How To Obtain A Green Card

For many immigrants living in the United States, one of your dreams is to likely one day have some form of residency status. While citizenship is an obtainable dream for some, by and large, the simpler way is to obtain a green card. When you have a green card unlike citizenship, it is still possible to be deported but the risk is much lower than not having one. You have nearly every right of an American citizen with the exceptions of not being able to vote in an election, protection from deportation, or to receive government benefits. But after you have had your green card for five years you can apply for citizenship.

Your Green Card Options

There a lot of ways to get a green card in America. The first and simplest way is to go through the process with a White Plains immigration lawyer. They are familiar with the process and can take you through step by step.

The next two ways are also easier but not something you should try on your own. If you have a family member, who is a citizen or a permanent resident they can sponsor your green card application. They must prove that you are related and that they can support you by being over the poverty line by 125%.

Another way is to have the company that you work for being a sponsor for you. This process works well for foreign nationals with no family in the country. Those who have exceptional abilities typically go through the process much quicker. “Exceptional abilities” applies to doctors, artists, professors, and those who have executive status at multinational companies.

As of November 2019, if you are an entrepreneur with at least $900,000 to invest in a U.S. business that will create jobs, you could be eligible to receive a green card.

The last two ways to get a green card, are far more difficult. The government offers a green card Lottery” where 50,000 people are granted a green card randomly. This program’s purpose is to serve people from underrepresented countries that wish to become citizens that are less likely to have someone to sponsor them. The Trump administration has made promises to end the program, but as of now, it will run for 2020. The requirements for the visa program are simple and strict, and anyone who submits more than one application will automatically be disqualified. The program is completely free and you can sign up here. The lottery for 2020 opens on October 3, 2019 and closes on November 6, 2019.

The requirements for the lottery include:

• Applying from an eligible country. Current countries that are not eligible include, Bangladesh, Brazil, Canada, China, Colombia, Dominican Republic, El Salvador, Haiti, India, Jamaica, Mexico, Nigeria, Pakistan, Peru, Philippines, South Korea, United Kingdom (except Northern Ireland), and Vietnam
• A high school diploma or two years of work experience

The final way is to seek refuge in the USA. These green card applications are for those who are already granted asylum. This is also the case for those who can prove that if they are deported it would cause severe hardship to a U.S. citizen or another permanent resident.

What Can Prevent You From Getting A Green Card

There are many factors that could prevent you from getting a green card in the United States. A criminal background or posing a threat to the country’s security or economy are obvious reasons. But covering up anything on your application, have certain sicknesses, overstaying a visa and not having enough proof of income to live in the US are all reasons that you can be denied a visa. As you apply it is absolutely crucial to take all of this into consideration. 

Not sending in required documents or fixing application errors on time can also lead to a denial. The green card process is a plethora of paperwork and its very easy to make mistakes and miss things. While your safest route is going through the process with an attorney, if you are going through it alone, it is essential that you keep track of everything the immigration office sends back to you and make sure that you’re getting the correct documents back to them in a timely manner. 

Getting Help

Any way you look at it, it can be difficult to obtain a green card in the USA. If you are considering trying to become a permanent resident, your best option is always to consult a green card attorney. The Henner Law Group works day and night in all matters of immigration. Her office speaks several languages so that it is approachable to all who are seeking help with the immigration process. We’ve helped many people obtain green cards and citizenship and would love to have the opportunity to help you do the same. At Henner Law, we understand that this can be a stressful process and want you to know that we will be behind you every step of the way to get you the results you want.