How do I get a USA green card?
In the United States, a residency permit allows the holder to live and work legally as an American citizen does. This authorization is called a “green card”, or in its real name, the green card. By obtaining this document, there’s no need to apply forESTA or go through the time-consuming and costly visa formalities. In this article, we explain the usefulness and procedures for obtaining (or earning) your green card USA.
Green Card USA or green cardWhat is it for?
All kinds of travel to the USA require an entry sesame. Whether you’re traveling to the U.S. for business (ESTA), doing an internship or studying at an American university (visa), you can never enter the U.S. without some kind of official document.
However, if you wish to expatriate to the U.S. for an indefinite period, there is only one document that allows you to do so: the green card.
A visa and an ESTA are unable to give you permission to stay in the United States indefinitely. An ESTA authorizes you to stay on American soil for a maximum of 90 days, while a visa can authorize you to
Visit green cardThe green card, also known as the “resident card”, is issued by the United States Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS), part of the Department of Homeland Security. The green card gives you the same rights and duties as an American citizen, apart from the right to vote and serve on juries. It also gives non-American citizens the right to work or study, to obtain university scholarships more easily and to benefit from much lower tuition fees.
You’re probably wondering why this card isn’t as popular as the ESTA or visa? Quite simply because it’s the most difficult expatriation visa to obtain.
In fact, the resident card is issued according to certain selection criteria (which we’ll see later), as it can lead to American naturalization for the holder of a green card have resided in the United States for more than 5 years.
There are two types of immigrant visas These include a visa valid for 10 years (green card) and a visa valid for 2 years (conditional green card). If the holder fails to comply with the conditions laid down when obtaining their residence permit, they may lose their status.
How to obtain a green card ?
As mentioned above, the green card USA is not available to everyone, and the conditions for obtaining one may vary according to the applicant’s profile (for family reasons, for professional reasons, for refugee status or by lottery).
Application for family reunification
An American citizen over the age of 21 (majority) can apply for a USA green card for a close family member (spouse, parents, brothers and sisters, etc.) so that they too can live on American soil.
Marriage: the green card conditional
U.S. authorities will be very careful when it comes to applying for a residency card for your spouse. Homeland Security is fighting to prevent sham marriages. For this reason, the authorities prefer to issue a temporary green card for the first two years of marriage, after which the spouse can receive a permanent residency card valid for 10 years.
The application procedure :
- with the help of your U.S. sponsor, complete Form I-130 (Immigrant Petition for Alien Relative) and gather all the required documents;
- send the application to USCIS, together with payment of the registration fee (420USD).
Request for professional reasons
This application is reserved for workers who are experts in their field and meet the criteria required by the American government. Your employer can help you apply for a green card, by assisting you with the formalities and paying the application fee ($165).
Application procedure :
- the employer completes Form I-140 (Immigration Petition for Alien Worker) and assembles all the required documents;
- The application must be sent to USCIS, together with payment of the registration fee (580USD).
If your application is accepted, the NVC (National Visa Center) will tell you how to apply for an immigration visa.
The diversity visa lottery
Probably the most surprising “game” in the U.S. in terms of obtaining an immigration visa, but also the easiest way to win a green card USA. Every year, the green card lottery allows 50,000 applicants to win a permanent key to the USA. This lottery was set up to ensure a diversity of nationalities in the country, so certain nations (UK, Canada or Mexico) cannot participate.
Some profiles are not eligible for the lottery. To participate in the lottery, you must :
- be born in one of the countries concerned;
- minimum school education (high school diploma or at least 2 years’ experience in the last 5 years).
You can find the registration form on the official U.S. government website.
Request for refugee status
Asylum-seekers can apply for a green card in the United States if they have been residing in the country for at least 1 year.
Important information for the owner
Once you’ve obtained your permanent resident document, you’ll need to renew it every 10 years, and make sure you always carry it with you, along with an identity document (passport), in case of an identity check.
The permanent resident card has many advantages, but also a few disadvantages. You will be required to pay U.S. taxes (federal, state and local) and declare capital gains.
Please note: young men between the ages of 18 and 26 with a green card USA must register for military service.
Finally, if you’re interested in the American dream, we advise you to find out more about non-immigrant visas. Applying for a visa is much simpler than obtaining a green card. It can help you fulfill your dream of working in the U.S., studying at an American university or doing an internship in New York. To live in the USA on a visa, you need to go through the American embassy (or consulate) in your country.
