Permanent Resident Card also referred to as the Green
card in the United States is one of the most desired immigration statuses
globally. To many a budding immigrant, it is much more than a legal document to
millions of aspiring immigrants. It is a sign of permanence, a long term
prospect and the hope of having a future in the United States and one day
becoming a U.S citizen.
The U.S. citizenship and immigration services (USCIS),
under the department of homeland security, issue a Green Card which enables one
to live and work in the U.S. permanently to continue education, to obtain
social protections and to enjoy most of the rights of the citizens of the U.S.,
except the right to vote in federal elections. Nevertheless, the way to one is
complicated, competitive and highly controlled with annual restrictions and
country based quotas defining those who can proceed each year.
How
it works?
The United States unlike other countries like Canada
or Australia does not prefer a points-based immigration system to the majority
of Green Card types. Applicants are not graded based on age education, language
capacity or work experience by a number. Rather, it qualifies by category based
qualifications, petition approvals and availability of immigrant visas.
An important concept in the system is the priority
date which is the date of filing of an immigrant petition. There are quotas and
country-based restrictions, which result in the lengthy waiting list of
applicants annually. The U.S Department of state also releases a monthly Visa
Bulletin, which decides who can proceed with their move depending on their
category and date of priority.
Who
is eligible to be a U.S. green card holder?
The applicants should be under one of the numerous
broad classes of immigration that the U.S. legislation considers.
1.
Family-Based
Green Cards
The family sponsorship remains one of the most popular
and sure ways of obtaining permanent citizenship.
a)
Immediate
Family of U.S. Citizens
This group entails partners of other individuals who
are married, unmarried and children who are below the age of 21 and parents of
the U.S. citizens. Green Cards to close relatives are not limited to any
specific annual numerical amount, so this is the quickest way of obtaining the
card to eligible applicants
b)
Categories
of Family Preference
They refer to adult children and siblings of the U.S
citizens, spouses and unmarried children of the Green Card holders. These
categories unlike the immediate relatives, are heavily capped on an annual
basis and may lead to wait times of several years to decades, particularly with
applicants of high-demand countries.
2.
Employment
Based Green Cards
Immigration through employment enables skilled workers
and professionals to establish their permanent settlement in the U.S. Around
140,000 job-based Green Cards are allotted every year in five preference
categories:
a)
EB-1
(Priority Workers)
To those persons that are exceptionally gifted in
areas like science, arts, education, business or sports, or distinguished
professors, researchers and multinational executives or managers
b)
EB-2
(Advanced Degree or Exceptional Ability)
In the case of professionals with superior degrees or
outstanding talent. Other applicants can be given a National Interest Waiver
(NIW), where they can be able to apply without sponsorship of the employer in
case their employment is in the national interest of the U.S.
c)
EB-3
(Skilled Workers, Professionals and others works)
This group contains skilled workers who have completed
a two-year training program, professionals who have received a bachelor degree
and some unskilled workers in designated approved occupations.
d)
EB-4
(Special Immigrants)
The religious workers, some of the international
organization employees or other special classifications that are determined by
law are included.
e)
EB-5
(Immigrant Investors)
Developed to attract foreign investors to invest USD
800,000 to USD 1,050,000 in a U.S. business to generate at least 10 full-time
workers to the U.S. workers.
3.
Diversity
Visa (DV) Lottery
The Diversity Visa Lottery also known as the Green
Card Lottery gives up to 55,000 Green Cards annually to citizenship applicants
of countries that have all along had low rates of immigration to the U.S.
Selection is done randomly among the qualified entries and is not based on any
points or merit system. Nepal is mostly qualified, and this is a favorite choice
among applicants to Nepal.
4.
Special Green Card Other Categories
· Refugees
and Asylees, who are eligible to utilize a Green Card of a year of lawful
occupancy.
· Special
Immigrant Juveniles are children who usually cannot reunite with their parents
because of abuse and negligence.
· Adults
and children who were abused or trafficked into the US, or are holders of U and
T visas.
· Registry
applicants are those who have resided in the U.S. since a legally defined
historical date.
A
Competitive and yet Life-Changing Process
Although the Green Card procedure does not eliminate several avenues, it is very competitive, tedious and legally intensive. Limited visa quotas per year, backlog requirements depending on the country of origin and rigorous documentation demands require ensuring that careful planning is undertaken. Nonetheless, the Green Card still symbolizes hope, security and future with the opportunity because to millions of people around the world this remains a strong reminder of why the status has remained one of the most desirable immigration statuses in the global arena.
Official
U.S. Government Sources
U.S. Citizenship and Immigration
Services (USCIS): https://www.uscis.gov/green-card
U.S. Department of State – Bureau
of Consular Affairs:
https://travel.state.gov
Monthly Visa Bulletin (U.S.
Department of State): https://travel.state.gov/content/travel/en/legal/visa-law0/visa-bulletin.html
This
article relies on the existing U.S immigration policies as of 2025
