Green Card

The green card (as known as permanent resident) gives the foreign national a right to live and work in the United States. Permanent residency can be obtained in a number of ways:

Lottery
A Diversity Program mandated by the United States allocates 50, 000 visas per year to nationals from countries with low rates immigration to the United States. The applicants must meet specific requirements including specific skills/work experience. Click here on more Lottery Visa Program

Employment based
The Immigration and Nationality Act makes 140,000 employment-based immigration visas available every year. The employment based visas are divided into the following 5 categories:

• Employment-Based, First Preference (EB1) – Priority Workers. This category is reserved for:
          - Foreign nationals who have demonstrated outstanding ability in the field of science, arts, education,           business or athletics.
          - Outstanding Professors and Researchers
          - Executives and Manage

• Employment-Based, Second Preference (EB2) - Professionals Holding Advanced Degrees, or Persons of Exceptional Ability
• Employment-Based, Third Preference (EB3) - Skilled Workers, Professionals Holding Baccalaureate Degrees.
• Employment-based, Fourth Preference (EB4) – Special Immigrants.
• Employment-based, Fifth Preference (EB5) - Employment Creation Investors.

Family based
Family based immigration is divided into the following categories:

• Immediate Relatives of a US Citizen. This includes Spouses, widower and unmarried children (under 21 years of age) of a US citizen and parent of a US Citizen who is 21 or older.
• Returning Residents. Immigrants who had previously lived in the United States as lawful permanent residents and are returning to live in the United States after living abroad for more than one year.

• First Preference. Unmarried children (and their children) of a US citizen. There is a yearly limit of 23, 400 visas for this category.
• Second Preference. Spouses, minor children, and unmarried sons and daughters (over age 20) of lawful permanent residents. There is a yearly quota of 114, 200 for this category.
• Third Preference. Married sons and daughters of U.S. citizens, and their spouses and children. There is a yearly limit of 23,400 visas for this category.
• Fourth Preference. Brothers and sisters of a Citizens of United States, and their spouses and children, provided the U.S. citizens are at least 21 years of age. There is a yearly quota of 65,000 visas reserved for this category.