What is Green Card?
Green Cards are cards that allow US permanent residency. Here are the Guides to Green Card applications, permanent resident perks, and FAQs.
Hereby, Many immigrants consider coming to the US initially. This country offers several work and settlement prospects. Visitors and immigrants come from throughout the world due to its economic stability. How do they get a Green Card?
This specific Card lets you live in the US indefinitely. With this particular Card, you can migrate to any US state, work, and raise a family.
Additionally, You can enter and leave the US. If you stay outside the US for more than a year, your Card will expire and you must reapply.
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Related: The Ultimate Guide to Applying for a USA B-1 Visa
What are the Types of Green Cards for USA?
US Green Cards vary by situation and method of acquisition. Each of the four Green Card categories has its own visas and requirements:
- Family-sponsored Green Cards: that are offered to those who seek to reconcile with close US relatives. This Card is only for immediate family—spouses, children, siblings, or parents of US citizens or permanent residents.
- Employment sponsored Green card: After finding a job in the US, you receive an employment-sponsored Green Card. Your employer will sponsor you to stay in the US and pay for documents and applications. With an employment-sponsored Green Card, you must work for that employer until your contract expires. Only if your sponsorship terms are met may you switch employers.
- Returning resident Green Card: this are for persons who possessed a Green Card but travelled outside the US and did not return for more than a year for reasons beyond their control. If you are held abroad or cannot return for family or cultural reasons, it is out of your hands. Finally, This visa requires proof that you had no chance to return using numerous documentation.
- Diversity Visa Green Card: the US organises a lottery for nationals of low-immigration nations every year. Applying for this lottery and receiving a diversity visa will lead to a Green Card.
Do I Qualify to Apply for a Green Card?
You must meet certain conditions for each USA Card application. There are a few requirements for each US immigrant visa, as listed below:
- You must live abroad – most Green Card applicants file from home. You must meet additional standards in the US.
- You need a temporary dual intent visa to apply for a Green Card in the US. H-1B visas are dual-intent.
- Family-based Green Cards require a US-based fiancé/spouse, kid, sibling, or biological or adoptive parent. Your family member must be a US citizen or permanent resident and sponsor your application. The family member must also show they can help you financially for the first few months in the US until you find a job.
- The family member must be 21 or older and have a US address to sponsor you for a Green Card. Your family member must live in the US and provide a verified US location where you will move after getting the Green Card.
- You must have a work offer or proof of employment in the US for employment-based Cards. This includes a signed contract or employer letter specifying when you will start working after getting your Green Card. Make sure you have a genuine US job document because US institutions do not accept oral agreements for Green Cards.
- Even if you have a job, your employer must meet financial stability requirements to pay your compensation. Financial statements from your visa sponsor will be requested by US Green Card and immigrant visa agencies. You will not receive a Green Card if the employer cannot pay your wage according to the financial accounts.
- If you visited the US before, you must have followed all laws and not overstayed your visa.
- There must be no criminal record.
How to Apply for a Green Card?
After reviewing the US immigrant visas, requirements, and choosing one, you must start the Card application, which takes 7 to 33 months. The following steps are required for most Green Card applications:
Have a sponsor petition for you
Your sponsor—family or employer—must petition for you. Family-sponsored petitions use Form I-130, Petition for Alien Relatives, while employment-based petitions use Form I-140, Immigrant Petition for Alien Worker. The petition and Card fee must be submitted to USCIS.
Receive the NVC Package
If the petition is authorised, NVC will send you a package; USCIS will review it and decide if you qualify. If they approve your petition, the National Visa Centre (NVC) will send you a package to your home country. Your application forms and instructions will be in the box. NVC will not ship until your priority date is current.
Apply for a visa at the US embassy
According to the NVC package, you must pay all application fees and apply for the visa at a US Embassy in your country of residency. You must submit supporting documentation and have a visa interview.
Travel to US
If your visa is approved following all processes, the US Embassy will offer you an arrival package to travel to the US. Arriving in the US, you must bring the arrival packet, which you cannot open. It can only be opened by a US immigration official at a port of entry to determine your entrance status. Even with a visa, you may not be admitted into the US. Any US port of entry immigration official can decide.
Conclusion
Finally, After arriving in the United States, you are required to submit to USCIS Form I-485, Application to Register Permanent Residence or Adjust Status.
Filling out this form will allow you to obtain a card proving that you have permanent residency. You will receive your Special Card in the mail anywhere from one to four weeks after your request has been processed by the USCIS.
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