Green cards and USCIS
<!-- @page { margin: 0.79in } P { margin-bottom: 0.08in } -->
If you are on this page, it is understood that you are looking to immigrate to the United States. The process is simple. When it is so, never think of entering and staying in the US illegally. Immigration to the US can be initiated with the permission of the American embassy in the applicant's country through an immigrant or non immigrant visa. Non-immigrant visas are for temporary visits to the U.S. for tourism, study, or work. Immigrant visas are for Permanent Residence in the U.S.
Referring to a green card through USCIS, you can get one either while you are in the US or outside the US. When you get a greencard while physically being present in the US, the process is called adjustment of status. Whereas when you get one while being outside the US or when you are ineligible to adjust status, it is called Consular processing. After you enter the US as a visa holder, you can adjust your status to a green card by USCIS (permanent resident) subject to conditions for certain visa holders. Simple isn't it?
A green card through USCIS is the proof of lawful permanent resident status in the US. A greencard holder has the right to live and work permanently in the US. There are different ways to get a green card through USCIS. You can be sponsored by your family members for a green card. You can get one through employment. Here the sponsorer is the US company that decides to employ you. You also have the Diversity Visa lottery program. You can be one among the 55,000 lucky persons to get a green card through this program which is held every year. But you should be luckier enough to be a native of a qualifying country as not all countries are eligible to participate. If you were granted Refugee Status or Asylum, there is good news, You can apply for a green card too. Like there are many ways to get a greencard, the process and procedures vary too.
Do not assume that a conditional permanent resident and a permanent resident are both one and the same. A conditional permanent resident will get a greencard that is valid only for two years. The process is such that you need to remove the conditions during the 90 days before the card expires,The conditional card cannot be renewed. The conditions must be removed else you will lose your permanent resident status. Form I-751 needs to be filed to remove the conditions. Once removed, you will get a permanent resident card that will be valid for the next ten years.
Since a permanent resident card ( green card through uscis ) is valid only for ten years, it is quite clear that it needs to be renewed on its expiration, You have to file Form I-90 to get it renewed. The same form is used when you want to change any biographic information on your card i.e if your name has changed due to marriage. The same process is followed if you lose your card and need a replacement. Permanent resident status is the main eligibility requirement for citizenship. So more good news. You can become a US citizen too!
<input id="gwProxy" type="hidden" /><input id="jsProxy" />
<input id="gwProxy" type="hidden" /><input id="jsProxy">
If you are on this page, it is understood that you are looking to immigrate to the United States. The process is simple. When it is so, never think of entering and staying in the US illegally. Immigration to the US can be initiated with the permission of the American embassy in the applicant's country through an immigrant or non immigrant visa. Non-immigrant visas are for temporary visits to the U.S. for tourism, study, or work. Immigrant visas are for Permanent Residence in the U.S.
Referring to a green card through USCIS, you can get one either while you are in the US or outside the US. When you get a greencard while physically being present in the US, the process is called adjustment of status. Whereas when you get one while being outside the US or when you are ineligible to adjust status, it is called Consular processing. After you enter the US as a visa holder, you can adjust your status to a green card by USCIS (permanent resident) subject to conditions for certain visa holders. Simple isn't it?
A green card through USCIS is the proof of lawful permanent resident status in the US. A greencard holder has the right to live and work permanently in the US. There are different ways to get a green card through USCIS. You can be sponsored by your family members for a green card. You can get one through employment. Here the sponsorer is the US company that decides to employ you. You also have the Diversity Visa lottery program. You can be one among the 55,000 lucky persons to get a green card through this program which is held every year. But you should be luckier enough to be a native of a qualifying country as not all countries are eligible to participate. If you were granted Refugee Status or Asylum, there is good news, You can apply for a green card too. Like there are many ways to get a greencard, the process and procedures vary too.
Do not assume that a conditional permanent resident and a permanent resident are both one and the same. A conditional permanent resident will get a greencard that is valid only for two years. The process is such that you need to remove the conditions during the 90 days before the card expires,The conditional card cannot be renewed. The conditions must be removed else you will lose your permanent resident status. Form I-751 needs to be filed to remove the conditions. Once removed, you will get a permanent resident card that will be valid for the next ten years.
Since a permanent resident card ( green card through uscis ) is valid only for ten years, it is quite clear that it needs to be renewed on its expiration, You have to file Form I-90 to get it renewed. The same form is used when you want to change any biographic information on your card i.e if your name has changed due to marriage. The same process is followed if you lose your card and need a replacement. Permanent resident status is the main eligibility requirement for citizenship. So more good news. You can become a US citizen too!
<input id="gwProxy" type="hidden" /><input id="jsProxy" />
<input id="gwProxy" type="hidden" /><input id="jsProxy">
Source...