Fortunately, there are multiple ways to get a green card for immigrants in the United States!
No one can accuse the US immigration system of being too simplistic. No matter how you come to the US in the first place, a green card is your key to permanent residency.
The good news is that there are a few ways to go about it. If you’re ready to become a permanent resident of the US, here are the most common ways to get a green card:
Ways to Get a Green Card in the US
The first step toward getting a green card is finding out the best path for you. Here are your top options:
Family Sponsorship
If you have a family member who is a US citizen or who has a US green card, they can sponsor you. Your relationship to that person will affect your “preference category,” or how high you are on the waiting list for a green card. If you have multiple relatives in the US, ask the one with the closest relation to you to be your sponsor.
Employment Sponsorship
If you’re already in the US and you have a job and a legal work visa, your employer can be another sponsor for your green card.
As with family sponsorships, employment sponsorships have preference categories. However, these categories are based on your job’s difficulty and educational requirements. In other words, the fewer people there are who could do your job, the faster you’ll get your green card.
This doesn’t just relate to the position itself but to your own reputation as well. For instance, let’s look at two heart surgeons who want green cards. One has international publications and is a leader in the field. The other is a good surgeon but isn’t particularly prominent. While they have the same job, the first surgeon would get a green card before the second one.
The Diversity Visa Lottery Program
The US has a “lottery” system in which foreign nationals can apply for a fast-tracked green card. There are a certain number of green cards available each year in this program. The US government selects the recipients at random.
We use the term “random” loosely. The purpose of the program is to enhance the diversity of countries represented in the US. For that reason, the program prioritizes people from countries with smaller numbers of US permanent residents. The fewer fellow statesmen you have in the US, the better your chances of winning.
Despite rumors, the US has not canceled the diversity lottery program. However, keep in mind that the term “lottery” is quite accurate because only a small number of applicants win.
Becoming a US Permanent Resident
The path to becoming a US permanent resident is often long and challenging. That includes all the ways to get a green card above. However, reaching that goal is one step of the process.
Whether you’re already in the country or you’re trying to immigrate to the US, it’s never too early to start improving your American pronunciation skills. For more help in that arena, check out our online US pronunciation courses and our individualized courses.
