3 Ways to Earn Your Green Card

Earning permanent residency in the United States is difficult. Even if you meet the requirements to earn a green card, the paperwork can feel insurmountable, and the waiting period can leave you frustrated and stressed. The good news is that there’s more than one way to earn your green card. In fact, we’ve put together 3 ways to earn your green card that might increase your odds of becoming a permanent resident.

Family Visas

As we discussed previously, having an immediate family member who is a U.S. citizen is one of the most reliable and straightforward ways of earning your green card. That said, the government gives preference primarily to children and parents of U.S. citizens.

If you are a sibling of a U.S. citizen, it is not impossible to receive a family visa, but it will be more difficult. Consider speaking to an immigration attorney if you have questions about the family visa process.

EB2/EB3 Visas

If you are a skilled worker with either advanced education (plus work experience) or can show “exceptional” ability in a particular field, you may be entitled to an EB2 visa, based on your employment. However, demonstrating this expertise and higher education is harder than it seems, which is why it’s often wise to have an immigration attorney prepare your application.

An EB3 visa requires less education and work experience and is generally considered to be a faster kind of work visa if you specialize in a field where there is currently a work shortage. However, this is a petition-based visa and the department of labor will scrutinize your application more thoroughly to make sure that you meet all the criteria.

Green Card Lottery

Though the chances are far slimmer, there is a third way of gaining permanent residency in the U.S. Each year, the federal government has a “diversity lottery” in which they give away 55,000 green cards to people all over the world. To sign up for your chance, you only need a high school diploma equivalent or two years of work experience, far less than for other visas.

Though putting your name in may seem like a simple process, many people struggle with the paperwork and the other requirements needed to put their names in the running. That’s why it’s often wise to discuss green card lottery entries with an immigration attorney,, as they can ensure the paperwork is correct and that your entry will not be discarded before the drawing.

To schedule a free consultation with an experienced Virginia immigration attorney from Portner & Shure, P.A., don’t hesitate to call (410) 995-1515 or send us an email.