5 Ways to Get a Green Card

One of the questions we get asked most often is: how can I get my Green Card?

The United States currently offers five (5) ways to get a Green Card:

1. Through Employment

• First Preference Category (EB-1)

a. Persons with extraordinary ability

b. Outstanding professors and researchers

c. Managers and executives in multinational companies

• Second Preference Category (EB-2)

a. Professionals with advanced degrees

b. Persons with exceptional ability

c. Exceptional professors and researchers

• Second Preference Category -- National Interest Waiver (EB-2 NIW)

a) Persons with exceptional ability -- must show substantial benefit to U.S. national interest

b) Advanced degree professionals -- must show substantial benefit to U.S. national interest

• Third Preference Category (EB-3)

a) Professionals with a U.S. bachelor’s (or foreign equivalent)

b) Skilled workers

c) Unskilled workers

• Fourth Preference Category (“Special Immigrants”) [EB-4]

a) Religious workers

b) Broadcasters

c) Armed Forces members

d) Certain other categories of immigrants

• Fifth Preference Category (EB-5): Immigrant Investor Program

2. As the Immediate Relative of a United States Citizen

a) Spouse of a U.S. citizen

b) Unmarried child under 21 years of age of a U.S. citizen

c) Parent of a U.S. citizen (if the U.S. citizen is 21 years of age or older)

3. The Family Preference Categories

• First preference (F1) - unmarried sons and daughters, 21 years of age and older, of U.S. citizens;
• Second preference (F2A) - spouses and children (unmarried and under 21 years of age) of lawful permanent residents;
• Second preference (F2B) - unmarried sons and daughters, 21 years of age and older, of lawful permanent residents;
• Third preference (F3) - married sons and daughters of U.S. citizens; and
• Fourth preference (F4) - brothers and sisters of U.S. citizens (if the U.S. citizen is 21 years of age and older).

4. Diversity Immigrant Visa (DVI) Lottery

For more information: https://travel.state.gov/content/travel/en/us-visas/immigrate/diversity-visa-program-entry.html

5. Asylum / Refugee status­­­­­­­­­­

IMPORTANT POINTS TO REMEMBER:

1. Each case is unique. Call us at (617) 855-7698 for a consultation to discuss the best option(s) for your particular case!
2. You can apply for the Green Card in as many categories as you are eligible for!
3. Applications for employer-based preference categories generally require an employer to sponsor the applicant through the Labor Certification Process
4. Employment-based category EB-2 National Interest Waiver does not require an employer to sponsor the applicant and is not subject to the Labor Certification Process
5. Applications for employment-based preference categories are based on the dates in the monthly Visa Bulletin: https://travel.state.gov/content/travel/en/legal/visa-law0/visa-bulletin.html
6. Applications for family-based preference categories are based on the dates in the monthly Visa Bulletin: https://travel.state.gov/content/travel/en/legal/visa-law0/visa-bulletin.html

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