5 Ways to Get a Green Card
Starting a new life in the USA is what many of us dream about, some of us have achieved and others are trying everything they can to get there. Now, why do you need a green card and why couldn’t you just get a visa to live your dream? Visas are just a temporary solution and come with strings attached, although some can be extended under certain circumstances. You’ll always be dependent on government rules and most likely the company that sponsored you. A green card is a permanent resident card allowing you to live and work in this great nation for as long as you want. You’re also free to choose the kind of (self) employment that suits you best.
Here are the 5 most common ways to get a green card.
Sponsorship by Family
If you have close family members who are US citizens, they can sponsor you for a green card. And yes, you guessed it – becoming a close family member through marriage is probably one of the fastest ways to get a green card, however approval is not guaranteed or automatic. You would still have to formally apply for it.
Green Card Lottery
Every year, the United States are giving away over 50,000 green cards worldwide. It is called the Diversity Immigrant Visa Program (DV Lottery). There are only a few countries that are not eligible to participate and that’s because these countries already sent more than 50,000 immigrants to the US within the last 5 years. Best of all, this lottery is F-R-E-E of charge! So, if you’re serious about it, give it a shot. Here’s the link to the official site. There will be a specific time frame when you will have to enter the lottery, so setup your reminders.
Sponsorship by Employer
Many green card holders that I know got the green card through their employer. Your employer will have to proof that you are valuable to the company and that they couldn’t find an American that could do your job. Documentation will have to be provided that they actively tried to find people and held job interviews. Also somebody has to pay all the filing and legal fees, so if your employer isn’t willing to pay for it you could maybe offer to pay parts of it as an incentive. I’m sure it’ll open up some opportunities for both parties. Win-win!
Invest a Million Bucks
You don’t have a million of spare change? Well here’s a half off deal: immigration laws in states with a high unemployment rate only require an investment of $500,000 in a commercial enterprise. You’ll then get a temporary green card and have to be invested for a minimum of 2 years. During that time your investment needs to create at least 10 permanent full-time jobs.
Asylum and Refugees
Foreign nationals who believe they are going to be prosecuted in their home country on account of their race, religion, nationality, membership in particular social groups or political opinion, if they return to their country, can apply for asylum in the US. If granted, they’ll receive a green card.
There are a few more ways to get a green card (being a diplomat, getting adopted, having resided in US since 1972), but the 5 above are the most common ones.
How to Get a Green Card is a great handbook that helps you understand all the requirements for getting a green card before starting your application.
Do you know about any other ways to get a green card that is not mentioned above? Please comment below.
Hello! I m from congo temporaly residing in south africa
Due to potical opinion and then here its
Realy difficult for me to get a refuger status
Reason why I need some help from you
ALAIN MARC KALENGAYI
Alain, unfortunately I’m not an attorney and can’t give you any legal advice.
My site is merely to give ideas and help to get people better adjusted to their new life in the U.S.
I hope you’ll find a way to fulfill your dream. Here’s a link to give you some more information about the Refugee process:
http://1.usa.gov/9ut1UP
Thanks for your response, I really appreciate you.
I could not think of any other way to get a green card.
I will wait till October this year as rightly said by you if there will be any luck. And if there is any way you could assist I will appreciate it much.
Thanks
Good luck, Adebowale! I’m glad I could help.
I have one question, If i win that green card, does my wife obtain one too ?
Yes, your wife will get one too, because she’ll be married to a greencard holder.
I have two B.Sc. degrees (Mathematics (GPA 3.95/4.00), Molecular Biotechnology (GPA 3.98/4.00)) and I am about to get an M.Sc. in Mathematics (GPA 4.00/4.00) from a German university. I will enter a PhD program here this or next year and expect to graduate within two years. I am 24 years old and an Austrian citizen. What are my best options to obtain a Green Card?
Hi Alex,
unfortunately I can only give you my best guess and not legal advice, since I’m no immigration expert. Based on your skill set I would say that you could potentially find an employer here in the U.S., that is willing to sponsor you for a greencard, or at least a work visa. Check out the following page for eligibility information:
http://www.uscis.gov/green-card/green-card-processes-and-procedures/green-card-eligibility
Hope that helps a little.
Good day Dan,
I am Mohammed. I’m 22 years old. I’m from Saudi Arabia. I really love America and I want to live and work in the States. I am DYING to be in America. I don’t know what’s the best way to immigrate. I am studying Petroleum Engineering. I will graduate in 2016. I’m thinking about taking my master’s degree in America then apply for a job there. Is it possible that I can find a job in America immediately after graduation? or it’s better that I finish my master’s then apply for a job? I don’t know what’s better. Could you please help me? Thank you.
Hi Mohammed,
Studying petroleum engineering sounds very interesting and I wish you best of luck to fulfill your dream of moving to the US. Is being a few months abroad part of your study? If so, try to get to the US to gather some first experience. If not, don’t worry. Just keep searching the job boards and/or reach out to potential employers and ask about internship programs. Maybe you’re lucky and there is an opening.
In the meantime, save up enough money so that you can pay for your flights and living expenses for the first little while in the US. No matter if you’re studying there or doing an internship, you will have to support yourself.
Good luck!
Thanks Dan for responding. I will try to find internships for non-American students outside America, but I don’t know where to start. I think that my only opportunity is to complete my master’s degree in America, then search for a job. Another thought I have is to start my career in Saudi Arabia then try to find a job in America. The problem with the second option is that I can’t wait to leave this country and go to America. I can’t live here. What are your thoughts about this? Thank you again.
I think the more experience you have the more valuable you are for American employers. Maybe you find an employer in the U.S. sooner. If not, don’t worry. Just keep doing what you’re doing in Saudi Arabia, gain more experience and keep never take your eyes off your goal. Also keep studying potential job descriptions and if there are requirements that you cannot yet fulfill, keep working on them and expand your skill set. Also, keep trying out for the greencard lottery. If you’re lucky you’ll win and then it’s a totally different situation.
hi man hope you doing good man i have a lot of friends in USA but they are little old what do i do to get in a USA i am a developer &
animator.
Hey Frank,
Please check out this post:
http://liveworktravelusa.com/how-to-immigrate-to-the-usa-without-a-green-card/
Maybe this will give you some ideas on how to finally get to the US.
Good luck!
Hey Dan,
My mum was born in the USA but only lived there for a couple of months, she currently has a British passport and an American passport, she has also got US citizenship but she lives here in the UK, that being said would I be able to get a green card with my mum being an American citizen or not because she lives here?
Cheers
Kirsty
Hi Kirsty,
Congrats, because if your Mum is a US citizen, it will be pretty easy for you to get the greencard, since she is family.
Dan
Hey Dan,
Even if she lives here and not in America.
Kirsty
This should not matter. When you think about people who win the greencard lottery and don’t even live in the US, they don’t have a US residence either.
Regardless, you probably should ask an immigration specialist to make sure you submit everything the US immigration service needs from you, because I don’t know all the ins and outs about this process.
Good luck! 🙂
That is true, and that’s great thanks for your help and your advice 🙂
hi dan am from somalia and i finish my college am staying in south africa for bad life and i would like to get a green card my question is when is going to start for a green card for this year 2014 by wish u the best
It’s going to be later this year around October/November. Follow me on Facebook because I usually give everybody a heads up when the US government opens up the new greencard form.
Hi, my name is eric and I’m from Nigeria. I want to file for asylum due to the numerous acts of terrorism going on in my country. I’ve been in the US for 8 months now and I arrived legally on an F1 status. I would like to know what would happen if I fall out of immigration status after I submit the asylee form and If I would be deported because I am no longer in status. Also if I am denied but I remain in status with my F1 visa, does the denial affect me in anyway? Thank you.
Hi Dan,
Political situation gets worse in my country and that’s why I applied very quickly for master degree in France and US(I believe it’s the fastest way to obtain visa and get out of here). I want to apply for asylum in US.
I got admission from an accredited university in France and also one university in US. I want to go to France for one year master and then going to US and applying for asylum. I have a question and highly appreciate if you can kindly help me. Is studying in France has negative impact on applying for asylum in US? Is it better to go to US in a first place or there is no difference?
Many thanks in advance
Monica, I really don’t know the ins and out on how the U.S. goverment decides about giving somebody asylum or not. Personally, I don’t think it matters if you were studying in France before applying for asylum in the U.S.
Fact is that you are afraid to go back or stay in your home country.
Good luck!
Hi Dan, good day. Fortunately I discovered this site. I found that giving your valuable suggestion you are doing very good for people. I am a graduate nurse and I am a MPH degree holder. I am looking for a good chance. Hope you will give me a valuable advice about working opportunity in the USA.
Regards
Mohammed Belal Uddin
Assistant Professor of Research
North East Nursing Colege
Dist. Syhet
Bangladesh
Mohammed, since I am not a job agency or immigration lawyer, the only advice I can give you is to search the American job boards for companies that A) hire people with your profession and B) would have a benefit of you being bilingual. There are millions of people looking for jobs, that are already in the country, so it’s very tough to find an employer who would pay for a visa and bring somebody in from abroad.
Good luck!
hi Dan,
I don’t know what to do. I’m kind of lost and looked around a lot. any information or ides, or suggestions with be greatly appreciated. I have a boyfriend lives in Agadir, Morocco (20) and I live in California USA (18). we known each other for 4 years but stated dating. we have never met, but Skype and text all the time. I really want to met him and he wants to meet me to, and live together. is there a fast ways to get him here? or just here to stay with me?
— thank you
Hi Jessica,
Personally, I would start out with him visiting you on a tourist visa, just to finally meet him in person and get to know each other better. You’re still very young, so I’m not sure if marriage should be an option yet. It would for sure be the easiest way for him to immigrate, but that is a life decision that only you can make. The other option is what I usually recommend others who dream of working in the U.S.: Polish your skill set, write a great resume and start finding an employer who would be willing to sponsor you (in that case your boyfriend) for a work visa. Maybe an internship would be a good way for A) be together and B) gain valuable work and life experience in the U.S.
Sometimes this is the first step in finding a visa sponsor.
Good luck!
Hi there, I just wanted some clarification regarding the green card lottery, if I win the lottery and my wife and I decide to come to the USA. What are the chances of getting good employment there. How long does it take and what are the usual procedures involved. We are both 23 years of age and have post graduate diploma level education in Economics/Accounting and Management/Accounting. It seems quite risky to enter a new country without any place to stay or employment. What’s the usual procedure for the winners of the green card lottery.
Hi Rizwan, I would never recommend to just move to the US and just take it from there. I like to play it safe and do as much as I can in advance to ensure a seamless transition to living in a new country. I would for example reach out to potential employers first to make sure one of you has a job when you move. Without a job you won’t last long in the US, unless you have rich parents. The greencard alone doesn’t do you any good, it is just a permission to legally stay and work in the US.
Hi Dan! I have some questions. If, my parents will play greencard and they are declare our names too. Could we play Greencard again in this year ? me and my brother apart from theirs ?I’m 21 years old. Brother is 20. I want to say , is it possible? each one person in our family will play green card and will declare each other? Or it’s forbidden? Thank you. that’s all!
Hi Akmal, I assume you mean the Greencard Lottery with “play greencard”. Every person in your household can participate in the Greencard Lottery, if they are at least 21 years old. For example my wife and I both took a chance, because only one of us has to win it. Since we’re married the greencard winner would sponsor the spouse.
On your case your parents would sponsor you and vice versa, depending who wins, if you win. Good luck. The next Greencard Lottery won’t open until October 2015 though.
Dan, thank you very much for your detailed information. You are great person!
hi i want to study and work in usa but i dont know how to do? can you give some information please.
Please read this article:
http://liveworktravelusa.com/how-to-immigrate-to-the-usa-without-a-green-card/
I want to go to america i am from afghanistan i am afraid here some teririst thraten me what i do i will study there and job alsa help me said to all world help me i am afriad
hey,Dan I live here in the usa . Im in love with a man from a different country. Im 29 . i met him here visiting at 27. i feel in love with him and we been keeping in touch.we want to marry .. what do i do . what do i need. its killing me
Hi i’m Beau drom The Netherlands and i’m A welder of i Search for welding job in Houdton TX than i think by my self is it easy for my to get a green card because there are many offers for welders!
I hope that it easiers is because I want to life in Houston TX and I love the American culture and life style
I am not American citizen .I am outside of US, My son is three years old born in US and hold US passport how he can give me green card or to his mother or brothers.
Your son will have to be at least 21 until he can get a greencard for immediate family members. It’s the same for me. I’m German and my daughter (6 yrs) is born in the U.S. I’ll have to wait until she’s 21 to get a greencard through her.
I would truly appreciate your response.
hi dan, am a Nigerian schooling in Republic of Benin, am in my final year graduating this year, I am thinking of doing my masters degree in USA and I want to live permanently there, what kind of visa will I apply for and how do I get my work permit? Thanks
Hey there. I’m currently working as a Primary (Elementary) School teacher here in Melbourne as a Sub, and also work down on the docks occasionally. I have degree and a couple diplomas, do you think I’d be in with a reasonable shot of getting a Green Card for the US? I’m not sure where to work or if I should even look for the same type of work there.
J.
If I want to buy a house and live,How to get green card .
hey I am a Welder from Nepal Can I get a job in USA?/
2 questions – I am currently completing my Bachelor of Science in Holistic Medicine – is this a job that will get me in to the U.S ? ( I am Currently living in Canada)
second question – if my grandmother was a US citizen ( she passed away some years ago) would that in any way make me eligible to get a Green Card?
hi, recently i came with my family to US,and i have two sons who are minors and are going to US government school, is there any hope for me and my children for future greencard,according to you any other idea to apply for green card, and how long it takes.
thankyou
hi dan, can someone that already have tourist visa of USA can apply for this green card?