US Green Card Process

Before one of the millions of non-citizens seeking to become naturalized in the United States can achieve their goal, they must receive approval to become a lawful permanent resident. A green card, a residency approval permit, shows that a foreign-born person is a legal resident who possesses some citizenship rights while waiting to apply for citizenship after a trial period.

Green card holders have the ability to retain their non-U.S. citizenship from their birth country or country of origin, receive protection from most causes of deportation, sponsor other residency and citizenship applicants and live in their country of origin for less than a year and return with ease. They can also work in U.S. federal and state jobs that require a security clearance, and even request social security benefits.

The U.S. green card process involves several steps.

Check Eligibility

Some immigrants and others hoping to permanently move to the United States don’t qualify for a green card. Before beginning the process, a potential applicant should check their eligibility on the U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS) Green Card Eligibility Categories page. Typically, asylees and refugees, foreign diplomats, children of a foreign diplomat, diversity visa lottery recipients, high-ranking foreign officials, Native Americans born in Canada, relatives of current citizens, victims of crimes such as abuse and trafficking, and workers from specific industries can apply.

Find a Legal Sponsor

The potential applicant must obtain sponsorship from a citizen or other legal green card holder and file an application and petition. On the USCIS website an applicant can find additional information and links to the appropriate forms. Sponsor petitions vary based on the situation. For example, an asylee or refugee would use Form I-730, Refugee/Asylee Relative Petition.

Submit an Application

The way a green card applicant makes their request depends entirely on where they live and their current application status. If they already possess an approved immigrant petition and related visa, then they need to file an adjustment of status with form I-485. If they’re not approved, they might need to file the application with the sponsor petition.

When living in their country of origin, they must follow the steps for Consular Process to apply for an immigrant visa through the local U.S. consulate. In either scenario, the applicant must provide USCIS officials with their fingerprints, current photos and signature and answer questions during an interview.

Important Considerations

Applicants living outside of the U.S. must pay a separate processing fee and also wait nearly three months for green card approval. Within the U.S., an applicant must keep a current address on file through a USCIS account and check for a tracking number from the United States Postal Service. If they don’t receive their green card because of negligence, the USCIS might issue penalties, such as requiring them to repay applicable fees and even go through the entire process again.

As long as the permanent resident performs all legal duties required of them after obtainment of the green card, such as following local, state and federal laws and paying their taxes, they can apply to become a U.S. citizen with voting and other citizen-only rights within three to five years of the start of their green card trial period. While using the card, they can volunteer their time and money toward political efforts, such as canvassing neighborhoods for specific politicians or to promote voting, speaking to the public about their political beliefs in various forums, and supporting political campaigns.