Getting Your Green Card And Becoming A Permanent Resident

For anyone living outside the country, getting a green card and securing permanent residence in the United States is the goal if they have any plans of living the American dream. With all these strict immigration laws, it can seem like a daunting task due to all the requirements and documents necessary for the application process.

So, to help spread awareness and keep everyone informed, today we’ll be exploring the many different ways you can apply for permanent residence in the United States. And, if all goes well, you will be on track to become a naturalized U.S citizen.

What Are My Options?

Lucky for us, there are plenty of ways to enter the United States and become a permanent resident. And we’ll be going through some of the most well-known methods that are proven to work. To preface, expect there to be preferences for skilled workers, entrepreneurs, and the like, but do go over each option and see what fits you best.

#1 Check Your Eligibility

Firstly, you’ll want to check your eligibility for a green card and find out what category you fall under, as these individuals often have a much smoother application process. In some cases, your family members might even get the chance to apply with you, so don’t forget to head on over to the U.S Citizenship and Immigration Services website to check.

• Through Family: Since the U.S Congress recognizes the importance of family to the nation, family-based relationships are among the most common and successful ways of applying for a green card. Whether through an immediate relative, fiance, or even lawful green card holder as well, all these people can sponsor your application process. Now, the process can vary depending on the family relationship, so be sure to double-check the USCIS requirements.
• Through Employment: Apart from family-based relationships, another excellent method of applying for a green card is through employment, whether as a priority worker or a non-priority worker. Your skill will serve as your baseline, and if you hold an exceptional ability in the sciences, arts, business, or education, you get the first preference. However, don’t lose hope as skilled workers will always have something to offer. In fact, physicians and health professionals have an easy application process if they agree to be designated in underserved areas.
• Through Investment: If you’re from a more entrepreneurial background, you can also get permanent residence through an investment of over $1,000,000, or at least $500,000 in economically depressed areas, and create employment. While this option does require a lot of money, it is a very viable method of getting a green card for the more affluent immigrants.

#2 Electronic Diversity Visa Program

If the options mentioned above don’t fit your need, you can also try applying for the Diversity Visa Immigrant Program and try your luck at the DV Lottery. It is well-known for granting over 50,000 immigrants permanent residence in the United States annually to increase diversity in the nation. For the year 2022, it will have over 55,000 DVs available, so be sure to prepare the requirements and don’t forget to apply.

But, do be warned that it is recognized as the “DV Lottery” for a reason because you will be up against millions of applicants, leaving the chance at around 0.6%. Also, certain countries are not eligible for the program because there have been over 50,000 immigrants in the past five years.

#3 Seek Green Card Assistance

Finally, if you’re serious about becoming a permanent resident in the United States, we strongly suggest that you seek green card assistance from a professional immigration attorney. They can make the entire process much smoother, help point out any missing documents, and give you a better chance at landing lawful permanent residency. Remember, the application process can be very challenging, and you’re at risk of encountering pitfalls, but all of this can be avoided with the help of an expert.

The Impact Of Covid-19 Outbreak

As a last note, we want to remind everyone that the pandemic’s impact has left certain restrictions on immigration for the general welfare and safety of everyone. And, while these methods of obtaining a green card are still effective, you’ll find a much harder time today. So, we strongly suggest that you wait for the fiscal year 2022 before making any big decisions about immigrating.