Requirements to Get a U.S. Green Card Through Employment or Family

Getting a "green card" (United States Permanent Resident Card for an Alien) is a task fraught with paperwork and hoops to jump through. It can be an arduous process, especially if you aren't prepared. To start, take a look at the requirements to get a U.S. green card through employment or family.

Getting in through a job

You can become a permanent resident through employment. Highly skilled workers, workers with a rare or unusual talent, investors and entrepreneurs are given priority over other kinds of workers. If you don't fit into one of those categories and want a green card through a job, you'll have to show that you won't be replacing American workers and that there aren't enough natural-born citizens in the area you want to move into that will perform that job.

If you want to come in as an investor, you'll have to be part of a start-up that will create 10 new, permanent jobs. You must invest at least $1 million in the endeavor or $500,000 in a business that will create jobs in areas with high unemployment or in rural areas. You can bring your spouse and children under 21 along with you on the work visa.

The green card for those of rare or unusual abilities is called the Green Card through Self-Petition visa. You must have demonstrated extraordinary ability in the sciences, arts, education, business or athletics. Alternatively, you may be granted a National Interest Waiver, where the government determines it is in the best interest of the United States to grant you permanent resident status.

You may also obtain permanent resident status through your qualification for special categories of work. Those categories are:

Afghan/Iraqi Translator

Armed Forces Member

Broadcaster

International Organization Employee

Iraqi Who Assisted the U.S. Government

Afghan Who Assisted the U.S. Government

NATO-6 Nonimmigrant

Panama Canal Employee

Physician National Interest Waiver

Religious Worker

Getting in the family way

There are many ways to become a permanent resident through a family member. You can be an immediate relative of a U.S. citizen, a family member in a preference category (unmarried sons or daughters, married children or brothers or sisters of a U.S. citizen).

The U.S. government has a policy to promote family unity. To that end, the government allows green card holders to petition for their spouse or unmarried children to become permanent residents as well.

There are special categories of family members who may become permanent residents. The "fiance(e)" or K-visa allows the fiance(e)'s and their minor children to jump on the fast track to citizenship. The fiance(e) and their children can stay with their intended in the U.S. while they continue to petition for permanent resident status.

The Violence Against Women Act allows victims of domestic violence who are spouses, parents or children of a U.S. citizen or permanent resident to file a petition on their own without the abuser learning about it.

Persons born to a foreign diplomat and widow(er)s of U.S. citizens may also petition for permanent resident status.

You can find out more information about the process, find the forms and additional information at the website of the U.S. Citizen and Immigration Services.