Guide Through The Easiest Ways To Becoming A Green Card Holder In The United States

Introduction

Along with a green card comes some significant privileges. This include being a permanent resident in the United States. As of early 2024, at least 35 million applications for a green card have been filed in. While there are many methods through which one can get their green card, some of them are truly easier in comparison.

When people refer to the easiest ways to get a green card, meaning being a permanent resident in the US, what they usually want to know is:

• What method of applying for a green card is the fastest?
• What type of green card has the easiest eligibility?

There are no right answers for these questions, and of course, the time needed to get a green card varies with your case. This is why it is super important to consult an immigration lawyer in Midland, TX to assess your unique circumstances.

There are many ways one can get a green card, but some of them take less time compared to others. If your main purpose is living permanently in the US, then here is a rundown of the fastest ways to do so.

The meaning of a green card

The US green card, also called a permanent resident card, gives people from other countries the right to live there permanently. These cards are given out by the US government and let people who have them live, work, and travel around the country without any problems. They also give them access to some government and state benefits. Learn more about the nature of the US green card by connecting with an immigration lawyer in Midland, TX.

The perks of a green card

A green card comes with a bunch of perks, like:

1. Legal residency.

The main perk of having a green card is that it lets you live and work in the US.

1. Legal protection.

Just like US citizens, people with green cards are covered by US law, which includes both national and state laws.

1. Education perks.

The US is where you will find seven of the top ten universities in the world. Green card holders can get into these top schools and might even get grants, scholarships, and government loans. Find out more about how international students can make the most of their visas by talking with an immigration lawyer in Midland, TX.

1. More freedom to travel.

Having a green card means you can travel back and forth in the US freely, but you will need to follow some rules and requirements to keep your permanent residency. Discover more about these rules and requirements from an immigration lawyer in Midland, TX.

1. A step towards US citizenship.

Getting a green card is usually the first step towards becoming a US citizen. Green card holders can apply for citizenship through naturalization as long as they meet certain residency requirements. This opens up a whole new world of rights and benefits that come with being a citizen.

Common ways to the US green card status

1. Through family ties.

To get a green card through this method, a person from another country needs a family member who is at least 21 years old and either a US citizen or a permanent resident. A lot of times, people get married to do this, but the marriage has to be real and not just for the sake of moving to the US. It is all about what the person’s true intentions are.

Looking more broadly at this method of moving to the US, there are two main types of visas for family members:

Immediate Relatives – These visas are for close family members like a spouse, child, or parent of a US citizen. There is no limit to how many people can get these visas each year, and the process is pretty quick, usually taking about a year. You can quickly run through this process with an immigration lawyer in Midland, TX by your side.

Family Preference – These visas are for more distant family members like siblings or cousins and for certain relationships with permanent residents. There is a limit to how many people can get these visas each year, and the process can take a lot longer, sometimes even years or decades.

1. Through work/investment.

There are five main types of people who can get a green card by working in the US. Usually, if you get a job offer in the US, you might be able to get a green card through work.

There are five different ways to get a green card if you work. The best spots go to really talented people, especially if they have a lot of education. Like with the preference family green cards, there is only a limited number available, so it can take a while to get one.

• EB-1: For the best of the best.

This group is for people who are super talented in arts, sciences, or business, and also includes some of the best professors and researchers.

• EB-2: The masters or the exceptionally skilled.

This group is for people with advanced degrees or the equivalent of a master’s degree and others who are really good at science, arts, or business.

• EB-3: The skilled professionals and the others.

Skilled workers in jobs that need at least two years of training or experience that is hard to find in the US, professionals with a US college degree or a foreign degree that is the same, and people who don’t have special skills are in this group.

• EB-4: The special immigrants.

This group includes certain religious workers, people who work in broadcasting or translating from Afghanistan and Iraq, employees of international organizations, and some family members of special immigrants.

• EB-5: The business investor visa.

Another way to get a green card is by investing in a US business that creates jobs. You need to invest between $900K and $1.8 million in a US business to qualify.

An immigration lawyer in Midland, TX can help you go through the processes of each of these options.

1. Another work-related option to a green card status.

You can either get an H1-B to work and then move on to a green card by going through the labor certification process. Alternatively, you can attempt to get an EB-2 green card if you meet the criteria, such as being in a special field, having outstanding skills, or being a top fashion model.

Provided your employer is willing to sponsor, you will obtain a green card. This is a complex track to take because it involves a lottery, and only so many slots are available each year; however, if you are working for a college, a non-profit affiliated with a college, a government research group, or an employer that fits into one of the other three categories, you are exempt from the cap of available slots. However, H1-B, being the way to a green card, is considered the toughest due to the intricacy of the process. The process can be as simple as possible with the help of an immigration lawyer in Midland, TX.

The good thing about an EB-2 green card application is the fact that this application need not be with a job offer. One just needs to show that one has an advanced degree or special skills that meet at least some of the national interest waiver criteria.

These include that your work is essential and of use to the US, you are the right person to undertake the job, and that it will be in the best interest of the US in skipping the normal procedure that includes a job offering, which is normally referred to as labour certification. Again, nurses and physiotherapists employed in the said field may be exempted from labor certification.

1. Through job transfer.

Imagine Toyota sends its top staff member from Tokyo to the US to run its New York office. This is a prime example of when someone moves between companies and can get a green card. The company’s unit you are moving to must be in the US, and they must plan to make you a boss or someone with a high-level job.

The company unit you are moving to has to have been doing business in the US for at least a year as a legal business with a connection to the company you are moving to, which is hiring you as a boss or someone with a high-level job. You don’t need a special work permit for this, so it is a really good way to get a green card. Get to know more about this option by speaking with an immigration lawyer in Midland, TX.

1. Through diversity visa lottery.

Every year, the green vard lottery makes available some estimated 50,000 permanent resident cards to those countries that do not send many people to the US. Actually, it is called the Diversity Immigrant Visa Program, under which 50,000 permanent residency cards are distributed annually among individuals from those low-immigration countries.

Starting in 1990, there was an aim at creating some diversity in the kinds of arrivals into the US. The minimum qualification would be a high school diploma or a two-year job experience requiring at least two years of training or experience. You must also comply with other requirements such as not having any criminal record. You can then apply for a green card, which lets you live and work in the US forever, only if you win the lottery.

It is an ultra-competitive lottery; only a few people get selected through it. And to those whom it selects, well, maybe it changes everything. Of course, if you happen to be from one of those countries that may apply, then you should definitely try out your luck. Applications remain open for about a month per year, during which time randomly selected winners are picked. Also, remember that no charge is levied for entering the lottery.

Get help!

Obtaining a green card in the US is not as easy as it seems. However, some avenues are less arduous, or that can trim down waiting times. Discuss all the means of getting a green card, the obstacles that could be encountered, with our team of experienced immigration lawyers in Midland, TX at Gehi and Associates.

We will let you in on all the relevant details to get a US green card status. This include making you aware of some other lesser-known options that may apply to your case. Connect with us right away!