The United States of America receives thousands of immigrants yearly; the country is the immigrant’s darling home. Everyone wishes to migrate to the United States. Many don’t just migrate; they move from temporary residents to permanent residents.
If you wish to make the United States your dream home, you want to achieve the American dream and start a new life in the land of opportunity; you need to secure a green card. It is your ticket to realizing the American dream.
You can get a green card in the US in many ways, and in this guide, we will explore the four commonest ways to get a green card.
Whether you have a family in the United States that you’re looking to reunite with. You want to pursue employment opportunities, seek refuge, or invest in the American economy, these pathways can help you secure a green card.
What are the 4 Ways to Get a Green Card?
With your green card, you are officially a permanent resident of the United States of America. This means you can live and work in the country long-term, enjoying many of the rights and privileges of U.S. citizens.
If you want to get yours, follow any of the pathways below.
Family Sponsorship
For many, family reunification is the primary motivation for seeking a green card. If you have close relatives who are U.S. citizens or lawful permanent residents, they may be able to sponsor you.
Eligible family members include spouses, parents, children, and siblings.
Getting a green card through family sponsorship involves the sponsoring family member filing a petition on your behalf. Once approved, you’ll enter a waiting period determined by your relationship and the U.S. immigration quota system.
The demand for family-sponsored green cards can impact processing times. If there are many applications received during the same period as you applied. Then the processing time will be longer, so you need to be patient throughout the process.
Employment-based green cards
If you possess valuable skills or qualifications, securing employment in the U.S. could be your pathway to a green card. Employment-based green cards are divided into several preference categories, ranging from priority workers with extraordinary abilities to skilled professionals and investors.
To begin the process, your employer must first, file a petition on your behalf. Once approved, you’ll go through the consular processing or adjustment of status, depending on your location.
To successfully get your green card through this method, you need to properly understand the specific requirements for your employment category, this is very important.
Refugee or Asylee status
If you are among individuals fleeing persecution or seeking asylum in the U.S., you can obtain a green card through refugee or asylum status.
To qualify, you must demonstrate a well-founded fear of persecution based on factors such as race, religion, nationality, political opinion, or membership in a particular social group.
To begin the process of getting a green card through the refugee or asylum pathway. You need to submit an asylum application within one year of arriving in the U.S. If granted asylum, you can apply for a green card after one year.
This path provides a lifeline to those in need of protection, offering the chance to build a stable and secure future in the United States.
Investment through the EB-5 Program
If you have the financial means – you have the money to invest in the United States. The EB-5 Immigrant Investor Program offers a unique avenue for you to obtain a green card.
By investing a substantial amount in a qualifying U.S. commercial enterprise, you can create jobs and contribute to the American economy.
To qualify for the EB-5 program, you must invest either $900,000 in a targeted employment area or $1.8 million in a non-targeted area.
Your investment must result in the creation of at least 10 full-time jobs for qualifying U.S. workers. To succeed through this means, you must understand the pathway properly.
There are other ways to get your green card but these 4 pathways are the commonest methods. If you are willing to apply for a green card, you can explore these four pathways. You can go through family sponsorship, employment, asylum, or investment.
Each of these pathways has its specific requirements, you need to meet these requirements before your application is successful.
If you get confused about the options here, you can consult with immigration professionals, they can help you understand the best option for your situation.
Check this link to get more information.
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