Even with all the strangeness of the last few years, the United States is still considered a highly desirable destination for immigrants from around the world. We’ve discussed green card eligibility on this legal blog in the past. But with so many changes and updates, it is beneficial to periodically review the basics of immigration of green cards.

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A United States Green Card – so named because of the color of the document – is officially titled a Lawful Permanent Resident Card. The Green Card Form I-551 gives the holder certain rights, including the right to live and work in the United States without restriction. The United States Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS) designates Green Card recipients as Lawful Permanent Residents (LPRs) of the United States.

  • No individual state can rescind this federal status.
  • An LPR may live, work and study in the United States.
  • An LPR can travel in and out of the country without restrictions
  • An LPR can apply for full, official U.S. citizenship within three to five years of obtaining their Green Card.

Understanding the Application Process

There are several ways to become eligible for a United States Green Card. You may be able to obtain a green card if you:

  • Have a relative(s) in the United States
  • Have specific skills desired by a United States-based employer
  • Win through the Green Card Lottery

The Green Card Lottery is also known as the Diversity Visa Program.

  • Congress mandated the program.
  • The program permits up to 55,000 immigrants per year from historically under-represented countries.
  • Congress created the program to diversify the inflow of immigrants to the U.S.
  • An eligible applicant for the Green Card Lottery must have at least a high school education equivalency and two years of work experience.
  • The process and paperwork are complex and can be challenging to navigate. Those wishing to enter the lottery should seek the advice of an experienced immigration attorney.

Nuclear families with at least one U.S. citizen can utilize Green Cards to facilitate family reunifications. A spouse, single child under the age of 21, or parent of a U.S. citizen is considered an Immediate Relative and may merit Green Card eligibility within three to eighteen months. Immediate relatives of LPRs may experience various processing times. The process can take place as quickly as within months but can also take ten or fifteen years.

Workplace Green Card Eligibility

You may be eligible for a Green Card depending on several workplace scenarios, including:

  • Extraordinary ability (EB-1A)
  • Sought after professors and researchers, managers, and executives (EB-1B)
  • Advanced degree, exceptional ability (EB-2)
  • Skilled professionals and other workers (EB-3)
  • Religious workers (EB-4)
  • Investors (EB-5) An investor in a U.S. company will be expedited through the process and will be required to invest at least $900,000 in an underserved market. (or a $1.8 million investment in other categories.)

The immigration process has always been complicated, but laws and regulations are changing rapidly. To best ensure green card eligibility, call an experienced immigration attorney. Probinsky & Cole has offices throughout Florida – Sarasota, Brandon, and Orlando – and have the skill and knowledge you need to navigate the immigration process.

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