Becoming a permanent resident of the U.S. is an exciting event. At Griffith Immigration Law, we understand the significance of green card eligibility requirements and strive to provide our clients with the best possible advice and guidance on their immigration journey. Contact us today to get started on your journey to becoming a permanent resident of the United States.
Immediate Relatives
As a U.S. citizen or permanent resident, you can choose to sponsor a foreign relative to immigrate to the U.S. However, the relatives you are allowed to sponsor depends on your status. U.S. citizens are able to sponsor spouses or future spouses, minor children, and certain immediate relatives, such as parents or siblings
Permanent resident options are more limited, only allowing sponsorship of spouses and unmarried children (regardless of age)
Preferred Employees
Being sponsored by a U.S. employer requires various qualifications to be considered for a Green Card. We also have a blog outlining more of these limitations, but simply put, this sponsorship is considered a preference category. The preference sub-categories are as follows:
- Employment First Preference (EB-1) — Priority workers, including:
- Persons of extraordinary ability in the arts, the sciences, education, business, or athletics
- Outstanding professors and researchers, and
- Managers and executives of multinational companies.
- (EB-2) — Professionals with advanced degrees or exceptional ability.
- (EB-3) — Professionals and skilled or unskilled workers.
- (EB-4) — Religious workers and miscellaneous categories of workers and other “special immigrants.”
- (EB-5) — Investors willing to put $1 million into a U.S. business—or $500,000 if the business is in an economically depressed area and employs at least ten U.S. workers.
Ten-Year Green Card
Cancellation of removal, more commonly called the “ten-year green card,” is a remedy available to certain individuals who have resided unlawfully in the U.S. for a minimum of ten years. This option allows immigrants to request permanent residence as a defense in immigration court proceedings.
Other Categories
There are special considerations that can also be made for certain applicants, such as Cuban natives or citizens, victims of abuse, individuals in the Diversity Visa Lottery system, and much more. The U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services website outlines all the categories of eligibility for Green cards as well.
At Griffith Immigration Law, we understand that the process of understanding green card eligibility requirements can be overwhelming and complex. That’s why our experienced citizenship attorneys are here to help you understand the green card eligibility requirements and ensure you are on the right path to becoming a citizen. Contact us today to start your path toward the American Dream.
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