Green Cards:
Permanent Residency
Immigration Explainer: Green Card
Learn about the ways you can obtain your United States Green Card (Permanent Residency), whether you’re eligible, how much it costs, and how long it takes.
Green cards, or permanent residence cards, are among the most sought-after documents in the field of permanent immigration to the United States.
For many immigrants, permanent residency and eventual citizenship is their ultimate goal. But, achieving that goal can be difficult and there are many ways to go wrong legally.
There are many ways that immigrants can try to get a green card; the attorneys of Margaret W. Wong & Associates, LLC, can work closely with you to find a course of action that will get you what you need. With seven different offices and the experience of dozens of lawyers, our firm has the resources and skills to help plot your course to permanent residency.
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Explore Our latest Success Stories
Woman from Mexico Without Documentation Wins Green Card Sponsored by USA Born Son; Public Charge Affidavit of Support from USC Husband
Your Green Card (Permanent Residency) Attorneys
- Whether through family sponsorship, employment-based petitions, diversity lottery, or other avenues, we assist clients in exploring and pursuing the most suitable green card category for their situation.
- With experience handling complex cases, including those involving prior immigration violations or inadmissibility issues, we adeptly navigate potential hurdles to secure green card approval for our clients.
- We meticulously prepare and review all required documentation for green card applications, minimizing errors and maximizing the likelihood of approval.
Obtaining a Green Card through a family-based application
The most well-known way to become a permanent resident is through family-based applications. This includes a wide range of applications.
You may qualify for a family-based application if you have a parent, sibling, spouse or another close relative already living as a permanent resident or citizen.
You can also gain permanent residency by marrying a U.S. citizen or, if you are younger than 16 years old, by being adopted. But these cases are not always simple; you will face intense scrutiny over your relationships and application in general.
Obtaining a Green Card through an employment-based application
There are many ways to file a U.S. green card application through your employment. Just a few are:
Labor Certification / PERM: The labor certification program has been discontinued; now the government uses the PERM system. The PERM system requires employers to advertise the job to Americans and show why it can be filled only by a foreign national. It is a long, involved process, taking around 18 months in Ohio, but often results in a green card.
National Interest Waiver: A national interest waiver will enable you to bypass the lengthy PERM process entirely and get you a green card. But your attorneys must demonstrate that giving you permanent residency will serve to improve the United States in some readily apparent way. An advanced degree, such as a master’s degree or its equivalent, is typically required.
Learn more about PERM Certification, which allows an employer to hire a foreign worker to work permanently in the United States, in our free PERM Certification immigration guide here.
Alternative options for a United States Green Card
If you have been persecuted in your home country or have reason to think that returning will subject you to persecution, you could qualify for asylum and a green card. You can also get permanent residency through the green card lottery, in which every year the federal government makes 55,000 green cards available to people who qualify.
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