Getting an American Green Card is probably one of the best things that can ever happen to an immigrant coming from another country. The United States offers various ways to obtain a green card, that is, to become a U.S. green card holder.
More than 50,000+ green cards are offered each year to immigrants to come to the United States to work, live or study.
The question now is what is a green card and what opportunities would you be exposed to for having one? In this article, we will be listing 4 ways to get a green card, but before that; we will be looking at what it entails and what benefits can come from having an American Green Card.
What is an American Green Card?
A green card is a piece of document that gives you access to work, live or study in the country in question. In this case, an American Green Card gives a person access to come to the U.S. to either work school, or live.
An American Green card makes you a citizen of America. You have access to all benefits that come with being a country citizen. Some of which can be seen below:
Benefits of a Green Card
Some of the benefits of having a green card can be seen below:
- You have access to applying and receiving grants (study or business) and scholarships
- You have permanent citizenship and residence
- You are eligible to work in the country
- Your children are liable to benefit from all these benefits if given birth to in the country
Below are the lists of the various ways in which you can apply and qualify for a green card. The goal here is to select one and focus on that one. The list is more like a strategy teaching you what approach to take. Find out what works for you and go after it.
Relatives of a Green Card Holder
An avenue of qualifying for a green card is if you have a relative that already has an American Green Card. Your relationship with them can either be of the following:
- Spouse of the green card holder
- Unmarried child (under 21)
- Unmarried Stepchild (under 21)
- Adopted Child (under 18)
- Unmarried son or daughter (over 21)
- Parent or stepparent
- Brother or sister
If you find yourself in one of the above categories, you are qualified to apply and receive a green card.
Based on Employment
Often time’s people are granted a green card based on employment. This is not merely being employed in the United States but in some pretty extraordinary way.
Getting employed to work in the usausa doesn’t guarantee you an American Green Card, but there are cases whereby an American greed card was issued, due to some rare cases. These are the cases we would be looking at right here.
An American Green Card is based on academic achievement (either an outstanding professor or researcher). In this case, green cards can sometimes be issued to a person due to the level of contribution he/she has made to the academic stage of the country.
Some highly placed managers and executives work in multinational companies. There are some cases whereby green cards are offered to top managers and executives of fortune 500 companies in the U.S.
Some of these individuals may have work permits in the United States, but they can sometimes be offered green cards.
In some cases, green cards can be offered to exceptional individuals that have contributed in one way or the other to the benefit of the U.S. National Interest. The people are sometimes provided a green card to keep staying and working in the United States as a way of celebrating them.
Skilled workers or outstanding medical personnel can sometimes be given an offer of an American Green Card.
Green Lottery
The U.S. Department of State usually hosts a yearly visa lottery program whereby you apply and winners are selected randomly and offered green cards.
The application for this year’s green card program is ongoing. Applications would close on November 7th, 2022. Do not wait until the last minute to apply.
Investments
It is said that foreign investors who invest $500,000 in a commercial business in a targeted employment area will benefit the United States economy and create at least 5 full-time USA jobs
Investors who also invest $1,000,000 in a commercial business that will benefit the U.S. economy and create at least 10 full-time USA jobs are offered a green card.
Special Immigrants
In some cases green cards can be offered to special immigrants that apply or come to the United States, the special immigrants can be categorized into the following section:
- Religious Workers
- Permanent Residents who departed the United States for more than 12 months
- Foreign Medical Graduates
Religious workers are oftentimes respected by the Government and as a sign of respect might offer such individuals the opportunity of becoming permanent residents.
Foreign medical graduates also provide an avenue for these individuals to be granted an American Visa Sponsorship (Green card).
Permanent residents who have been in the country but left the country for more than 12 months, such person might not need to struggle to apply all over again but are considered automatically for an American Green Card.
