your spouse can initiate a family petition on your behalf, which is one pathway to permanent residency.

Employment-based immigration is another significant pathway. There are several employment categories, ranging from positions that require advanced degrees to skilled workers to investors who create jobs in the US. The EB-1 category is for people with extraordinary ability in their field, such as internationally recognized scientists or artists. The EB-2 category includes professionals with advanced degrees and people with exceptional ability. The EB-3 category includes skilled workers, professionals, and some unskilled workers. According to recent data, employment-based green cards make up approximately 15% of all green cards issued annually.

Other pathways include diversity visa lotteries, refugee and asylee status, special immigrant categories, and humanitarian-based programs. The diversity visa program, also called the green card lottery, randomly selects individuals from countries with low immigration rates to the US. Each year, 50,000 green cards are made available through this program. Refugees and asylees can also adjust their status to become permanent residents after one year. Some special categories exist for religious workers, military members, and trafficking victims.

Practical Takeaway: Green cards can be obtained through family sponsorship, employment, diversity visas, humanitarian programs, or other special categories. Identifying which pathway might apply to your situation is a crucial early step in understanding the process.

How the Family-Based Green Card Process Works

Family-based immigration is the most common pathway to a green card in the United States. This process involves a US citizen or green card holder (called the sponsor or petitioner) filing paperwork to bring a family member to live in the country permanently. The process has several stages, and understanding each stage helps you see what information and documentation will be needed.

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The first step is filing Form I-130, Petition for Alien Relative. This form is submitted to US Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS). The sponsoring family member must prove they are a US citizen or green card holder and that they have a qualifying family relationship with the person they want to sponsor. They must also show they have enough income to support the person they are sponsoring so that person will not become dependent on government benefits. The income requirement is called the "poverty guideline," and it varies based on family size. For 2024, a single US citizen sponsoring one family member needs an annual income of at least $17,623 to meet the minimum requirement.

Once the I-130 petition is approved by USCIS, the case moves to the Department of State if the sponsored person is living outside the US. The person seeking the green card must then complete the visa process, which includes medical examinations, background checks, and an interview at a US embassy or consulate. The person must prove they are not inadmissible—meaning they don't have certain health conditions, criminal records, or security concerns that would bar them from entry. This process can take anywhere from several months to several years, depending on the relationship and the country where the person lives.

If the person seeking a green card is already in the US, they may be able to adjust status without leaving the country. In this case, they submit Form I-485, Application to Register Permanent Residence or Adjust Status, at the same time as or after the I-130 petition is approved. This allows them to stay in the US while their case is being processed. During this time, they may be able to get permission to work and travel through additional forms called Employment Authorization Document (EAD) and Advance Parole.

The wait times for family-based green cards can be long. According to the US State Department, immediate relatives of US citizens (spouses, unmarried children under 21, and parents of US citizens over 21) generally have shorter waits, sometimes just a few months to a couple of years. Other family relationships have longer waits because of annual numerical limits, sometimes lasting many years or longer. For example, as of recent data, the wait time for a married child of a US citizen from countries like Mexico or the Philippines can exceed 20 years.

Practical Takeaway: Family-based green cards require a sponsoring family member to file an I-130 petition, prove a qualifying relationship, meet income requirements, and support the person through background checks and medical exams. Understanding the timeline—which can range from months to many years—helps you prepare for a potentially lengthy process.

Understanding Employment-Based Green Card Categories

Employment-based green cards are designed for individuals who have job offers or exceptional skills that the US economy needs. Unlike family-based immigration where a family member sponsors you, employment-based immigration typically involves an employer sponsoring you for a green card. This pathway serves skilled workers, professionals, investors, and individuals with extraordinary abilities in their fields. Understanding the different categories helps you see if your professional background might fit into one of these pathways.

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The EB-1 category is for people with extraordinary ability in sciences, education, business, athletics, or the arts. This includes internationally recognized researchers, acclaimed athletes, and celebrated artists. A person in this category must demonstrate sustained national or international acclaim. Examples might include scientists who have won major international awards, athletes who compete at elite levels, or artists whose work is recognized worldwide. The second part of EB-1 is for multinational executives and managers who have worked for at least one year in a managerial or executive capacity abroad and are being transferred to the US. The third part is for outstanding professors and researchers with at least three years of experience in teaching or research.

The EB-2 category is for professionals with advanced degrees (such as master's degrees or PhDs) and for individuals with exceptional ability in sciences, education, business, or the arts. "Exceptional ability" is a lower bar than "extraordinary ability" and is defined as a degree of expertise significantly above that encountered in the US. An employer must demonstrate that no US workers are available for the position, through a process called labor certification. This category also includes physicians