If you want to live in the United States, you will apply for a green card. A green card is essentially proof that you’re a permanent resident of the U.S., which allows you to work and travel freely within the country without worrying about having your visa canceled or revoked by Immigration Customs Enforcement (ICE). But, not all people are eligible for an immigrant visa or can get one easily; this article will walk you through the steps required.
Determining Eligibility
You must be eligible to apply for a green card. This means that you must have a valid visa and be able to prove that you are eligible for a green card. You also need to be in the United States at the time of application so that USCIS can issue it as soon as possible, especially if your case is approved before or during its processing date (see below).
Applying for adjustment of status
If you are eligible for a green card, or if your country of residence has issued visas for citizens from other countries, then it is likely that you will be able to apply for an adjustment of status. Adjustment of status means that the applicant can adjust his or her current immigration status by adjusting his or her visa category (eg: from student to F-1) and changing the type of residence sought (for example from permanent residence to temporary work authorization). This process can take several months depending on how busy your local USCIS office is at any given time. You should check online before coming in person so that there is no confusion about which documents need to be submitted during this process.
Filing a petition
The petition is filed with the USCIS. You must make sure you apply for your green card in the correct USCIS office, and that you have all of your documents ready to go. You can apply for a green card at any time, but it's best to apply before you leave the United States if there are any issues with how long it will take for your application to be processed.
Preparing for your interview
- Before your interview, it's important to study immigration laws. It's helpful to know what questions you might be asked and how they'll affect your case.
- Bring all of the documents that support your application with you—and make sure they're legible! If possible, bring copies of all documents as well. The immigration officer may ask for more information than is required on Form I-485 (the form used by those applying for permanent residence).
- Be prepared to answer any questions about why you want to come to this country or why staying is in the best interest of yourself and/or family members who live here already: Are there any hardships or difficulties back home? What kind of work do people do where I'm from? Why should we let someone like me live here instead of another person who has lived here longer without problems or issues like mine having caused harm to society there (for example)?
Go through the process, and you should receive your green card.
The process of applying for a green card is not difficult, but it can be time-consuming. If you have been waiting for your green card since you applied, then don't worry!
You are still eligible to apply and if everything goes well, you should receive your green card within 90 days of receiving notice from USCIS (U.S Citizenship and Immigration Services).
If someone wants to file as an immediate relative on behalf of another person who lives outside of the United States, then he or she needs to obtain approval from USCIS before filing any petition with the Immigration Court for them to receive legal status as long as they meet all requirements set forth by law.
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