Permanent Legal Residency—Getting Your Green Card

Ways to obtain a United States green card based on status

[{"selector":"#anim-c58cf0fe-3f6d-48e0-81a7-4f4784602207","keyframes":{"opacity":[0,1]},"delay":0,"duration":600,"easing":"cubic-bezier(0.2, 0.6, 0.0, 1)","fill":"both"}] [{"selector":"#anim-95c0a2c9-bbbc-4967-a6bb-3b1374d393b3","keyframes":{"transform":["translate3d(0px, 134.68014%, 0)","translate3d(0px, 0px, 0)"]},"delay":0,"duration":600,"easing":"cubic-bezier(0.2, 0.6, 0.0, 1)","fill":"both"}] Cream Section Separator Cream Section Separator

You can obtain a “family-based” visa.

[{"selector":"#anim-e04f29e0-454c-40a0-81fa-a0af63a39e50","keyframes":{"opacity":[0,1]},"delay":0,"duration":600,"easing":"cubic-bezier(0.2, 0.6, 0.0, 1)","fill":"both"}] [{"selector":"#anim-b182df6e-9240-4f2a-a93a-4dee86a8548d","keyframes":{"transform":["translate3d(0px, 408.42304%, 0)","translate3d(0px, 0px, 0)"]},"delay":0,"duration":600,"easing":"cubic-bezier(0.2, 0.6, 0.0, 1)","fill":"both"}] [{"selector":"#anim-b6b596e9-35ad-4e58-813b-31b1fcc066b6","keyframes":{"opacity":[0,1]},"delay":0,"duration":600,"easing":"cubic-bezier(0.2, 0.6, 0.0, 1)","fill":"both"}] [{"selector":"#anim-56892866-d88a-4185-b6f7-ae2bbe95729e","keyframes":{"transform":["translate3d(0px, 446.82530%, 0)","translate3d(0px, 0px, 0)"]},"delay":0,"duration":600,"easing":"cubic-bezier(0.2, 0.6, 0.0, 1)","fill":"both"}] [{"selector":"#anim-b7f1e78b-42e7-44de-9176-43fb1006d530","keyframes":{"opacity":[0,1]},"delay":0,"duration":600,"easing":"cubic-bezier(0.2, 0.6, 0.0, 1)","fill":"both"}] [{"selector":"#anim-d705b490-f7f8-4fef-b48d-86897b749b44","keyframes":{"transform":["translate3d(0px, 249.60888%, 0)","translate3d(0px, 0px, 0)"]},"delay":0,"duration":600,"easing":"cubic-bezier(0.2, 0.6, 0.0, 1)","fill":"both"}]

Your employer can sponsor you for legal status.

[{"selector":"#anim-f3ef6715-df81-44fd-ae88-7992c175ffb8","keyframes":{"opacity":[0,1]},"delay":0,"duration":600,"easing":"cubic-bezier(0.2, 0.6, 0.0, 1)","fill":"both"}] [{"selector":"#anim-275e7ec6-f55c-4f6e-805c-eca416744baa","keyframes":{"transform":["translate3d(0px, 507.53960%, 0)","translate3d(0px, 0px, 0)"]},"delay":0,"duration":600,"easing":"cubic-bezier(0.2, 0.6, 0.0, 1)","fill":"both"}] [{"selector":"#anim-087eab30-e0ee-4d26-a6db-6dbec8b376cd","keyframes":{"opacity":[0,1]},"delay":0,"duration":600,"easing":"cubic-bezier(0.2, 0.6, 0.0, 1)","fill":"both"}] [{"selector":"#anim-aeded12b-5f8e-4357-96b1-bad4178fa591","keyframes":{"transform":["translate3d(0px, 463.26178%, 0)","translate3d(0px, 0px, 0)"]},"delay":0,"duration":600,"easing":"cubic-bezier(0.2, 0.6, 0.0, 1)","fill":"both"}] [{"selector":"#anim-d8ecf92d-2fd3-45ea-b3e9-4fded16e9c04","keyframes":{"opacity":[0,1]},"delay":0,"duration":600,"easing":"cubic-bezier(0.2, 0.6, 0.0, 1)","fill":"both"}] [{"selector":"#anim-210d23bb-7764-4dc8-b38b-821d95bd4afc","keyframes":{"transform":["translate3d(0px, 185.79058%, 0)","translate3d(0px, 0px, 0)"]},"delay":0,"duration":600,"easing":"cubic-bezier(0.2, 0.6, 0.0, 1)","fill":"both"}] Cream Section Separator Cream Section Separator

You can invest in a qualified commercial enterprise, entitling you to an “immigrant investor” visa.

[{"selector":"#anim-92d0cfdf-c955-481e-9819-e1cef82fc4f5","keyframes":{"opacity":[0,1]},"delay":0,"duration":600,"easing":"cubic-bezier(0.2, 0.6, 0.0, 1)","fill":"both"}] [{"selector":"#anim-34b7e4f7-0969-4f0b-bcc9-0a22f86b7eb2","keyframes":{"transform":["translate3d(0px, 498.61105%, 0)","translate3d(0px, 0px, 0)"]},"delay":0,"duration":600,"easing":"cubic-bezier(0.2, 0.6, 0.0, 1)","fill":"both"}] [{"selector":"#anim-0da80d20-94f4-42c6-a302-57e63ceae386","keyframes":{"opacity":[0,1]},"delay":0,"duration":600,"easing":"cubic-bezier(0.2, 0.6, 0.0, 1)","fill":"both"}] [{"selector":"#anim-59cb06ef-c844-4fd3-9d9d-0428ea3517d4","keyframes":{"transform":["translate3d(0px, 455.19728%, 0)","translate3d(0px, 0px, 0)"]},"delay":0,"duration":600,"easing":"cubic-bezier(0.2, 0.6, 0.0, 1)","fill":"both"}] [{"selector":"#anim-0aa74d28-1429-4ef4-acfe-98bb87892fa2","keyframes":{"opacity":[0,1]},"delay":0,"duration":600,"easing":"cubic-bezier(0.2, 0.6, 0.0, 1)","fill":"both"}] [{"selector":"#anim-5ae88683-2015-4e3c-826f-39544524353f","keyframes":{"transform":["translate3d(0px, 200.22223%, 0)","translate3d(0px, 0px, 0)"]},"delay":0,"duration":600,"easing":"cubic-bezier(0.2, 0.6, 0.0, 1)","fill":"both"}]

You can be granted asylum as a refugee.

[{"selector":"#anim-83596bbd-ecff-4d11-85e9-ca6d6e49abaf","keyframes":{"opacity":[0,1]},"delay":0,"duration":600,"easing":"cubic-bezier(0.2, 0.6, 0.0, 1)","fill":"both"}] [{"selector":"#anim-8aa169b0-5405-4809-b47c-bf8b4f43a79b","keyframes":{"transform":["translate3d(0px, 329.87250%, 0)","translate3d(0px, 0px, 0)"]},"delay":0,"duration":600,"easing":"cubic-bezier(0.2, 0.6, 0.0, 1)","fill":"both"}] [{"selector":"#anim-ce897327-88dc-4fa3-82f7-1578f195a19f","keyframes":{"opacity":[0,1]},"delay":0,"duration":600,"easing":"cubic-bezier(0.2, 0.6, 0.0, 1)","fill":"both"}] [{"selector":"#anim-3be8c030-deb7-4996-b51e-f3163b6053af","keyframes":{"transform":["translate3d(0px, 463.26178%, 0)","translate3d(0px, 0px, 0)"]},"delay":0,"duration":600,"easing":"cubic-bezier(0.2, 0.6, 0.0, 1)","fill":"both"}] [{"selector":"#anim-fc0ec8df-88fd-45ab-8ece-9ada43462737","keyframes":{"opacity":[0,1]},"delay":0,"duration":600,"easing":"cubic-bezier(0.2, 0.6, 0.0, 1)","fill":"both"}] [{"selector":"#anim-425f6c91-5c20-40c0-8f59-f80bfaebe85d","keyframes":{"transform":["translate3d(0px, 507.53960%, 0)","translate3d(0px, 0px, 0)"]},"delay":0,"duration":600,"easing":"cubic-bezier(0.2, 0.6, 0.0, 1)","fill":"both"}] Cream Section Separator Cream Section Separator

You qualify as a “special immigrant,” e.g., a religious worker or international broadcaster.

[{"selector":"#anim-191cee35-4c02-4138-b972-e6c75c39d31d","keyframes":{"opacity":[0,1]},"delay":0,"duration":600,"easing":"cubic-bezier(0.2, 0.6, 0.0, 1)","fill":"both"}] [{"selector":"#anim-5d798d99-244e-4017-a0bb-167e3888284f","keyframes":{"transform":["translate3d(0px, 192.86442%, 0)","translate3d(0px, 0px, 0)"]},"delay":0,"duration":600,"easing":"cubic-bezier(0.2, 0.6, 0.0, 1)","fill":"both"}] [{"selector":"#anim-58414ddd-3c4b-43b4-8c7e-91876c0863a6","keyframes":{"opacity":[0,1]},"delay":0,"duration":600,"easing":"cubic-bezier(0.2, 0.6, 0.0, 1)","fill":"both"}] [{"selector":"#anim-d296de84-9923-4696-89c0-4b5aa2df7e98","keyframes":{"transform":["translate3d(0px, 455.19728%, 0)","translate3d(0px, 0px, 0)"]},"delay":0,"duration":600,"easing":"cubic-bezier(0.2, 0.6, 0.0, 1)","fill":"both"}] [{"selector":"#anim-da8455fb-d113-440d-ad3f-123b795eaca9","keyframes":{"opacity":[0,1]},"delay":0,"duration":600,"easing":"cubic-bezier(0.2, 0.6, 0.0, 1)","fill":"both"}] [{"selector":"#anim-bf1a2eca-998e-4f33-a4be-638535845003","keyframes":{"transform":["translate3d(0px, 498.61105%, 0)","translate3d(0px, 0px, 0)"]},"delay":0,"duration":600,"easing":"cubic-bezier(0.2, 0.6, 0.0, 1)","fill":"both"}]

You have been a victim of human trafficking or certain other crimes.

[{"selector":"#anim-703090f4-e2d0-4a57-ae17-d7c0335df822","keyframes":{"opacity":[0,1]},"delay":0,"duration":600,"easing":"cubic-bezier(0.2, 0.6, 0.0, 1)","fill":"both"}] [{"selector":"#anim-de097aba-0777-4693-87c1-b70e77addc39","keyframes":{"transform":["translate3d(0px, 242.43642%, 0)","translate3d(0px, 0px, 0)"]},"delay":0,"duration":600,"easing":"cubic-bezier(0.2, 0.6, 0.0, 1)","fill":"both"}] [{"selector":"#anim-18c1789d-ca95-4ce9-9b10-f5d76ddfd710","keyframes":{"opacity":[0,1]},"delay":0,"duration":600,"easing":"cubic-bezier(0.2, 0.6, 0.0, 1)","fill":"both"}] [{"selector":"#anim-48d64082-d7ba-49e6-ac1e-464a8bc0ba78","keyframes":{"transform":["translate3d(0px, 463.26178%, 0)","translate3d(0px, 0px, 0)"]},"delay":0,"duration":600,"easing":"cubic-bezier(0.2, 0.6, 0.0, 1)","fill":"both"}] [{"selector":"#anim-8c6d70c9-28ac-4bf0-8b2d-098c7ceba2d7","keyframes":{"opacity":[0,1]},"delay":0,"duration":600,"easing":"cubic-bezier(0.2, 0.6, 0.0, 1)","fill":"both"}] [{"selector":"#anim-04811460-fcf7-4fce-9fdb-ee3156cb9182","keyframes":{"transform":["translate3d(0px, 507.53960%, 0)","translate3d(0px, 0px, 0)"]},"delay":0,"duration":600,"easing":"cubic-bezier(0.2, 0.6, 0.0, 1)","fill":"both"}] Cream Section Separator Cream Section Separator

You have been the victim of domestic violence or abuse in your native land.

[{"selector":"#anim-823874be-2eea-4f3a-b58a-fc305267838b","keyframes":{"opacity":[0,1]},"delay":0,"duration":600,"easing":"cubic-bezier(0.2, 0.6, 0.0, 1)","fill":"both"}] [{"selector":"#anim-79d67656-b67e-491e-ba75-427ce2b74e59","keyframes":{"transform":["translate3d(0px, 253.27979%, 0)","translate3d(0px, 0px, 0)"]},"delay":0,"duration":600,"easing":"cubic-bezier(0.2, 0.6, 0.0, 1)","fill":"both"}] [{"selector":"#anim-1f35d5b1-6956-4360-8b0f-2e4cc152d8b6","keyframes":{"opacity":[0,1]},"delay":0,"duration":600,"easing":"cubic-bezier(0.2, 0.6, 0.0, 1)","fill":"both"}] [{"selector":"#anim-40ebef4e-c095-4fb6-a7b2-faca81ae5ab3","keyframes":{"transform":["translate3d(0px, 455.19728%, 0)","translate3d(0px, 0px, 0)"]},"delay":0,"duration":600,"easing":"cubic-bezier(0.2, 0.6, 0.0, 1)","fill":"both"}] [{"selector":"#anim-bc18e4ae-47d3-4459-8e41-dbf7818ff9f7","keyframes":{"opacity":[0,1]},"delay":0,"duration":600,"easing":"cubic-bezier(0.2, 0.6, 0.0, 1)","fill":"both"}] [{"selector":"#anim-4b655bce-c338-450f-98bb-038584d73d90","keyframes":{"transform":["translate3d(0px, 498.61105%, 0)","translate3d(0px, 0px, 0)"]},"delay":0,"duration":600,"easing":"cubic-bezier(0.2, 0.6, 0.0, 1)","fill":"both"}]

Obtaining a green card through the Annual Lottery

[{"selector":"#anim-62004a54-444e-4c50-9561-886ac23f28ff","keyframes":{"opacity":[0,1]},"delay":0,"duration":600,"easing":"cubic-bezier(0.2, 0.6, 0.0, 1)","fill":"both"}] [{"selector":"#anim-8aaf563a-bf75-45ce-8603-b6dc1a87b2eb","keyframes":{"transform":["translate3d(0px, 200.22911%, 0)","translate3d(0px, 0px, 0)"]},"delay":0,"duration":600,"easing":"cubic-bezier(0.2, 0.6, 0.0, 1)","fill":"both"}] Cream Section Separator Cream Section Separator

The Diversity Immigrant Visa Program annually issues up to 50,000 green cards through random selection of qualified applicants.

[{"selector":"#anim-0001a469-36d7-4d90-bf83-6f7df490b66d","keyframes":{"opacity":[0,1]},"delay":0,"duration":600,"easing":"cubic-bezier(0.2, 0.6, 0.0, 1)","fill":"both"}] [{"selector":"#anim-3849cac9-fb78-4ae2-a9a9-56d8f0fcf842","keyframes":{"transform":["translate3d(0px, 150.94017%, 0)","translate3d(0px, 0px, 0)"]},"delay":0,"duration":600,"easing":"cubic-bezier(0.2, 0.6, 0.0, 1)","fill":"both"}] [{"selector":"#anim-bbd8ea18-5723-410e-87c1-b4f7d3062eb3","keyframes":{"opacity":[0,1]},"delay":0,"duration":600,"easing":"cubic-bezier(0.2, 0.6, 0.0, 1)","fill":"both"}] [{"selector":"#anim-9dfa09fc-1b94-4389-aadc-51120c047cd5","keyframes":{"transform":["translate3d(0px, 455.19728%, 0)","translate3d(0px, 0px, 0)"]},"delay":0,"duration":600,"easing":"cubic-bezier(0.2, 0.6, 0.0, 1)","fill":"both"}] [{"selector":"#anim-2af14b17-da87-495c-a365-59f3189d8a76","keyframes":{"opacity":[0,1]},"delay":0,"duration":600,"easing":"cubic-bezier(0.2, 0.6, 0.0, 1)","fill":"both"}] [{"selector":"#anim-86a7c5dc-d8b9-4eb7-930a-9f273201c0e4","keyframes":{"transform":["translate3d(0px, 498.61105%, 0)","translate3d(0px, 0px, 0)"]},"delay":0,"duration":600,"easing":"cubic-bezier(0.2, 0.6, 0.0, 1)","fill":"both"}]

The lottery program seeks to make more green cards available to people from countries with historically low immigration rates to America.

[{"selector":"#anim-f64987d4-815d-4bdf-b818-579e6077a7a0","keyframes":{"opacity":[0,1]},"delay":0,"duration":600,"easing":"cubic-bezier(0.2, 0.6, 0.0, 1)","fill":"both"}] [{"selector":"#anim-67bf5bec-c3bc-4d00-97c9-731dd04f0cc5","keyframes":{"transform":["translate3d(0px, 135.54176%, 0)","translate3d(0px, 0px, 0)"]},"delay":0,"duration":600,"easing":"cubic-bezier(0.2, 0.6, 0.0, 1)","fill":"both"}] [{"selector":"#anim-adbbdccc-8bfc-4e32-81eb-54c751a283c5","keyframes":{"opacity":[0,1]},"delay":0,"duration":600,"easing":"cubic-bezier(0.2, 0.6, 0.0, 1)","fill":"both"}] [{"selector":"#anim-c9eb8b32-44f0-41d0-a138-a16bd585a790","keyframes":{"transform":["translate3d(0px, 455.19728%, 0)","translate3d(0px, 0px, 0)"]},"delay":0,"duration":600,"easing":"cubic-bezier(0.2, 0.6, 0.0, 1)","fill":"both"}] [{"selector":"#anim-445f2bcc-7ba3-44ca-84a3-f31f2fbfa465","keyframes":{"opacity":[0,1]},"delay":0,"duration":600,"easing":"cubic-bezier(0.2, 0.6, 0.0, 1)","fill":"both"}] [{"selector":"#anim-c2c0fca2-c398-4260-a4ca-6e7ac017c5b5","keyframes":{"transform":["translate3d(0px, 470.37031%, 0)","translate3d(0px, 0px, 0)"]},"delay":0,"duration":600,"easing":"cubic-bezier(0.2, 0.6, 0.0, 1)","fill":"both"}] Cream Section Separator Cream Section Separator

If there is no surviving spouse, child or parent of the deceased, the entire estate will be divided equally among any surviving siblings

[{"selector":"#anim-eb620345-5d6a-4182-bc25-52e18c66eeb3","keyframes":{"opacity":[0,1]},"delay":0,"duration":600,"easing":"cubic-bezier(0.2, 0.6, 0.0, 1)","fill":"both"}] [{"selector":"#anim-00868e54-bebe-4cf9-ad0a-b69e7c7e2a65","keyframes":{"transform":["translate3d(0px, 958.15948%, 0)","translate3d(0px, 0px, 0)"]},"delay":0,"duration":600,"easing":"cubic-bezier(0.2, 0.6, 0.0, 1)","fill":"both"}] [{"selector":"#anim-c465e247-ac60-4f40-b549-cac47c619d73","keyframes":{"opacity":[0,1]},"delay":0,"duration":600,"easing":"cubic-bezier(0.2, 0.6, 0.0, 1)","fill":"both"}] [{"selector":"#anim-2d822973-0219-453a-a779-6a820af54b4b","keyframes":{"transform":["translate3d(0px, 304.23989%, 0)","translate3d(0px, 0px, 0)"]},"delay":0,"duration":600,"easing":"cubic-bezier(0.2, 0.6, 0.0, 1)","fill":"both"}] [{"selector":"#anim-823310d4-207f-4a38-81ae-5b24427688ea","keyframes":{"opacity":[0,1]},"delay":0,"duration":600,"easing":"cubic-bezier(0.2, 0.6, 0.0, 1)","fill":"both"}] [{"selector":"#anim-e63ab6f6-2d37-4d59-b04a-da609419de02","keyframes":{"transform":["translate3d(0px, 246.87705%, 0)","translate3d(0px, 0px, 0)"]},"delay":0,"duration":600,"easing":"cubic-bezier(0.2, 0.6, 0.0, 1)","fill":"both"}] [{"selector":"#anim-d27c3460-50e9-4b3d-9e60-401084587199","keyframes":{"opacity":[0,1]},"delay":0,"duration":600,"easing":"cubic-bezier(0.2, 0.6, 0.0, 1)","fill":"both"}] [{"selector":"#anim-5071b254-558e-4a9c-96fd-a56961560fa7","keyframes":{"transform":["translate3d(0px, 464.88872%, 0)","translate3d(0px, 0px, 0)"]},"delay":0,"duration":600,"easing":"cubic-bezier(0.2, 0.6, 0.0, 1)","fill":"both"}] Cream Section Separator Cream Section Separator Learn More