Greencard Rules
Immigrants to the United States may live there on either a permanent or temporary basis, with temporary residents receiving a visa and permanent residents receiving a permanent resident card, which is commonly called a green card because of its color in years past. There are many paths to obtaining a green card, and even the applicant's current residence, whether it's inside or outside the U.S., will be a factor in how to apply.
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Family Eligibility
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The immediate relatives of U.S. citizens, including parents, spouses and unmarried, adult children, are all eligible for a green card. For the parents of a citizen to apply, their child must be at least 21. There are understandably many applicants for green cards, and so the government uses preferences to filter these applicants, with unmarried, adult children of citizens receiving top priority, and brothers and sisters of citizens receiving last priority.
Employment
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Being employed in the U.S. and receiving a job offer from a U.S. employer are other ways to become eligible for a green card. The government filters these applicants, too. People with outstanding abilities and reputations or who have greater potential to benefit society and culture in the U.S. receive higher priority than skilled workers or investors.
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Refugee or Asylum
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Anyone allowed into the U.S. as a refugee or granted asylum in the U.S. and anyone immediately related to a refugee or asylum recipient is eligible for a green card. In fact, application for a green card is mandatory for these people and must be completed before a year has passed since their entry.
Other Reasons
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There are a variety of other reasons why a person may be eligible for permanent residency in the U.S., including service in the military and being a victim of human trafficking. Interested applicants should consult the U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services website for a full list of the many possible qualifying circumstances (see References below).
Beyond Eligibility
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In addition to the basic eligibility requirements listed above, green card applicants must have a filed and approved immigrant petition, an immigrant visa and must be admissible to the U.S. To be admissible, a person must prove that there are no health, criminal or security concerns related to entry.
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References
Resources
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