PERMANENT RESIDENT - "GREEN CARD" INFORMATION

EMPLOYER SPONSORED IMMIGRATION

Each year a limited number of foreign nationals are granted Permanent Resident status (Green Cards) through employment based preference categories. If you have the right combination of skills, education and/or work experience and are otherwise eligible, you may be able to live permanently in the United States. Due to the limitations on the number of employment-based immigrant visas issued there may not be a visa immediately available in the category in which you are sponsored. You can check the current availability on the monthly visa bulletin at www.travel.state.gov. Additionally, the US Department of Labor (DOL) must first verify that there are insufficient available, qualified and willing US workers to fill the position being offered, and employers must obtain an approved Labor Certification (PERM) prior to petitioning for Immigrant status for employees.

FAMILY SPONSORED IMMIGRATION

Green Cards for Family of US Citizens
A US citizen may petition for certain family members to receive a green card, a fiancée visa, or a K-3/K-4 Visa based on your relationship.

Green Card for Immediate Relative of US Citizen
Eligible immediate relatives include the U.S. citizen’s:

• Spouse

• Unmarried child under the age of 21

• Parent (if the U.S. citizen is over the age of 21)

Immediate relatives have special immigration priority and do not have to wait in line for a visa number to become available for them to immigrate to the US or, if present in the US, adjust from temporary to permanent status. There are an unlimited number of visas for immediate relatives of US Citizens.

Green Card for Other Family Members of US Citizens
If the family member of the U.S. citizen is not an immediate relative, then the U.S. citizen may still be able to sponsor that relative based on the “family preference category.” Eligible relatives include the following preference categories:

Unmarried sons or daughters over the age of 21
Married child(ren) of any age
Brothers and sisters (if the U.S. citizen petitioner is over the age of 21)

Congress has limited the number of relatives who may immigrate to the US, or if present in the US, adjust from temporary to permanent status. The visa limitations are based the above-mentioned categories each year, so there is usually a waiting period before an immigrant visa number becomes available.

Green Cards for Family of Green Card Holders
As a Permanent Resident (Green Card Holder), you may petition for certain family members to immigrate to the US, or if present in the US, adjust from temporary to permanent status.

You May Petition for the Following Family Members:

Spouse (husband or wife)
Unmarried children under 21
Unmarried son or daughter of any age

Preference Categories
When petitioning for your relative, the following preference categories apply:

First preference: Unmarried, adult sons and daughters of U.S. citizens. (Adult means 21 or older)
Second Preference (2A): Spouses of Green Card Holders or unmarried children (under 21) of Permanent Residents
Second Preference (2B): Unmarried adult sons and daughters of Permanent Residents
Third Preference: Married sons and daughters (any age) of U.S. citizens
Fourth Preference: Brothers and sisters of adult U.S. citizens