Green Card Guide: Eligibility, Types, Process & Requirements

A Green Card, officially known as a Permanent Resident Card, allows eligible foreign nationals to live and work permanently in the United States. It grants lawful permanent resident (LPR) status and provides a pathway to U.S. citizenship for those who meet naturalization requirements.

This blog explains what a Green Card is, who is eligible, the different Green Card categories, application process, fees, processing times, renewal, and frequently asked questions.

What is a Green Card?

A Green Card, officially called a Permanent Resident Card, is proof that you are a lawful permanent resident of the United States. It allows you to live, work, and study permanently in the U.S. and travel internationally, subject to U.S. immigration rules.

Depending on your eligibility category, you may later apply for U.S. citizenship through naturalization.

Note: Some people think that a Green Card is like a Visa, but a Green Card and a Visa are different things.

How to Apply for a Green Card

If you want to fill out a green card application, then there are mainly two types of applications. 

Applying from Within the United States (Adjustment of Status)

• If you are applying in the US, then you need to fill out the Form I-485, which is an application to adjust status.
• This form is already used by individuals who are in the US on a non-immigrant visa, and shortlisted for a diversity visa, or eligible for family or employment. 

Applying from Outside the United States (Consular Processing)

• If you are applying for a Green card application outside the US, then you have to fill out the Form DS-260, which is an Immigrant Visa Electronic Application.
• This form is used by those who want to apply for an immigrant visa from foreign countries, through family, diversity visa program, and employer sponsorship. 

Types of Green Cards in the USA

Given below is the detailed information about various types of Green cards in the US. 

1. Family-based Green Card
2. Registry Green Card
3. Employment-based Green Card
4. Humanitarian Green Card
5. Diversity Lottery Green Card
6. Other Green Cards

Family-based Green card

A family-based green card can be applied for by close relatives of green card holders and US citizens. For a family-based green card, family members, including parents, children, spouse, and siblings, can receive a Green card. 

On the family-based green card, widows and widowers, who are married to U.S. citizens, can get a green card, but they must prove that their marriage was legal. 

However, some family members are not eligible to apply for a green card on a family basis. It includes uncles, aunts, cousins, and grandparents. They can apply for a Green card if they have close relations with a Green card holder, a US citizen, or are eligible to apply for another type of Green card. 

Long-time Resident Green Card

A long-time resident green card refers to the people who have physically lived in the US, either documented or undocumented, since January 1, 1972. They can apply for a green card or a permanent resident card through a process called registry. 

• You need to prove your entry in the United States before 1 January 1972 by submitting a Form I-94, which is an Arrival/Departure travel record. 
• You haven't left the US since you arrived. 
• You should not indulge in any type of criminal activity, like fraud, murder, theft, or prostitution. 
• You will be eligible for US citizenship through the naturalization process. 
• If you have not committed a crime that would make you Deportable. It means you will be forced to be sent back to your home country. These violations include drug abuse, marriage fraud, and smuggling. 
• If you have not committed a crime, that would make you inadmissible. It means you cannot get a green card if you have entered the US unlawfully and stayed for more than 6 months in the USA with an expired visa. 

Employment-based Green Card

The employment-based green card includes many subcategories of workers who can apply for a permanent resident card. In some cases, spouses and their children can be eligible to apply for a green card. See the table given below for more information: 

Humanitarian Green Card

For Military Family Members (PIP):

• Parole in Place (PIP) provides a way to lawfully obtain permanent resident status to military families. It includes undocumented spouses, children, and parents of the US military service members (ready reserve, selected reserve, veterans, and active duty).
• Under the humanitarian green card for military family members, individuals can apply for parole without leaving the US. This allows them to have a permanent resident status if they are eligible.
• However, PIP doesn't provide you with a green card, but it removes hurdles and makes the pathway to permanent residency easier for the family members. 

For Refugees and Asylees:

• For the people who have fear or have been persecuted in their home country because of political opinion, race, religion, or nationality. They can seek protection in the US by applying for a visa abroad (as a refugee) or within the USA (as an asylee). 
• If they have physically stayed in the USA for a minimum of one year after getting refugee status or asylum, then they can apply for a US permanent resident card and seek protection in the US. 

For Human Trafficking Victims:

• The victims of human trafficking who are residing in the US lawfully or unlawfully can apply for a T visa to stay in the US for a duration of 4 years. However, there is one condition for the T visa that, for human trafficking, they must help to investigate and prosecute the perpetrators. If the victim is below the age of 18 years, then he or she doesn't need help. 

To apply for the Permanent Resident card for applicants present in the US, and have a short period of time from the following given below: 

• Three years from the date of receiving a T visa. 
• The time for investigation and prosecution of human trafficking. 

Their eligibility criteria also include good moral character, which means they have not committed any criminal offense, like murder or fraud, from the time they get a T visa until the approval of a green card. 

Many family members are also eligible to apply for a green card as long as both the victim and relatives satisfy all the requirements.

For Crime Victims:

• The victims of crime or mental abuse living in the US lawfully or unlawfully can get protection by applying for a U visa. To get a U visa, victims must obtain a certificate from the law enforcement agency. 
• Applicants for T visas and U visa also agree to help investigate and prosecute those people who are committing crimes like kidnapping, murder, torture, and sexual assault. 

The victim, who wants to apply for a green card, must fulfill the eligibility requirements given below: 

• They must have lived in the US for the last 3 years after receiving a U visa. 
• They haven't left the US after they applied for a green card until the approval of their application by USCIS. 
• If they helped investigators or prosecute people who commit certain crimes from the date the U visa was issued until approved by the USCIS. 

The crime victim's spouse, parents, children, and siblings can also be eligible to apply for a green card as long as both the victim and relatives satisfy all the requirements. 

For Abuse Victims:

• The victims of domestic violence (extreme cruelty) can apply for the green card, which would allow them to seek protection and relief under the Violence Against Women Act (VAWA).
• This law is generally created for the benefit of women, but also helps men and children who are a part of victims of abuse. 

An abuse victim can apply for a green card without the permission of an abusive relative, which includes: 

• A former or current spouse who is a green card holder or US citizen. 
• It can be a parent who is a U.S. citizen or a green card holder. 
• A US citizen child.

For the safety of the victim, USCIS will not notify the abusive relative of the application. 

1. Diversity Lottery Green Card

   The diversity lottery green card program, which is also known as the Green Card Lottery. Every year, the US government chooses 50,000 people randomly from a pool. It includes six locations, like Asia, South Africa, and Oceania. 

   Most of the applicants generally cast their votes from their home country. However, some people are from the US, living with a different immigration status. 

2. Other Green Cards

   The US government has also taken measures to issue other types of green cards. It includes Permanent resident cards for special immigrants, religious workers, media professionals, Afghanistan and Iraq nationals, and people who served in an international organization. 

   Other includes a green card for the American Indians who were born in India, and Cuban citizens.

What is the Cost of a Green Card?

Green Card costs vary depending on the immigration category, whether you apply from inside or outside the United States, and the forms required. Besides government filing fees, applicants may also need to pay for medical examinations, biometrics (when applicable), translations, and supporting documentation.

Different Pathways to Get a Green Card

There are typically five ways to get a U.S. green card. Each of them has its own requirements and separate visas. Moving further, let's know about them.

• Employment Sponsored and Investor Visas: If you get a job in the United States, in that case your employer will pay for the forms. In addition, do the application process, and we will sponsor your stay in the country.
• Diversity Lottery Program: Every year, the United States holds a visa lottery for individuals who belong to countries that have low immigration in the US. If you are eligible for this category, you can apply for it and get a diversity visa. After that, you are on your path to getting a green card.
• Marriage-Based Visa: Those who get a CR1 or IR1 visa may apply for a U.S. green card.
• Family-Sponsored Immigrant Visas: If you have a close family relative in the US, such as parents, siblings, spouses, and children of US citizens, you can apply through them for a green card.
• Returning Resident Green Card: It is an additional way for those who held a green card in the past but traveled outside the country. In addition not able to come back for more than one year for reasons that were beyond their control.

These are the different pathways through which you can apply for a U.S. green card. Furthermore, let's now know the process to apply for permanent residency in the country.

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What is the Processing Time for a Green Card in USA?

Generally, the processing time for a green card application is from months to many years. However, the major impact of the green card processing time depends on the application type, such as where the application is submitted. Whether it is from the USA or outside the US. 

Applying from the US

For the green card application, applied in the US, the processing time for the application will be 8.2 months. The process can also take longer for the application of spouses of US green card holders, US citizens, relatives, and green card holders on an employment basis. 

Applying Outside the US

For the US citizens, relatives, and spouses who are applying for a green card application outside the US through consular processing need to wait about 14.5 months for the processing of the application. 

For the spouses of US green card applicants who apply for a green card outside the U.S., they have to wait for 35 months for the green card application process in the U.S. 

Process to Renew the Green Card

As stated above, the green card is renewed every 10 years. One should renew it within 6 months. For the Renew Green Card process, two methods are available: online application or mail-in format. To renew your card, follow the process:

• Fill out the I-90 green card renewal form. While filling it must select the right reason for applying for the card renewal from the 17 listed reasons.
• USCIS filing fees for Form I-90 may change periodically. Applicants should always verify the latest fee before submitting their renewal application..
• As per your selected reason, the form will instruct you about the required documents that you need to submit.
• To complete the application, follow the instructions in the form. With this, make sure to sign the form since USCIS rejects or returns the applications without a signature.

This is how you can renew your green card. Also, through your USCIS online account number, you can check the USCIS case status of your application. For this, you just need to make an online account on the USCIS website, and through the number, you can track down your applications.

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Conclusion

A Green Card is the key to becoming a lawful permanent resident of the United States, allowing eligible individuals to live, work, and build a future in the country. Whether you're applying through family, employment, marriage, or another immigration pathway, understanding the eligibility requirements and application process can help you avoid delays and improve your chances of approval.

If you need assistance with your Green Card application, Adjustment of Status, or Consular Processing, the immigration experts at Visament can help you prepare your documents and guide you through every step of the process.