Green Card - The Facts

The United States of America, known as the land of opportunities, is seen by many foreign nationals as a promising country that could better offer them the good life. Each year, a myriad of foreigners visit the US with the hope to get a shot of the American dream. Most often than not, these people merely want to escape the struggles they have experienced in their less developed nations. Whether they enter the country for working reasons, education opportunities or tourist privileges, there is only one thing they all yearn to attain----and that is to get a green card.

There are, in fact, various immigrant visas given to foreigners depending on their current status. Among all the available visas, the Permanent Resident Card, also called the Green Card, is the most favorable and the most essential. A Permanent Resident Card refers to a US identity card that provides a national of another country the privilege to live and work in America.

A Permanent Resident Card holder is permitted to experience all the privileges of a US citizen, with the exception of the right to vote and the right to submit an application for federal jobs. In addition, a Permanent Resident Card guarantees a faster and easier conversion into American citizenship. It is commonly given to people who are permanent resident aliens and who desires to finally become an American citizen. When a green card holder reaches 5 years without any known legal setbacks, he is then qualified to apply for naturalization or citizenship.

There are 2 main methods for you to be considered qualified for a green card. Primarily, your employer in America must agree to sponsor you. Once you are already sponsored, you may then apply for a Permanent Resident Card. This method is a much quicker course for applicants who particularly have specialized job skills or who attained more education. Conversely, applicants with less education or with common job skills may have to wait on for an extensive period of time before their Permanent Resident Card application is evaluated and accepted.

On the other hand, you may become qualified for a green card through your immediate family. In this event, if one of your parents is a US citizen, then you are automatically and immediately entitled for a visa. Also, if you have a family member, like a parent, sibling or child who is a US citizen, then you may also apply for a Permanent Resident Card.

There are also other ways for you to become eligible for a green card lottery. One method is through marriage to a US citizen who is currently residing in America. Once you got hold of your Permanent Resident Card through this process, you can then apply for a permanent residency. However, the regulations in charge of this procedure are awfully firm. In this event, you and your American citizen spouse must prove that your relationship is legitimate.

Other than the abovementioned techniques of acquiring a green card, there are particular situations that can permit you, in case you do not meet the cited criteria, to get hold of a Permanent Resident Card in a suitable way. These special circumstances comprise the following:

Specialized Skills – If you possess specialized skills and are an expert of your discipline, you are eligible for a Permanent Resident Card. There is even a chance that you are exempted from the labor certification process.

Researchers – If you are an internationally renowned academic researcher, then there are special circumstances for you to get a green card in replacement of contributing your knowledge and information.

National Interest Wavier – If you hold proficient skills to be of help to America’s national interest, then you can be given a Permanent Resident Card even without an employer sponsorship.

Labor – If you have a special skill that is greatly needed in America, then you can receive a green card in replacement for you eagerness to execute the job and skill established at a particular job in a particular area assigned to you.

Asylum – You can use this special circumstance if you are in the US and do not want to return to your native country because of the possibility of persecution, which can be caused by your religion, political views or race.