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Everything You Need To Know About a Green Card

Everything You Need To Know About a Green Card

What is a Green Card?

A Green Card is a formal legal document that permits a non-citizen to reside within the United States on a permanent basis. 
During this permanent residency, theholder of the Green Card is entitled to be gainfully employed while residing legally in the United States. 
A Green Card is common, which is also known as a Permanent Residency Card, requires the fulfillment of various obligations regulated by the United States Immigration Services.
There are a few distinct ways to obtain a green card, the most common of which are achieved through one’s employer, through marriage, or through educational and government programs.

Steps to Obtain a Green Card
Green Cards through an Employer:
A non-citizen of the United States can obtain permanent residency through sponsorship offered by their respective employer. 
When an applicant receives sponsorship, their employer is in essence, vouching for the character, ability, and liability of the applicant in question. In order to obtain sponsorship, the applicant will be required to submit the following documentation and forms:
1. The applicant is required to file a Labor Certification Application. A variety of these forms can be accessed through the United States Department of Labor. The forms will vary depending on the nature of the applicant’s employment.
2. The applicant is also required to file Form ETA-750. This document is the application for Alien Employment Certification, which is a standard requirement for all non-citizens requesting permission to be employed in the United States.

Green Cards through marriage:
When a non-resident marries a citizen of the United States, the non-citizen can apply for a Green card subsequent to the marriage. To complete the process, the non-resident must fulfill the following requirements:
1. The applicant must file the Form I-485, which is an application to adjust the status of residency from temporary to permanency.
2. Additionally, an individual is required to complete a K-1 form, which is a form that substantiates that the fiancé plans on legally marrying a United States citizen and plans to enter America to do so.
3. The G-325A form must also be completed; this form provides official documentation, and records the non-citizen’s biographical information with the Immigration department’s database. The G-325A form must be completed prior to satisfying the Green Card application process.
4. Lastly, the I-130 form must be completed, which is a petition for a non-citizen to enter the United States by means of legal and lawful marriage.

Legal Assistance associated with the obtainment of a Green Card
In the event that an applicant experiences difficulty while undergoing the Green Card process there are a variety of resources and avenues that can offer assistance:
1.    The United States Citizenship and Immigration Services Bureau can be contacted through their toll-free phone number: (800) 375-5283. This service will provide additional information to elucidate on the applicant process. The representatives at the Bureau will offer information concerningadditional requirements, the expedition of applications, citizenship requirements, and supplemental immigration legislation are encouraged to:
Arrange an appointment with an Immigration Case Worker through the InfoPass program, which is the online interview and appointment portal located on the USCIS website
Request information – both in digital or hard-copy form – from the USCIS documentation and resource database
2.    If the applicant is still confused over the application process it is highly recommended that the individual seek the aid of an Immigration Attorney. These legal professionals can be instrumental throughout the application process with regard to a Green Card. Immigration attorneys are well-versed in immigration legislation, form requirements, stipulations, and conditions applicable to the attainment of approval for the expressed permission of legal entry into the United States.Immigration attorneys will streamline the application process by advising their respective client(s) through the arrangement of paperwork, investigating immigration status, and ensuring the legality of all immigration-based activity and requests. 

Green Card Renewal Process

Green Card Renewal Process

Renewing your Green Card:
A Green Card offers a non-citizen of the United States the ability to permanently reside within the county. A Green Card is therefore the formal legal documentation that illustrates non-citizen status and the right legally resides within the country on a permanent basis.
Renewing your Green Card is a formal process, administered by the United States’ Federal Government that requires a holder to update the status of a Green Card.
To apply for United States’ citizenship, a prospective applicant must possess a Green Card. 
Green Cards are granted by the United States Citizenship and Immigration Services Bureau. Similar to a Passport or other legal documents, Green Cards possess expiration dates. Upon this date, the Green Card is no longer active and must be renewed in order to continue legal residency within the United States. 
Typically a Green Card has an active life of at least 10 years.
Forms associated with Green Card Renewals:

The following forms must be satisfied in order to renew a Green Card and thus retain the ability to reside in the United States:
Form I-90: This form is required to replace missing, lost, or stolen Green Cards.
Form I-551: This form is an application for a Green Card. This form may be required to be re-filed given the applicant’s circumstances. Typically, if a prospective applicant in possession of a Green Card leaves the United States for a period exceeding 6 months, their Green Card may expire; as a result, they may be forced to re-file this petition.
Form I-751: In the event that the applicant is renewing a Green Card as a result of legal marriage, they may be required to fill out this form. This document requests the adjustment of the status of residency from temporary to permanency.
Legal Assistance associated with Green Card Renewals
If the applicant experiences difficulty undergoing the process of renewing a Green Card, there are a variety of resources that can provide assistance:
1.    The United States Citizenship and Immigration Services Bureau can be contacted through their toll-free phone number: (800) 375-5283. This department will answer any questions concerning the application process, including any inquiries which revolve around the requirements, the expedition of applications, citizenship requirements, and supplemental immigration legislation are encouraged to:
2.    Additionally, an immigration attorney can help streamline the application and approval process with regard to renewing a Green Card. These forms of legal professionals are well-versed in immigration legislation, form requirements, stipulations, and any subsequent appeals in the event those were denied in any attempts of renewing a Green Card.

Getting a Green Card through Family

Getting a Green Card through Family

What does ‘Green Card through Family Mean?’
A large quantity of United States’ citizens becomes permanent residents through their family members. The United States’ government promotes family unity and permits U.S. citizens and permanent residents to petition certain relatives to come and live permanently in the United States.
There are two distinct avenues to obtain a green card; many family members who already reside in the United States may qualify for an adjustment of status to permanent residence in the United States. This adjustment means that the applicants are able to complete the immigration process without returning to their home country.
Relatives who live outside the United States, or those individual who do not qualify for an adjustment of status may be eligible for consular processing through a U.S. embassy or consulate abroad.
Methods of Receiving a Green Card through Family
An applicant may be eligible to obtain a green card as an immediate relative or as a family member in a preference category if the U.S. citizen relative files a Form I-130, or the petition for Alien Relative.
An individual is regarded as immediate relative of a U.S. citizen if they are a child (unmarried and under 21 years of age) of a U.S. citizen, if they are a spouse (husband or wife) of a U.S. citizen, or if they are a parent of a U.S. citizen.
Family members of a U.S. citizen in a preference category include: an unmarried son or daughter (21 years or older) of a U.S. citizen, a married son or daughter (any age) of a U.S. citizen, and a sibling (brother or sister) of a U.S. citizen.
The requirement for the receipt of a Green Card through Family is fairly uniform with regard to the classification of an approved immediate family member, circumstances surrounding contingencies and extraordinary conditions can exist:
a.    A birth that took place outside of the borders of the United States – with regard to parents who are legal citizens of the United States –retains the possibility of awarding United States citizenship through naturalization to the children birthed; however, this will typically require that the child resides within the United States on a permanent basis
b.    Prior to the receipt of a Green Card through Family, individuals will first be required to apply for the appropriate Visa; this will allow them to remain within the United States pending the Green Card application process
Applicable Forms for Receiving a Green Card through Family
Form I-485: The adjustment of status application form changes the temporary legal status of a non-citizen to legal and permanent residential status
Form I-130: Relatives of the non-citizen spouse – or any relatives who are not citizens of the United States and married children or children exceeding the age of 21 of the non-citizen/U.S. citizen marriage must complete an I-130 petition in order to be considered to for legal, permanent resident status as a result of this type of marriage. In most cases, a K-3 or K-4 Visa can be acquired in order to permit legal residence during the processing of this form, which is granted on a temporary basis
Form G-325A: This form must be completed by all individuals petitioning for the receipt of a Green Card through Family

Renewing a Green Card

Renewing a Green Card

It is possible for a United State Permanent Resident Card, or green card, to expire given enough time. Normally, if a US green card will expire, then the expiration date of that US green card will be listed on the front of the card. If this occurs, then the individual holding that US green card will have to go through “renew green card” procedures.
The process for green card renewal is not necessarily the same process as that of green card replacement, which is significant, as an individual who loses his or her US green card does not necessarily have go through green card renewal.
The “renew green card” process is normally only necessary once every ten years for full, permanent residents with green cards. This is not always the case, however, as an individual might have a conditional green card, for example, in cases when the green card was issued for marriage or investment from a company.
In those cases, the green card might have had a 2 year expiration date built in, meaning that green card renewal would likely be necessary much sooner than for a full green card. Regardless, one should begin the “renew green card” process within six months of the date at which the US green card will expire.
One should be certain to submit the proper forms when attempting to submit for a US green card renewal. This is because the forms to renew green card, the forms to replace a green card, and the forms to transfer a green card from a 2 year to a 10 year green card are all different.

Using Marriage to Get a Green Card

Using Marriage to Get a Green Card

If a foreigner does not have a green card and is planning on marrying an American citizen, then he or she may be able to apply for a green card on the basis of marriage. 

 

 

A green card marriage will not automatically result in a greed card becoming available for the foreign individual. The marriage must be completed and certified, and then the individual who is from a foreign nation will be able to apply for a green card through marriage. The application process thus must still run its course, and even afterward, it is likely that a green card through marriage will have certain stipulations attached to it, such as an expiration date significantly before the normal expiration dates of green cards.

 

 

This means that a green card marriage will likely only result in a conditional green card, which will only be turned into a full green card after the right amount of time has passed. This is done in order to prevent instances of those who attempt to marry for a green card from being able to do so with as much ease, as the marriage must last for at least two years for a full green card marriage application to be submitted and accepted.

 

How To Get A Green Card

How To Get A Green Card

To get a green card, one will most likely have to submit an application with the US Citizenship and Immigration Services. There are many types of a USA greencard for which one can apply. The primary ways to get a green card include applying for a green card through family members who are American residents or citizens, applying for a green card through a job, and applying for a green card as a refugee or as a seeker of asylum.

 

 

There are a number of other ways to get a green card, however, including getting a USA greencard through the Diversity Immigration Visa Program, getting a green card for an Armed Forces member, getting a green card for a special immigrant juvenile, and getting a green card as a foreign diplomat.

 

 

Applying for any of these types of USA greencard will be a slightly different process, as the application for each is slightly different and has different requirements. For example, to get a green card through a family member with a spouse holding US residency being the family member in question, an individual would have to be able to provide concrete legal documentation of the marriage, and would still only get a conditional USA greencard, instead of a full USA greencard.

 

 

The different applications for obtaining a USA greencard are all available on the website for the US Citizenship and Immigration Services. To get a green card, an individual must select and fill out the proper application, and must then submit or file that application with the proper authorities. An application to get a green card may also be submitted online in some instances.

 

A Helpful Overview to Immigration News

A Helpful Overview to Immigration News

Immigration News

Recently, illegal immigration news has become widespread on television news
stations and in newspapers throughout the country. Immigration news provides
individuals with access to illegal immigration facts, changes in immigration
policy and legislation, and details regarding political immigration debates.
The national concern regarding illegal immigration becomes apparent when
watching or reading the news.

Immigration News Daily

There are a number of different resources that update immigration news daily.
These sources are dedicated to providing individuals with access to relevant
and up to date US immigration news. There is even an online blog titled
Immigration News Daily, though this is not the only resource available. It is
vital for people to remain informed about US immigration news.

Learning Through the Green Card Movie

Learning Through the Green Card Movie

 

When it comes to getting a green card, movie audiences might have a flawed understanding about how the green card program really works. They might be relying on older standards employed by the Immigration and Naturalization Service that were not as hard-line as the ones experienced by green card applicants today.

 

However, the Green Card movie, released in 1990 in the United States starring Andie MacDowell and Gérard Depardieu, is a fine example of how real complications and consequences can arise for those who try to become permanent residents of the United States in an illegitimate manner. In the Green Card movie, Bronte, MacDowell's character is unmarried and looking to rent an apartment with a greenhouse whose board of trustees would prefer a married green card.

 

After consulting with an attorney, Bronte and Georges learn the former may be charged with a crime defraud deported. While certain details of the green card program and immigration process are altered for comedic and dramatic effect, and today, the movie would have to be rewritten to encapsulate new standards and the very fact the Department of Homeland Security oversees (through the USCIS) these matters, as stated, the film does take the risk into account of marrying out of convenience for a green card. Movie audiences from foreign countries would be keen to remember there is some truth to this fairy tale romance.

9 Things To Know About Green Card

9 Things To Know About Green Card

1. The Permanent Resident Card, also known as a green card, means that the individual has earned the legal right to become a permanent resident of United States of America. While a green card does not afford an individual all the potential benefits that are available to a resident of this country, it is a precursor to obtaining these privileges, and for the positive things brings, it is one of the most sought after forms of documentation in America and, for that matter, the world. 
2. Analogous to how trying to get a table in a crowded restaurant may be easier for couples who can sit at either a small or large table, the green card application process may be easier for certain people based on their relationship to the petitioner and the amount of visas, permanent residents, married immigrants.
3. The green card application process can be a difficult one, even for someone who is a relative of the citizen who petitions on his or her behalf. In terms of immediate family relationships, as noted above, though, the process is by no means made automatic, but it is made significantly easier by unlimited visas that therefore do not have to be waited upon to become available. 
4. Either one or two steps will be involved in the green card through family option. In either case, an I-130 Petition for Alien Relative visa form must be filed as well as an I-485 Application to Register Permanent Residence or Adjust Status. In the one-step option, also known as concurrent filing, the I-130 and I-485 forms can be filed at the same time. 
It also should be noted that while petitioners more commonly file these forms within the United States, it is also possible to apply abroad for a visa, travel to the country on the visa, and acquire permanent residency upon arrival. When applying through consular processing, concurrent filing is an option, too.
5. Visas are common for those foreign nationals who wish to temporarily provide services for an employer, receive special training or otherwise contribute to a cultural exchange. However, if a living or working assignment is to become permanent, an application for a green card through work is very necessary. 
Green cards are not always a possibility for foreign-born laborers, as the first inclination of an American employer should be to fill any vacancies with U.S. citizens. If this is not feasible, however, then there are several paths to a Permanent Resident Card through an employer.
The petition for a green card through job offer must come through the employer, and may need to be accompanied by a Labor Department Certification and a letter of intent from the employer to hire the individual. Often, the prospective employee will appeal directly to his or her future boss, who will fill out the I-140 Petition for an Alien Worker. 
6. Green cards are also available for foreign businessmen and investors who create new jobs for workers in America, which are sorely needed in most job sectors. This occupation category utilizes the I-526 Petition for an Alien Entrepreneur. As for the I-130 Special Immigrant Form, this belongs to certain very specific classes of immigrants, including Iraqi and Afghani translators. 
7. A select few persons with extraordinary ability in science, arts and business, meanwhile, will qualify for a National Interest Waiver, eliminating the need for a visa application by virtue of the name.
8. While the green card lottery, or application for a Diversity Visa, is far removed from a state lottery where thousands or potentially millions in jackpots can be won, there are similarities. For one, long odds must be overcome to win in both lotteries. As the name implies, there is also a random drawing element to both the green card lottery and that of legal gambling
Right from the naming system that comes along with the green card lottery, it is evident that, while it is a wholly viable process for obtaining a green card, it is not a standard process by any means; the green card lottery is known officially as the Diversity Visa. One critical thing to know about the green card lottery application process is that it is completely electronic. While fees will be required to process biometrics information (i.e. fingerprints) for receipt of the physical card, there is no fee to file the application.
Thus, anyone who seeks a fee to help you with your application is most likely trying to scam you out of your money.  While the drawings are more or less random, this is small consolation to some given the idea that some people will have to work for years on a visa while others may win permanent residence in a matter of months.
9. The green card applicant will want to have the right mindset when approaching an interview. The green card applicant should prepare for their green card interview well ahead of time, as this interview is not a mere formality. Certainly, one will want to check lists of requirements provided by the USCIS and Department of State, but fundamental proofs of identification such as birth certificates, passports and passport-style photos, medical records, and alien registration forms are crucial to have on hand.
It would be prudent, as well, to consult with someone who has undergone the interview process before, and can help the applicant prepare for the types of questions he or she should expect during the interview. Above all else, though, the official reviewing the applicant’s case will be looking for inconsistencies in information, so it is advantageous for him or her to answer all questions honestly and directly.  

Green Cards and Preference Based Eligibility

Green Cards and Preference Based Eligibility

To apply for a green card to the United States, for the sake of an analogy, is sort of like trying to find a table at a crowded restaurant with more people in the restaurant than the tables and chairs can accommodate. While the order in which a party puts a name on the waiting list has an impact on when they get called, different parties will have different odds of being the next one called, as bigger parties will only be able to fit at bigger tables, while couples can fit at tables small and large.

 

While size may not be an issue when it comes to those who apply for a green card, the time needed for green card processing may be dependent on the individual and their profession. Two of the most common ways people apply for a green card are through family and work. Not all family and work visas are made equal, however. In fact, some may experience longer green card processing times based on a priority system built into these categories.

 

Regarding those who apply for a green card based on a connection through family, there is a definite pecking order. For spouses, parents, and unmarried children under 21, there are an unlimited amount of visas available to be secured prior to obtaining a green card. For all other categories, though, there are yearly quotas attached and a tiered preference system, meaning these relatives will be subject to the rigors of the green card processing system. There are four tiers for the family-oriented green card system after spouses of U.S. citizens, parents and unmarried children under 21.

 

First priority is given to unmarried children of U.S. citizens above the age of 21. Following them are spouses of a permanent resident and (note that someone with a green card who is a permanent resident is not the same thing as a citizen) those unmarried children who are over 21 years of age. Rounding out the category are the married children of U.S. citizens and their families, and last but unfortunately least in order of preference, brothers and sisters of citizens. Green card processing for this last category may take upwards of a decade to complete.

 

Regarding those who apply for a green card in order to serve our country through work, there is also a totem pole of sorts. Here, distinctions are not made based on the closeness of familial connections or age, but on the type of service these immigrants may provide. Green card processing is kindest first to those who possess an extraordinary talent, ability, depth of knowledge or prestige.

 

After that, different skills are taken into account, and you can probably guess what the different groups would be. The second group earns their preference on the basis of an advanced degree or other special talent. After that, preference is afforded to skilled workers, then special classes of workers and finally workers whose toils will result in job creation for others.

 

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