Note to the immigrant: all types of green cards and the grounds for receiving them
'29.06.2021'
Lyudmila Balabay
US President Joe Biden canceled the decree its predecessor for the issuance of immigrant visas and green cards. Therefore, it's time to think about obtaining permanent resident status if you have been planning it for a long time. To apply for permanent legal residence in the United States, non-citizens must meet one of eight categories. Each of them has different qualifications, writes Miami Herald.
In most cases, applicants require a sponsor, relative or employer. But they, among other things, can apply for a green card for significant cash investments or try their luck in the visa lottery, which is run by the US Department of State.
The US Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS) on its website leads 8 Person Categories, each of which is divided according to different possibilities. US Immigration Law allows them to apply for permanent resident status. Let's take a look at the requirements for each category.
Family Relations with US Citizens and Permanent Residents
There are several channels for obtaining a green card based on family relationships:
- immediate family members, such as spouse, minor children, parents of a US citizen aged 21 years or older;
- family preferred immigrant categorieswhich includes the unmarried children of US citizens who are 21 years of age or older and the spouses and children of lawful permanent residents of the United States;
- other options: fiancé or fiancé of US citizens; children of the groom or bride, widows or widowers of US citizens; victims of abuse by spouses, ex-spouses, and parents or children who are US citizens.
Green cards based on employment
There are four types of work-based immigration status that can provide you with lawful permanent resident status:
- first type of preference (EB-1) for foreign nationals with outstanding skills or outstanding research;
- second type of preference (EB-2) for professionals with advanced degrees;
- third type of preference (EB-3) for skilled workers and professionals;
- category immigrant investors (EB-5) - They must invest at least $ 1,8 million in a new business venture that will benefit the US economy and create at least 10 skilled jobs. In targeted employment areas with high unemployment, the investment required is lower at $ 900.
Special status of immigrants
The category that allows for special immigrant status covers a wide range of cases: from pastors and religious workers (ministers or non-ministers) in workplaces in churches to persons who become US Global Media Correspondents, and employees recognized international organizationssuch as NATO.
Green card for refugees and asylum seekers
There are two categories of persons here, who in Russian are simply called refugees, and in English are divided into asylee and refugee. In short, the difference between them is where the person applied for this status. Refugee seeks asylum from outside the United States, asylee - already directly in the United States and asks for refugee status. Both of these categories are eligible for a green card in the future.
Prior to applying for a green card, non-citizens must have lived in the United States for at least one year after their the asylum application (asylum) was approved, and must continue to meet the definition of a refugee.
Persons, accepted in the United States as refugeesmay also apply for legal permanent residence in this category.
Victims of human trafficking and other crimes
This category covers people with non-immigrant status Tgranted to victims of trafficking who participated in the investigation and prosecution of traffickers, or who will be subjected to extreme hardship if deported to their home countries.
This category, among other things, allows qualified owners to become legal permanent residents non-immigrant visas Uissued to victims of certain criminal acts who have suffered physical or mental abuse.
Victims of violence
This category covers eligible candidates according to Act on Violence against Womenwho have been victims of extreme cruelty, as well as young and abused young people Special Classification of Juvenile Immigrants (SIJ).
Violent spouses or children of Cuban and Haitian indigenous people who have become legal permanent residents under the Cuban Emigration Regulatory Act and the Haitian Immigrant Justice Act, respectively, are also eligible to receive green cards.
Visa Lottery, Law on the Regulation of Emigration from Cuba and other categories
This category covers a wide range of individuals, including randomly selected winners of the popular Electronic Diversity Visa Lottery (known as the Green Card Lottery), which issues 50 green cards per year, and those who fall under the Cuban Emigration Control Act, which helps Cuban natives, their spouses and children.
This classification also helps children born in the United States to foreign diplomatsas well as dependents of Haitian refugees who received a green card thanks to Haiti Immigrant Justice Act.
Register
Section "Register" of US Immigration Law allows the issuance of green cards foreigners who have been physically in the United States since 1972 without interruption, even if they do not currently have legal status in the United States.