When you apply for a green card, also known as a permanent resident card, your legal permanent residency in the U.S. can be confirmed. Holding a green card allows individuals to live and work permanently in the United States and can lead to eventual eligibility for U.S. citizenship.
Steps to Apply for a Green Card
The process of applying for a green card varies from case to case, whether one is applying within the United States or outside, and which category the application falls under. However, here are the general steps one must follow to obtain a green card:
- Determine Eligibility. The first step involves deciding if you are eligible for a green card based on family relationships, employment, asylum or refugee status, and other special situations.
- File a Petition. After determining eligibility for a green card, you or your sponsor will need to file a petition with the United States Citizenship and Immigration Service (USCIS) that sponsors your green card application.
- Await for Approval. Upon its arrival at USCIS offices, your petition will be reviewed whereby they can choose to either approve or deny it. This can take months to accomplish.
- Attend Biometrics Appointment. An individual whose request has been approved will have their biometrics taken, such as fingerprints, photo among others during this session.
- Interview Attendance (if applicable). In some cases, you may be required by the USCIS officer to interview, in which they will discuss your eligibility and whatever reasons you submitted form I-485 to get the card.
- Wait for the Decision. After your biometric appointment and interview the USCIS officer makes up their mind that now they have completed all relevant investigations regarding your adjustment of status through marriage to reach a final decision. If everything goes well, expect delivery of your green card via mail soon after approval.
It is worth noting that applying for a green card can be very involved and may necessitate an experienced immigration attorney’s help to navigate through it all. Also, processing times vary depending on factors such as the workload of USCIS and changes in immigration policies.
Advantages of Hiring a Lawyer When Applying for a Green Card
- Evaluating Eligibility: A green card attorney can examine your case and decide if you qualify for a green card based on the circumstances.
- Selecting a Suitable Group: There are several categories under which one can apply for a green card, and a lawyer will help you make the right decision.
- Preparing and Applying: This involves helping you complete and submit the required application forms as well as supplementary information. Before handing over it to the relevant authority, they may also go through your form to ascertain its accuracy.
- Facilitating Communication with USCIS: Such professionals can speak on your behalf to the officials of this American agency, make clarifications for any aspects that might hinder the successful processing of your papers, and attend to any emerging issues or queries they might have.
- Representing Clients in Court: If an appeal is made due to rejection or some legal matters crop up within the green card application process, then an attorney shall be available at all times. For example, appealing after denial or hearing processes may require hiring a legal representative such as a lawyer.
- Ensuring Adherence to Immigration Laws: They will ensure that you abide by these regulations, including implications regarding criminal records or other matters that could disqualify one from acquiring citizenship documents, especially when seeking permanent residency in the USA.
By hiring an immigration lawyer, you can have peace of mind and increase your chances of getting a green card approved.
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Eligibility for Green Card
- Family-Based Green Cards: If one of your close family members is a citizen or permanent resident of the United States, they can sponsor your application for a green card. Spouses, children, parents, and siblings can qualify as eligible family members.
- Employment-Based Green Cards: If it is that you have a job offer in the US or have certain special skills or abilities, then you may be qualified for an employment-based green card. This category consists of individuals with advanced degrees. People with exceptional talents and those who will provide employment opportunities to US workers.
- Diversity Visa: The US government holds a lottery every year to award limited numbers of diversity visas which are only given to persons from countries with low rates of immigration to the country.
- Refugee or Asylee Status: After a year, if you have been granted refugee or asylum status in the U.S., you could be able to apply for a green card.
- Special Circumstances: Other factors under which one would be fit for a green card include being a battered woman syndrome victim, and being trafficked by human beings, among other crimes against humanity.
Note that there may be other requirements that must be met even though someone is eligible for a green card, such as passing a medical examination and having no criminal record. Besides this, some categories of green cards do have annual quotas, meaning that there may be a waiting period before making an application. Consultation with a competent immigration lawyer can help establish whether one is eligible and also facilitate the application process.
Filing Costs for a Green Card
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Form I-485 (Adjustment of Status): $1140
This charge is imposed on petitioners who are already in the US and plan to become lawful permanent residents.
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Form DS-260 (Immigrant Visa): $325
This charge is meant for those applicants who are not living in the United States but wish to apply for an immigrant visa from the American embassy or consulate.
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Form I-130 (Family-Based Green Card): $535
The applicant will have to pay this fee if they are seeking sponsorship from either a U.S. citizen or a green card holder who is a member of his family.
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Form I-140 (Employment-Based Green Card): $700-$1610
The amount that will have to be paid as the fee depends largely on the specific employment category since it ranges between 700 and 1610 USD.
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Diversity Visa Lottery: No Charge
You do not pay anything when you enter into the Diversity Visa Lottery, just that if selected, then you have to pay processing fees for your application.
It’s worth noting that these figures only relate to application fees; other costs, such as medical examinations or biometric charges, could also be applicable. Further, there might be other costs involved while renewing your existing green card or applying for travel documents. You can know about any kind of fees or expenses relating to green card applications by talking with a proficient immigration attorney.
Green Card Biometric Fees
Presently, the green card biometric fee stands at $85 per applicant. Application of this charge is for taking your fingerprints, photograph, and signature at a USCIS Application Support Center (ASC). Upon filing your green card application, you will be issued with a notice from USCIS that instructs you to appear at an ASC for your biometrics appointment. The biometric fee must be paid before your appointment. In case you submit Form I-485 (Adjustment of Status) alongside other forms, you will only be required to pay the biometric fee once. Note that the biometric fee is separate from the filing fees for the forms that you are submitting as part of your green card application. You should, therefore, factor in both filing and biometric fees when applying for a green card.
Key Terms for Applying for a Green Card
- Adjustment of Status: If you're already holding a temporary visa, you can make things more permanent by adjusting your immigration status to become a green card holder. It's like upgrading your visa game!
- Priority Date: Alright, so here's the deal. When it comes to getting a green card, your place in line is determined by your category and country of origin. That's what we call the priority date. The earlier the date, the better your chances.
- Petitioner: It talks about the person or entity that's got your back in this whole green card application process. They're called the petitioners, and they're the ones sponsoring your application. They're like your cheerleaders, rooting for you to get that green card.
- Preference Category: When it comes to green card applicants, we've got this classification system based on family relationships or employment. It's called the preference category. So, depending on your relationship or job, you fall into a specific category. It's like putting people in different boxes but in a good way.
Final Thoughts on Applying for a Green Card
Taking a green card is very significant for attaining a permanent residency in the United States. Although the application procedure may be complicated and time-consuming, one can successfully wade through it with adequate preparation and meticulous attention to detail. You need to know what the current filing fees are as well as what’s needed, plus think of finding an experienced immigration lawyer who will navigate you through. Once obtained, green cards allow their holders to live and work in America for good, thus giving them almost equal rights and privileges as citizens of that country.
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