Green Card

Green Card Eligibility Categories

Family-based Green Card

You may apply for a family-based Green Card if you are a(n):

• Immediate Relative of a US Citizen: Their spouse, unmarried child under 21, or parent
• Family member of a US Citizen: Their married or unmarried child aged 21 and above or sibling aged at least 21
• Family member of a US Permanent Resident: Their spouse or unmarried child
• Fiancé(e) of a US citizen or the fiancé(e)’s child: If you intend to marry a US national within 90 days of entering the US on a Fiancé(e) visa
• Widow(er) of a US citizen
• Abused spouse, child, or parent of a US citizen or Green Card holder

Employment-based Green Cards

You may be eligible for an employment-based Green Card if you are a:

First Preference Immigrant Worker

This means you:

• Have outstanding skills in arts, business, sciences, education, or athletics
• Are a renowned researcher or professor
• Are an executive or manager of a multinational company

Second Preference Immigrant Worker

This means you:

• Have exceptional skills in arts, business or sciences
• Practice in a profession that needs advanced degrees
• Seek a national interest waiver

Third Preference Immigrant Worker

This means you are:

• A skilled worker with at least 2 years of work experience or training
• A professional with at least a bachelor’s degree and a member of a professional body
• An unskilled worker with less than 2 years of work experience or training

Physician National Interest Waiver

You may be eligible for a National Interest Waiver if you are a physician who has agreed to work full-time in areas where medical practitioners are in short supply. You must obtain an attestation from a state or federal health agency endorsing your qualifications and the usefulness of your skill in serving the public. 

Immigrant Investor

Green cards for immigrant investors are for immigrants willing to invest at least $800,000 in a new business that will create at least 10 full-time employment opportunities in the US or who have already invested at least $800,000 in one.

You can only apply for an employment-based green card if you have a job offer from a US employer and they are willing to file Form I-140, Immigration Petition for Alien Worker. The exemptions include applying via the Physical National Interest Waiver or the Immigrant Investor programme.

Special Immigrant Green Cards

You can apply for a Green Card under the special immigrant category if you are:

• A religious worker coming to the US to work for your religious organisation
• Below 18 and have been abused, neglected, or abandoned by your parents, and you need juvenile court protection
• An Afghan or Iraqi employed by the US government after 20th March 2003 and facing threats due to your work for the US government
• An international journalist under the employment of the US Agency for Global Media(USAGM)
• A current or retired employee of NATO and other International organisations

Green Card Via Refugee Status

You can apply for a Green Card if you have lived in the US as a refugee or an asylee for at least a year.

Green Card for Victims of Crime and Human Trafficking

This category is for:

• Crime victims that hold U non-immigrant visas. You must have assisted law enforcement agencies in detecting, investigating, or prosecuting criminal activities like domestic violence and sexual assault
• Human trafficking victims that hold T non-immigrant visas. You must have assisted law enforcement agencies in detecting, investigating, or prosecuting human traffickers

Green Card for Victims of Abuse

You may be eligible to apply for a Green Card if you were abused by your:

• Spouse, child, or parent who is a US citizen or lawful permanent resident
• Parents and abandoned, and under the protection of the Special Immigrant Juvenile
• Spouse or child who is a Cuban citizen
• Spouse who obtained a Green Card via the Haitian Refugee Immigrant Fairness Act(HRFIA)

Green Card Via Registry

You may register for a Green Card if you have lived in the US since 1st January 1972.

Other Green Card Eligibility Categories

• Green Card for Liberian citizens and their family members under Liberian Refugee Immigration Fairness
• Green Card for foreign nationals selected for the Diversity Immigrant Visa Program
• Green Card for Cuban natives and their immediate family members under the Cuban Adjustment Act
• Green Card for foreign nationals who are Lautenberg parolees
• Green Card for natives of Vietnam, Laos, and Cambodia paroled into the US under the Indochinese Parole Adjustment Act of 2000
• Green Card for Indians born in Canada to an American parent
• Green Card for children born to foreign diplomats during their stay in the US
• Green Card is for foreign diplomats who worked in the US and cannot go home 

Green Card Process and Procedures

You can apply for a Green Card through status adjustment or consular processing. 

Adjustment of Status

If you are already in the US on another visa, you go through this process to adjust your status. To adjust your status in the US, you’ll need to undergo the following procedures:

File an Immigration Petition

You can do this yourself or get a family member or employer to do it for you. You can submit the form online or by post. If filing by post, send it to the office of the United States Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS) in Chicago, Texas, Arizona, or Illinois. Where exactly you’ll send it depends on where you live and your application pathway. 

Green Card Immigrant Petition Forms & Required Documents

• Form I-140, Immigration Petition for Alien Worker for employment-based Green Cards. The employer can file it on your behalf
• Form I-130, Petition for Alien Relative for family-based Green Cards. It can be filed by your family member who is a US citizen or lawful permanent resident
• Form I-589, Application for Asylum and Withholding of Removal. You must file this yourself
• Form I-526, Immigrant Petition for Alien Entrepreneur for foreign nationals looking to get Green Card by investment
• Form I-360, Petition for Amerasian, Widow(er), or Special Immigrant

Documents Required to File Form I-130

• A copy of your US passport, Green Card, or birth certificate must be provided to prove your family member is a US citizen or lawful permanent resident
• To prove your relationship with a US citizen or permanent resident, you will need a copy of your birth, marriage, or adoption certificate
• You must provide proof that your marriage is ongoing and bona fide, such as documents showing joint tenancy or the birth certificates of your children

Documents Required to File Form I-140

• Original and certified Form ETA 9089, Application for Permanent Employment Certification
• Certification from the Department of Labour that no US citizen or permanent resident can do the job for which the alien worker is employed. 
• Proof of experience and training, such as educational certifications, awards in the field of work, and employment history.
• Evidence you can pay the employee their wages.

Green Card Petition Processing 

The processing time for immigration petitions varies. It can take 6 months or up to 2 years.

Immigration Petition Fees

For more information on the form applicable to your situation and the documents and fees required to file it, contact our immigration lawyers today. Call us at +1 844 290 6312 or contact us online. 

Petition Process

Check if a Visa is Available

If your immigration petition is approved, you can check if a visa is available. Immediate family members of US citizens do not need to check for visa availability, as visas are always available. They can also file Form I-485 with the immigration petition, which is known as concurrent filing. 

Family members of US Green Card holders and those seeking employment-based Green Cards must check with the US Department of State to see if a visa is available. Only 226,000 Green Cards are issued to family relatives of US permanent residents yearly, while 140,000 are issued yearly for employment-based visas. 

If there is no visa available for you, you’ll need to wait until you are notified of availability before proceeding to the next step. This is one of the challenges of applying for a Green Card, as your immigration petition may be in the queue for years. 

File Form I-485, Application to Register Permanent Residence or Adjust Status

You must download the form from the United States Citizenship and Immigration Service (USCIS) website, fill it out, and mail it to the USCIS office in Arizona, Chicago, Nebraska, or Texas. You must send your form to the correct office, depending on where you live and your application category. 

Documents Required to File Form I-485

• Approved immigration petition form. 
• 2 passport photographs.
• Copy of your birth certificate.
• Proof you are a legal resident in the US.
• Form I-864, to prove your family member will support you financially in the US.
• Copy of US passport or Green Card of a family member.
• Birth, marriage, or adoption certificates.
• Evidence you have a job offer in the US.

Form I-485 Fee

• $1,440 for applicants 14 years and above.
• $950 for applicants below 14 and applying with their parents. 

Submit Biometrics

Upon submission of your Form I-485, you’ll be scheduled for a biometric collection appointment at an Application Support Centre (ASC). Your fingerprints, photo, and signature will be collected. You’ll sign a form acknowledging that all the information in your form is true and correct. 

Attend an Interview

The USCIS will review your case and determine if you need to attend an interview. You’ll be notified of the time, date, and venue. If you are invited for an interview, you must go with your original documents, and the family member who filed Form I-130 for you, if this applies.

Wait for a Decision

The fastest you can get a decision is 6 months. You’ll get an email notifying you of the outcome of your application. If your application is approved, your Green Card will be sent to you via post after a few weeks. 

Consular Processing

You’ll go through consular processing if you are outside the US. Take the steps below for consular processing:

File an Immigrant Petition

You or your family member/employer can file the immigration petition. If the USCIS approves the application, your petition will be sent to the National Visa Centre (NVC). If you are the immediate relative of a US citizen, you can proceed to the next step. Otherwise, you’ll have to wait till the NVC notifies you that a visa number is available. 

Pay the Fees

After paying the fees, you must wait 10 days before continuing your application. 

Affidavit of Support

If you are applying under the family-based category, your US citizen or lawful permanent resident must file Form I-864, Affidavit of Support and show evidence of their financial capacity, through bank statements or tax records. 

Apply for a Visa Online

You must complete Form DS-160 online. Every family member traveling with you must fill it out separately. 

Gather and Submit Your Documents

You’ll need to gather, scan, and upload the following documents as they apply to your situation:

• Birth certificates.
• Marriage certificates.
• Passport bio-data page
• Police character certificate.
• Copy of US citizen passport or Green Card of your family member. 

Medical Examination

Next, attend a medical assessment carried out by a medical practitioner approved by the US Embassy in your country. Take all your medical and vaccination records to the assessment. Print and fill out part 1 of Form I-693, Report of Medical Examination and Vaccination Record. The medical examiner will fill in the rest after examining you. You and the examiner will sign the document, and then they will seal the form with your records in an envelope. This envelope must be sealed when you submit it during your interview. 

Interview

Attend the interview with your original supporting documents and the D2-260 confirmation page. If your interview is successful, you’ll get a visa packet from the officer. You must not open the packet until you reach the US port of entry and hand it over to the US Customs and Border Protection officer. If the immigration officials decide to let you in, they’ll give you a Green Card application form to complete.  You must pay the USCIS immigrant fee of $305 online before getting to the US. If you choose to pay this at the port of entry, it will cost $585.

Get Your Green Card

You’ll usually get the Green Card within 90 days of entering the US.

How to Apply for a Green Card

Here are some tips for completing your Green Card application accurately and efficiently:

• Ensure you’re applying under the appropriate eligibility category to avoid getting rejected for eligibility reasons. If you are unsure about the eligibility category you fall under, do not hesitate to call our immigration advisers at +1 844 290 6312 or contact us online.
• Complete all the sections in the immigration petition form. Any missing field in your form will result in outright rejection of your application. 
• All forms used for Green Card application must be signed and dated. 
• Every form has an edition date and page numbers. Ensure these are showing in your form before submitting it. Forms without edition dates and page numbers will be rejected. 
• For paper applications, do not send your original documents; instead, send copies. You only need to present original documents if you attend a face-to-face interview. 

Common Mistakes to Avoid 

• Submitting your application without proper review: Review your documents and forms before submitting so you don’t miss any details or make a mistake. IAS immigration lawyers are available to review your application. 
• Insufficient supporting evidence: Provide enough evidence to prove the genuineness of your application. For family-based Green Card applications, include birth, marriage, or adoption certificates. Add proof of joint ownership of property or bank accounts to prove your relationship further. Do not add intimate pictures or explicit messages. 
• Missing deadlines: Check for emails from the USCIS and respond to their request promptly. 
• Not updating the USCIS on changes in your situation: If your address changes, your family member becomes a US citizen, or you’re now eligible for adjustment of status instead of consular processing, notify the USCIS immediately. 

Replace Your Green Card

You can replace your Green Card if:

• Your Green Card has expired or will expire in the next 6 months.
• Your card was stolen, missing, destroyed or damaged.
• You have decided to live in the US instead of being a visitor.
• You got your card before turning 14, and you’re now 14.
• You have decided to be a visitor in the US instead of living in the US.
• Your card has errors.
• You changed your personal information, such as name and date of birth, after receiving a Green Card.
• You did not receive the Green Card sent to you. 
• You hold an old alien registration card, which is now invalid, like USCIS Form AR-3, Form I-151, or Form AR-103.

You can apply for Green Card replacement online or via mail. To apply online, you must create an account with the USCIS and follow the instructions. To apply via mail, send supporting documents and proof of payment through:

US Postal Service:

USCIS
Attn: I-90
PO Box 21262
Phoenix, AZ 85036-1262

Or  UPS, FedEx, and DHL:

USCIS
Attn: I-90 (Box 21262)
2108 E. Elliot Rd.
Tempe, AZ 85284-1806

Documents Required

• Completed Form I-90, Application to Replace Permanent Resident Card.
• Receipt of payment. 
• Copy of old Green or Alien Registration Card. 
• Proof of government-issued ID.

If you don’t have your card, add the following:

• Copy of Form I-797, Notice of action (if you got your Green Card via adjustment of status). 
• Copy of your passport page with I-551 stamp(if you got your Green Card via consular processing). 
• Proof of US residence, like utility bills. (If they’re in your parent’s or spouse’s name, add a copy of your birth or marriage certificate). 

It is important to keep your card safe, as replacements take time. If your card is nearing expiration, apply for renewal. This extends the validity of your card to 36 months. You may find it difficult to obtain a professional licence or leave and re-enter the US without your card or with an expired one. 

Application Fee

While Your Green Card Application is Pending with USCIS

If your application is delayed or you want to know the status of your application, take any of the steps below:

• Call the USCIS at 800-375-5283. 
• Submit a form inquiring about your case on their website. 
• Use your Form I-485 number to track your application on the USCIS website. 

If you change your address, notify the USCIS and USPS within 10 days. Do this with your USCIS account. If you do not have an account, you can file Form AR-11, Alien’s Change of Address Card, via mail. 

If your application for adjustment of status is pending, you should not leave the US without filing Form I-131, Application for Travel Documents, Parole Documents, and Arrival/Departure Records, as that will cancel your application.

Adjustment of Status Guidance

While waiting for the outcome of your application for adjustment of status, it is important to maintain your non-immigrant status. This is so your stay doesn’t become illegal if your application for adjustment of status is rejected. For example, Green Card applicants on an F-1 visa or a H-1B visa, should not drop out of school or leave their employment. While filing the form allows you to stay in the US legally, a rejection of your application may lead to you leaving the US if you have no other visa validating your stay.

Diversity Immigrant Visa Program (Green Card Lottery)

The Diversity immigrant visa program was established in 1990 to diversify the population of immigrants in the US. The program issues up to 55,000 immigrant visas to nationals of countries with low migration rates (less than 50,000 in 5 years)to the US. This program is one way of obtaining a Green Card without having family ties or a job offer in the US. 

The US government selects entries through a random computer draw. Every eligible country gets no more than 7% of the available visas. The Green Card is shared among the US’s 6 geographical regions: New England, Mid-Atlantic, the South, the Midwest, the Southwest and the West. 

Find Out if You are Eligible for the Diversity Visa (DV) Lottery and How to Register

There are two eligibility criteria:

You Must be from a Country with a Low Migration Rate to the US 

Some of the countries eligible for the 2026 Green Card lottery include citizens of Ghana, Libya, South Africa, Saudi Arabia, Oman, Singapore, Poland, Croatia, Sweden, New Zealand, The Bahamas, Barbados, and the United Kingdom. For the full list of eligible countries, visit the US government’s website. Note that this list is subject to change at the discretion of the US government.

You can apply for Green Card lottery even if your country has high migration rates to the US if:

• Your spouse is from a country with low migration rates. 
• Your parents were born or resided in a country with low migration rates.

Educational or Work Experience

• You must have either completed secondary school or its equivalent.
• You must have at least two years of work experience in a profession requiring at least two years of training.  

Application Process

You can only apply for the Diversity Visa online by visiting the visa page on the US government website and completing the entry form. You must supply the following details:

• Your full name
• Gender
• Date of birth
• City of birth
• Country of birth
• Country you’re claiming eligibility from
• Photographs of you and your immediate family members taken within the past six months
• Mailing address
• Country of residence
• Phone number
• Email address
• Highest education obtained as of when applying.
• Marital status.
• Number of children.

You’ll receive a confirmation message on the screen showing your name and unique application number upon submission. Print the screen and save it. You can confirm the status of your application on the same website from 3rd May 2025. 

Application Tips

• Use an updated browser.
• Use Chrome, Firefox, or Edge. 
• Don’t use a visa agent. Even if you do, take note of your confirmation number and have access to the email provided. 
• If you are selected, the US government will not email you. All correspondence will be on the portal, so do not lose your application number or login details.

Diversity Visa Lottery Results and What to Do if You Were Selected

If selected in the lottery, check if you meet the eligibility requirements. If you do, then: 

• Apply for an immigrant visa on the Diversity Visa website
• File Form DS-260, Immigrant Visa Electronic Application. You’ll include your case number and date of birth while filling out the form
• Schedule and attend an interview at the US Consulate or Embassy near you 
• Move to the US if you were successful in the interview

When attending the interview, go with the following documents: 

• Your birth certificate and that of everyone applying with you. Each certificate must show the date and place of birth, parents’ names, and an official issuing stamp. 
• Police character certificate for everyone 16 and above
• Bio-data page of a valid passport
• Marriage/divorce certificate if it applies
• Certificate to prove you completed secondary school
• Employment letter to prove work experience
• Two passport photographs
• Sealed medical examination result

Before attending a visa interview:

• Read the instructions sent to you by the US Embassy
• Ensure you have attended a medical examination
• Gather all supporting documents
• Pay the associated visa fee, which is currently $330.00 per person

Permanent Resident (Green) Card and Immigrant Visas

A Green Card is a document issued after you have entered the US. It is not added to your passport and is proof of your legal and permanent residency in the US. On the other hand, an immigrant visa is attached to your passport, permitting you to enter the US. It also qualifies you to apply for a Green Card. 

As a Green Card holder,  you can:

• Live and work in the US permanently
• Buy a property
• Join the US armed forces
• Access public benefits
• Attend a state-funded institution
• Get a driver’s licence
• Sponsor family members’ Green Card applications
• Apply for US citizenship

Your responsibilities include:

• Obeying all the laws of the US
• Taking your Green Card everywhere you go
• Paying taxes judiciously
• Informing the USCIS within 10 days of change in address
• Not being outside the US for more than 6 months in 1 year

Lawful permanent residents may not stay outside the US for more than 6 months, which will cancel their permanent residence status. You should also not be outside the US when your Green Card expires, as you may be refused re-entry into the US. 

When applying for immigrant visas for family members, note the following: 

• You and your family members must meet the requirements for their visa category
• You must prove parental responsibility if you’re applying for your unmarried child
• You can submit your application online
• You must show that you can take care of your family members financially

Apply for an Immigrant Visa

Below are some examples of immigrant visas that qualify you to get a Green Card: 

• IR1 and CR1 visa for spouse or unmarried and under 21 child of a US citizen
• K-1 visa for fiancé(e) of a US citizen
• E1, E2, E3 visas for employment-based immigrant visas
• SR visa for religious workers
• SQ visa for Iraqi and Afghan nationals who worked for the US government
• DV visa for diversity lottery winners

Work in the US with a Work Permit (EAD)

If you applied for adjustment of status in the US, you can work while waiting for the outcome of your application. However, you must file Form I-765, Application for Employment Authorization. You’ll receive an Employment Authorisation Document(EAD) card if the application is approved. 

You are eligible to apply for an EAD if you are:

• A refugee, asylee, or a U non-immigrant 
• Waiting for the outcome of your adjustment of status application
• Waiting for the outcome of your asylum visa application
• An F-1 or M-1 student

To apply for an EAD card, download and complete Form I-765. Then, send the form and supporting documents to any USCIS lockbox near you. 

Documents needed for the application include: 

• A copy of your Form I-94
• Your valid passport
• 2 passport photographs

There are different filing fees depending on your situation, and they range from $260 to $470. 

The EAD card is valid for 1 or 2 years. The USCIS determines the validity of your card. It can also be renewed or replaced. Note that the EAD is a temporary work permit. You’ll need to meet the conditions of a Green Card and get one to work in the US on a permanent basis.