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HOW TO OBTAIN Permanent Residence
This page explains how to obtain permanent residence in the United States. Lawful permanent residents are frequently referred to as green card holders.
Permanent residence enables a person to live and work in the United States for the rest of his life as long as he does not abandon his residence by staying outside the U.S. for too long a time or engage in conduct which renders him subject to deportation.
Most people obtain green cards by being sponsored by their relatives or by their employers. Other people obtain permanent residence through investments, the green card lottery or through asylum. This page contains dozens of articles and links explaining who qualifies and how the process works.
Persons who are residing in the U.S. may be eligible adjust their status to permanent residents without leaving the U.S. However, if they have ever violated their lawful immigration status, they may be eligible to adjust their status only if they are: (1) “Immediate Relatives” of a U.S. citizen; (2) Qualify under section 245(i) and pay an appropriate fine; (3) Qualify under section 245(k) if they are employment-based immigrants; or (4) Qualify under section 209 if they are asylees or refugees.
This page also describes the process of obtaining an immigrant visa abroad if a person is either residing in a foreign country, or does not wish to adjust status in the U.S. However, if you are ineligible to adjust status to permanent resident in the U.S, be sure to carefully read our section entitled “Unlawful Presence and the 3/10 Year and Permanent Bars” before you decide whether to attempt to obtain an immigrant visa abroad.
Scroll down this page to learn how you can qualify to receive a green card, or how you can sponsor an employee or a relative for permanent residence.
“Extremely happy with the service. Fees are very reasonable for the quality of service that they provide. Hired their services a few years ago after 2 lawyers told me my case was hopeless and advised me to go back to my country of origin. I got my greencard December 2011.” (More client reviews…)
How To Obtain a Green Card is divided into the following subtopics:
- Success Stories
- General Information
- Green Cards through Employment
- Green Cards through Family Members
- Asylum
- Diversity Visa Lottery
- Special Categories of Immigrants
- Section 245i
- Unlawful Presence and 3/10 Year and Permanent Bars
- Adjustment of Status
- 180-Day Portability Rule
- Consular Processing
- Child Status Protection Act
- Green Card Renewal/Replacement
SUCCESS STORIES
- Green Card for a Person of Extraordinary Ability (February 2010)
- My First Argument Before the 9th Circuit (June 2009)
- Erroneous I-140 Denial is Overturned (May 2009)
- Green Cards through Humanitarian Reinstatement (November 2008)
- 245(i) – Turning Denials into Approvals (September 2008)
- Establishing That a Job Offer is Permanent (June 2008)
- The Best Laid Plans Often Go Astray (October 2007)
- Immigrants Who Became Permanent Residents on July 1st (August 2007)
- Fixing a Poorly-Handled Immigration Case (for an Accountant) (November 2006)
- Rules of Engagement: Obtaining a Green Card for a Fiancee (the Hard Way) (October 2006)
- Saving a Scientist’s NIW from Revocation (September 2006)
- Upgrading Your Applications at DOL & CIS (July 2006)
- Overcoming Backlog Elimination “Centeritis” (May 2006)
- Brazilians Ride Skateboards to Wealth and Fame (January 2006)
- Demonstrating Extraordinary Ability (December 2005)
- Researcher and Systems Engineer: “What a Difference a Day Made” (October 2005)
- Professional Athlete – “Curveball: The Immigration Officer Who Knew Too Much” (May 2005)
- Employment-Based Immigration: Cancer Research Center (March 2005)
- Engineers and Nurses (November 2004)
- President Clinton Signs Bill on Behalf of Our Client Guy Taylor (November 2000)
- Artist Wins Right to Stay in U.S.
GENERAL INFORMATION
- Welcome to the U.S.: A Guide for New Immigrants (USCIS)
- How Do I Know What My Responsibilities Are? (USCIS)
- How Do I Change My Address With USCIS? (USCIS)
- How Do I Get a Reentry Permit? (USCIS)
- How the Survivors’ Law Works
- False Claims to Citizenship Memo 1998 (USCIS)
- Immigrant Visa Applicants Registered at the National Visa Center as of November 1, 2011
- USCIS To Issue Redesigned Green Card – Fact Sheet (May 11, 2010)
- USCIS To Issue Redesigned Green Card – Q & A (May 11, 2010)
- Annual report of Immigrant Visa Applicants in the Family-sponsored and Employment-based preferences registered at the National Visa Center (11-01-09)
- USCIS to Issue Employment Authorization and Advance Parole Card for Adjustment of Status Applicants
- U.S. Legal Permanent Residents: 2010 (DHS)
- Yearbook of Immigration Statistics: 2010 (DHS)
SPECIAL CATEGORIES OF IMMIGRANTS
- Allied Health Professionals
- Asylees and Refugees
- International Adoptions
- Investors
- Physicians
- Recent University Graduates
- Registered Nurses
