A green card allows immigrants to seek lawful permanent residence and employment status in the United States.
There are several green card options for immigrants. The following includes the most common green card options accessible to immigrants:
1. Family-sponsored green card
A close relative of an immigrant who lawfully and permanently lives in the U.S. can sponsor an immigrant. This close relative can include a spouse, child, parent or sibling. The family sponsor must meet certain income requirements, including the ability to financially support the sponsored relative.
2. Work-based green card
Workers can apply for work green cards with the help of an employer sponsoring an immigrant. The employer may need to provide an immigrant with a full-time, permanent position that lasts longer than a year, while showing that there are no U.S. workers qualified for the job position. For an immigrant to qualify for a work-based green card, they must show exceptional ability, high education or special experience related to the job.
3. Green card lottery
Immigrants can receive a green card through the Diversity Immigrant Visa (DV) Program. This program provides up to 55,000 eligible immigrants with visas every year. Immigrants can qualify for the green card lottery if they are a native with a low immigration rate or have a qualifying education or work experience.
With the controversy around immigration status in America, it may be crucial for people to seek professional legal guidance to discuss their green card options and legal rights.