Educational program for an immigrant: all types of green cards and conditions for obtaining them

To apply for a green card, an immigrant must meet the requirements of one of the eight categories listed on the official website US Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS).

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U.S. Immigration Law allows eight categories of individuals to apply for permanent resident status (green cards). Let's tell you more about each of them.

Family ties with a U.S. citizen or lawful permanent resident

In this category, people from the following groups are eligible to apply for a green card.

Next of kin:

• spouse of a US citizen;
• unmarried child of a US citizen under the age of 21;
• parent of a US citizen over the age of 21.

Another relative by category family preferences:

• unmarried son or daughter of a U.S. citizen (21 years of age or older);
• a married son or daughter of a U.S. citizen;
• brother or sister of a U.S. citizen who is 21 years of age or older.
• the spouse of a lawful permanent resident;
• unmarried child of a lawful permanent resident under the age of 21;
• an unmarried son or daughter of a lawful permanent resident who is 21 years of age or older.

Other "family" categories:

• groom bride) a US citizen or child of the groom (bride) who entered the country on a K-1 visa;
• widow (widower) a US citizen who was married to him at the time of his spouse's death;
• victim of abuse by a spouse or ex-spouse, parents or children who are citizens or permanent residents of the United States.

On the subject: Which of the relatives can be transported to the US by a green card holder

Green Card through US Employment

Immigrant workers the first type of preference:

• are of outstanding ability in science, art, education, business or sports;
• distinguished professors or researchers;
• multinational managers or executives meeting certain criteria.

Immigrant workers of the second type of preference:

• representatives of a profession requiring an academic degree;
• persons of exceptional ability in science, art or business.

Immigrant workers of the third type of preference:

• qualified workers (work requires a minimum of 2 years of training or experience);
• professionals (work requires at least a bachelor's degree in the United States or a foreign equivalent);
• unskilled worker (unskilled work requiring less than 2 years of training or experience).

Immigrant Investor:

• an individual who has invested or is actively investing at least $ 1 million (or $ 500 in targeted employment) in a new business venture in the United States and will create full-time positions for at least 000 qualified employees.

On the subject: US authorities will restrict the issuance of work permits for some immigrants

Green cards for immigrants with special status

• member of a religious denominationcoming to the United States to work for a nonprofit religious organization;
• minorwho needs court protection due to the fact that a parent abused or left him unattended;
• international broadcasters: Persons who come to work in the United States as media representatives of the United States Global Media Agency (USAGM) or USAGM grant recipients;
• employee of an international organization or his family members, a NATO employee or his family members.

Green Card through Refugee or Asylum Seeker Status

Approved person asylum applicationlike a person meeting the definition refugeemust have lived in the United States for at least one year after approval of asylum or refugee status before applying for a green card.

Victims of human trafficking and crime

Green card applicants in this category are − Persons with a nonimmigrant T visawhich is provided to victims of trafficking who have participated in the investigation and prosecution of traffickers, or those who would be subjected to extreme hardship if deported to their home countries. This category also covers U nonimmigrant visa holdersissued to victims of physical or mental violence.

Victims of violence and abuse

Category covers VAWA Self-Petitioners - victims of beatings or extreme cruelty. These are the spouses of a US citizen or legal permanent resident, children A U.S. citizen or lawful permanent resident (single and under 21 years of age), abused, injured parent of a U.S. citizen.

Abused spouses or children of the indigenous population of Cuba or Haiti, who are subject to the requirements of the Cuban Emigration Regulation Act and the Haitian Immigrant Justice Act, are also eligible for a green card.

You may be interested in: top New York news, stories of our immigrants and helpful tips about life in the Big Apple - read it all on ForumDaily New York

Other categories of green card applicants

This category includes persons subject to the laws for the protection of immigrants from Liberia, Cuba, Haiti, Vietnam, Cambodia, Laos, American Indians born in Canada, persons born in the United States to foreign diplomatsand also the winners of the visa lottery Electronic Diversity Visa Lottery (green card lottery).

Green card through registration

The concept of "Registration" in US immigration law allows the issuance of green cards to foreigners who have been physically in the United States since January 1, 1972 without interruption, even if they do not have legal immigration status in the United States.

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