How to Become a Legal U.S. Resident
The United States of America has always had an open door policy leading to its nickname as the "melting pot." Becoming a legal United States resident is a complicated process that can take years. However the benefits it carries makes it well worth the sacrifices demanded. Read on to learn how to become a legal U.S. resident.
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Instructions
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Apply for an Immigrant visa. Immigrant visas are given for those coming to the U.S. to work or who already have relatives who are citizens or legal residents. In most cases a Visa application has to be sponsored by someone who already lives in the U.S. such as an employer or a family member.
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Get an Immigration Petition approved and wait to be approved for a Visa number. When sponsoring an immediate relative a Visa number is not needed.
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Request an adjustment to permanent resident status for those living in the U.S. For individuals located outside the U.S. the process can be completed at the local U.S. consulate.
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To work in the U.S. while a permanent resident application is pending apply for a work permit. Individuals who become legal U.S. Residents are eligible to apply for citizenship.
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Tips & Warnings
In addition to work and family visas immigrant visas are given by the diversity lottery which randomly selects individuals from countries with low rates of immigration to the U.S.
The Green Card shows you are a permanent legal U.S. Resident and must be kept on your person at all times.
Quotas imposed by the Immigration and Nationality act limit the number of Visa numbers that are given out every year. In many cases the process could take several years.
The process of applying for legal residency is an expensive and complicated one. There are many forms to fill out that can be difficult for the average person to understand. To ensure you don't make costly mistakes consult an immigration attorney.
Legal residents of the U.S. can still be deported for criminal acts.
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Comments
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EmilyMartinez
Jan 01, 2009
Currently, there is a backlog of applicants who's not married to US citizens. Saying it takes several years is a serous understatement as it's currently taking longer than 10 years to get a Visa for the U.S. -
EmilyMartinez
Jan 01, 2009
Currently, there is a backlog of applicants who's not married to US citizens. Saying it takes several years is a serous understatement as it's currently taking longer than 10 years to get a Visa for the U.S.
