RESEARCH
Employment-based Green Card
DO YOU QUALIFY?
Employment-Based Green Card
U.S. immigration law provides aliens with a variety of ways to become lawful permanent residents (Green Card) through employment in the United States. These employment-based (EB) “preference immigrant” categories include:
First preference (EB-1) – priority workers
Aliens with extraordinary ability in the sciences, arts, education, business, or athletics; Outstanding professors and researchers; or Certain multinational managers and executives.
Second preference (EB-2) – aliens who are members of the professions holding advanced degrees or who have exceptional ability (including requests for national interest waivers).
Third preference (EB-3) – skilled workers, professionals, or other workers.
Family-based Green Card
DO YOU QUALIFY?
Green Card through Family
You may be eligible to apply if you are the…
Immediate relative of a U.S. citizen:
You may be eligible to apply if you are the…
Immediate relative of a U.S. citizen:
- Spouse of a U.S. citizen
- Unmarried child under the age of 21 of a U.S. citizen
- Parent of a U.S. citizen who is at least 21 years old
Other relative of a U.S. citizen or relative of a lawful permanent resident under the family-based preference categories: Family member of a U.S. citizen, meaning you are the:
Fiancé(e) of a U.S. citizen or the fiancé(e)’s child (K-1 VISA):
Widow(er) of a U.S. citizen:
- Unmarried son or daughter of a U.S. citizen and you are 21 years old or older;
- Married son or daughter of a U.S. citizen;
- Brother or sister of a U.S. citizen who is at least 21 years old;
- Family member of a lawful permanent resident, meaning you are the: Spouse of a lawful permanent resident, Unmarried child under the age of 21 of a lawful permanent resident, Unmarried son or daughter of a lawful permanent resident 21 years old or older
Fiancé(e) of a U.S. citizen or the fiancé(e)’s child (K-1 VISA):
- Person admitted to the U.S. as a fiancé(e) of a U.S. citizen (K-1 nonimmigrant)
- Person admitted to the U.S. as the child of a fiancé(e) of a U.S. citizen (K-2 nonimmigrant)
Widow(er) of a U.S. citizen:
Widow or widower of a U.S. citizen and you were married to your U.S. citizen spouse at the time your spouse died
Other Categories:
VAWA self-petitioner– victim of battery or extreme cruelty
Abused spouse of a U.S. citizen or lawful permanent resident
Abused child (unmarried and under 21 years old) of a U.S. citizen or lawful permanent resident
Abused parent of a U.S. citizen
Other Categories:
VAWA self-petitioner– victim of battery or extreme cruelty
Abused spouse of a U.S. citizen or lawful permanent resident
Abused child (unmarried and under 21 years old) of a U.S. citizen or lawful permanent resident
Abused parent of a U.S. citizen
Citizenship
DO YOU QUALIFY?
General Eligibility Requirements
To be eligible for naturalization based on being a lawful permanent resident for at least five years, you must:
Be at least 18 years old when you submit Form N-400, Application for Naturalization;
Show you have been a lawfully admitted permanent resident of the United States for at least five years;
Demonstrate continuous residence in the United States for at least five years immediately before the date you file Form N-400;
Show you have been physically present in the United States for at least 30 months out of the five years immediately before the date you file Form N-400;
Show you have lived for at least three months in a state or USCIS district having jurisdiction over your place of residence. (If you are a student and are financially dependent on your parents, you may apply for naturalization where you go to school or where your family lives.);
Show that you are a person of good moral character and have been a person of good moral character for at least five years immediately before the date you file Form N-400;
Demonstrate an attachment to the principles and ideals of the U.S. Constitution;
Be able to read, write and speak basic English;
Have knowledge and understanding of the fundamentals of the history, and of the principles and form of government, of the United States, (civics); and
Take an Oath of Allegiance to the United States.
Do you know you what is required to be a Joint Sponsor?
Joint Sponsor information
The joint sponsor must:
Be a U.S. citizen, lawful permanent resident, or U.S. national who is at least 18 years of age, have income of at least 125% of the federal poverty guidelines; and be domiciled in the United States, or its territories or possessions.
