What you Need to Know to Get a Green Card
You will need to know if you are eligible before you learn how to get a green card. A 'green card' is the common term used for the United States Permanent Residence Card. In order to apply for a job and work legally in the United States all foreign born individuals must possess a valid green card.
Eligibility: Not all people qualify for a green card. If you have been offered a job in the United States, have relatives who are American Citizens or permanent residents your application will be considered a higher priority. You can check to see if you are eligible by visiting the United States Citizenship and Immigration Services website. Be sure to check each section that may apply to your particular situation. There are many ways to acquire a green card.
Exemptions: Individuals who are highly skilled or educated in a particular field such as medicine or science are more likely to receive a green card faster. Doctors, researchers and people with specific technological skills will be placed at the top of the list for green cards.
Lottery: In order to provide a fair and balanced method of distributing green cards the USCIS developed an annual green card lottery. Permanent residence applications from one year are collected and a limited number are drawn. These individuals are then contacted and instructed on how to complete their application and what the fees incurred will be.
Visa: Before anyone can begin an application for a green card the proper visa documents must be in hand. The visa must be valid so keep an eye on the expiration date. Occasionally the number of visas are limited so check with the State Department to find out which ones are.
Application: Anyone who has not filled out an application for permanent residence will not be considered. Applications may be found at the United States Diversity Visa Program on the U.S. State Departments website. There are many types of applications so be sure to look closely before choosing.
It can be easy to become confused when trying to understand how to get a green card. Take your time, do some research, and if need be call the various departments. They are there to assist you.
