Permanent Resident Visas

Permanent Residence as evidenced by the "green card" entitles an alien to many benefits, including the right to live and work in the United States, and the right to travel to and from the United States indefinitely.  If you derive your Permanent Resident Status through marriage to a U.S. Citizen, you must wait three (3) years before applying for U.S. Citizenship.  For any other derived status, the wait is five (5) years to apply.  For any additional questions, please call us to schedule a free consultation.

Avenues towards permanent residence include:

1. Family-based petitions
You must show that you have a qualifying family relative, i.e., a U.S. citizen or a Legal Permanent Resident.  This includes marriage to a U.S. spouse.  The waiting times for a Family-based petition by a Legal Permanent Resident/"Green Card Holder" are significantly longer than for a U.S. Citizen.  Please consult the "Visa Waiting Time Bulletin" on our main Immigration page.

2. Employment Based Petition
You must show that you have skills and qualify to fill a job, and an employer is willing to sponsor you.

3. Investor Traders
Entrepreneurs who are interested in investing $500,000 to $1,000,000.

4. Political Asylum Applicants
You have been the victim of past persecution in your country or you cannot return for fear of future persecution.

5. Immigrant Lottery
You are selected as a winner of the annual diversity lottery held each October.

6. Registry
You lived in the U.S. continually since 1972.

7. You are a national of Cuba or Nicaragua.

This information is not intended to serve as a substitute for consultation with an attorney. Specific legal issues, concerns and conditions always require the advice of appropriate legal professionals.