Unlocking the American Dream: Your Guide to Obtaining a Green Card in 2023

Types Of Green Card

There are five basic types of Green Cards that help you select the one that suits your case. But before applying for any of these types make sure to discuss your case with the professional team of immigration consultants. Following are the types of the Green Card:

• Family sponsored Green Card: This type of green card allows the US citizens and green card holders to sponsor their blood relatives including partner, children, parents and siblings.
• Employment based green cards: This type of green card allows individuals with certain skill set and jobs offers to get the green card and citizenship in the United States of America.
• Refugee or asylum status: This is the green card allotted to the refugees or the asylums in the United States of America but to apply for this category you should have strong grounds and meet the requirements criteria strictly.
• Diversity visa program: This program is also called green card lottery. This type of Green Card allots a limited number of visas every year to the individuals from the countries that have low rates of immigration to the United States of America.
• Special programs: this program offers the allowance of green cards in certain situations. These programs comprises of the programs that help the individual willing to apply for the US citizenship. It includes Violence Against Women Act or Victims of Trafficking and Violence Protection Act.

Eligibility Criteria

To be able to apply for green card you must be illegible by meeting the certain requirement criteria under the respective category you are applying for. The requirements of the Green Card applications include:

• Your relationship with a green card holder or the citizen living in the United States of America.
• Meeting the requirements of diversity visa program.
• Meeting the requirements of refugee status.
• Meeting the specific criteria for a special programs.
• Having the employment, qualification and job offer from a known company in the United States of America

The Process Of Application

The application process comprises of the steps that should be carefully catered. These steps include the following:

• File The Petition: The sponsoring American citizen or organization must submit a petition on your behalf to the U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS), depending on your category.
• Wait For The Approval: You must wait for the petition to be processed and approved by USCIS once you have submitted it.
• Priority Date: Depending on when your petition was filed, you can be given a priority date in some categories. When you can submit a Green Card application depends on this date.
• Apply For Visa: You must apply for an immigrant visa at a U.S. consulate or embassy if you are currently outside of the country of the United States.
• Adjustment of Status: If you’re already in the nation, you might be able to apply for a Green Card without leaving by going through the adjustment of status procedure.
• Attend the biometrics appointment: it entails taking photographs and fingerprints for background checks.
• Attend an Interview: In order to verify the information you supplied in your application, USCIS may need you to attend an interview.
• You will be informed of USCIS’s decision about your Green Card application.

Cost Of Green Card Application

The usual filing fee for a green card application varies depending on how long you expect to remain. Residents of the United States of America must pay $1,760 for an application, while those who live outside must pay $1,200. The filing fee does not include any additional costs. The price of the lawyers also varies according to the specifics of your case.

Processing Time For A Green Card

The length of time it takes to obtain a green card changes frequently. Depending on the circumstances, it can take up to a year or less. You must first get an immigrant visa before submitting an application for a green card. The timing of your green card issuance will also depend on your availability in the US. To be physically available in the US, you would need to petition for adjustment of status, which takes a year or more. However, due to consular processes, the absence in the US may take a few more months.

Navigating The Whole Process

Getting the green card in the USA is dream of many individuals, but the journey towards this dream can be overwhelming and difficult. Understanding all the possible ways that are legal is vital to start the journey. You should understand this pathways, eligibility criteria, procedure and the deadlines before you initiate the process. Regardless of what program you choose for a green card application, you will have to go through several steps. They demand careful attention and following the deadlines. From completing application forms to collecting the supporting documentation and undergoing the interviews process can be time taking and overwhelming, but with the right direction you can definitely achieve a green card.

Seek Expert Guidance

It is recommended to seek guidance from the expert immigration attorney in your town to start the process of Green Card application as obtaining a green card has become difficult in 2023 than ever. So, without the right guidance you can mess your case up leading to the rejection of the visa.