Permanent Resident
 Print Version
An immigrant visa or 'green card' is required for anyone wishing to make the US their permanent residence, whether or not the immigrant plans to seek employment.
There are 4 general categories for immigrant visa issuance:
IMMEDIATE RELATIVES
US citizens may file for permanent residence for:
- Spouses or minor child (if the child has no claim to US citizenship)
- Parent (US citizen must be 21 or over)
- Step parent or step child (relationship with step child must have occurred before 18th birthday)
- Spouse of deceased US citizen (petition must be filed within 2 years of death)
FAMILY BASED
Family based preference categories qualify only if the necessary relationship exists to a US citizen or Legal Permanent Resident (LPR):
- Unmarried son or daughter over 21 of the US citizen or LPR
- Married son or daughter of US citizen
- Brother or sister of US citizen (US citizen must be over 21)
EMPLOYMENT BASED
Generally an offer of employment is required to qualify:
- Priority Workers
- Persons of extraordinary ability in the sciences, education, arts, business or athletics
- Outstanding professors or researchers
- Certain multinational executives and managers
- Members of 'The Professions'
- Professionals holding an advanced degree or equivalent
- Baccalaureate degree and at least 5 years of progressive experience in the specialty
- Exceptional ability in the sciences, arts or business
- Skilled or unskilled workers - skilled workers with at least 2 years training or experience and unskilled whose skills are in short supply
- Special immigrants - certain religious workers and ministers of religion
- Investors - by investing a minimum of $1,000,000 in a new commercial enterprise and creating employment for at least 10 unrelated persons
DIVERSITY - the green card lottery
The lottery takes place in the fall of each year and only citizens of certain countries are eligible to apply. The application is completed and submitted on-line.
The 'green card' gives the immigrant several privileges including the ability to work in the US, travel freely in and out of the US, to make your permanent home in the US, etc. Long periods outside of the US can lead to the revocation of the visa.
The green card is issued in periods of 10 years, and is generally renewable.
Once the green card has been held for 5 years or 3 if married to a US citizen, citizenship may be applied for.
Back
|
