How to Apply for a Green Card in Washington State
A green card grants its holder the right to permanently live and work in the United States, the right to travel abroad, and the opportunity to eventually apply for U.S. citizenship. Applicants must meet certain requirements that do not differ from state to state but are different if applying from outside the United States. For applicants already in the United States, the process of applying for a green card is called the "adjustment of status" process.
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Instructions
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Review the eligibility requirements for green card applicants at the U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services website's section on Green Card Eligibility. A variety of qualifications make a person eligible for a green card, including being a family member of a green card holder, having refugee or asylum status, or holding significant employment.
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Check visa availability for your specific eligibility category. The Immigration and Nationality Act made it so only a certain number of green cards can be issued per year. Availability information can be found at the U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services website's section on "Visa Availability and Priority Dates."
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File an immigration petition, also known as the I-485 form. This can be found at the U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services website's section on "Adjustment of Status." Only file the form if a visa is available in your specific eligibility category. The form has lettered supplements for each different eligibility category, (i.e. I-485 A, I-485 E, etc). Fill out the form that applies to your eligibility category and file the form online.
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