What a Green Card Is and the Main Routes to Get One

A green card is a document that lets you live and work permanently in the United States as a lawful resident. It is not citizenship — you do not vote or hold a U.S. passport — but it gives you the right to stay indefinitely, travel outside the country and return, and work for any employer without sponsorship.

There are several paths to a green card, and which one you can use depends on your situation. The most common routes are family sponsorship (a U.S. citizen or permanent resident relative petitions for you), employment sponsorship (an employer petitions for you), the diversity visa lottery, refugee or asylee status, and special categories like the Violence Against Women Act (VAWA) or U visas for crime victims. Each path has different requirements, timelines, and costs.

Key Takeaways

  • Family sponsorship and employment sponsorship are the two largest routes, but both require a U.S. person or employer to file a petition for you — you cannot petition for yourself.
  • The diversity visa lottery is free to enter and does not require a sponsor, but acceptance rates are very low and the process takes months.
  • Processing times vary widely by category and country of birth, ranging from months to many years depending on visa availability.
  • You will need to pass a medical exam, background check, and interview before a green card is issued.
  • Costs include government fees (currently $640 for the green card itself), medical exams, and often attorney fees if you hire a lawyer to help with paperwork.

Family Sponsorship: Who Can Petition for You

A U.S. citizen can petition for a spouse, parent, child (age 21 or older), or sibling. A permanent resident can petition for a spouse or unmarried child. The petitioner files Form I-130 (Petition for Alien Relative) with U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS). You cannot petition for yourself — someone in the United States must start the process.

when ready relatives of U.S. citizens (spouse, parent if the citizen is 21 or older, or unmarried child under 21) have no waiting period once the petition is approved. Other family relationships — adult children, siblings, married children — fall into preference categories with annual visa limits. This means thousands of people may be waiting in line, and you will see a "priority date" that determines your place in the queue. The State Department publishes a visa bulletin each month showing which priority dates are currently being processed.

The petitioner must show they earn enough to support you. They file an affidavit of support (Form I-864) proving their income is at least 125 percent of the federal poverty line for their household size. If they do not earn enough, they can add a joint sponsor — another U.S. citizen or permanent resident who agrees to be responsible for you financially.

Employment Sponsorship: How an Employer Petitions for You

An employer can petition for you in several categories depending on your job, education, and the employer's needs. The most common are the EB-3 category (skilled workers and professionals with a bachelor's degree), EB-2 (advanced degree holders or workers with exceptional ability), and EB-1 (priority workers, researchers, and executives). There is also the H-1B visa, which is a temporary work visa that can lead to a green card petition later.

The employer files Form I-140 (Immigrant Petition for Alien Worker) with USCIS. Before they can do this, they must usually file a labor certification with the Department of Labor, proving they tried to hire a U.S. worker for the job and could not find one. This step alone can take six months to two years. Like family sponsorship, employment categories have annual limits and preference categories, so you may wait years even after your petition is approved.

The employer must show the job is real, the salary is at least the prevailing wage for that job in that location, and you have the education or experience the job requires. You do not have to be in the United States when the petition is filed, but you will need to be here or go through consular processing abroad to complete the green card process.

The Diversity Visa Lottery

The diversity visa program randomly selects 50,000 people per year from countries with low immigration to the United States. It is free to enter, and you do not need a sponsor. You submit an online entry during the registration period (usually October through November each year) with your name, date of birth, passport number, and a photo. The drawing happens in May, and winners are notified by mail or email.

You must have a high school diploma or equivalent, or two years of work experience in an occupation that requires at least two years of training. If you are selected, you then go through the same medical exam, background check, and interview as other green card applicants. The odds of winning are very low — roughly one in 200 to one in 500 depending on the year and the number of entries — but the cost is zero.

If you win, you have a limited window to complete your green card interview. If you are outside the United States, you interview at a U.S. embassy or consulate in your home country. If you are already in the U.S., you may be able to adjust status without leaving, though this depends on your current visa status.

Refugee and Asylee Status

If you are fleeing persecution based on race, religion, nationality, political opinion, or membership in a particular social group, you may be able to enter the United States as a refugee or request asylum. A refugee is someone outside the U.S. who applies through the U.N. High Commissioner for Refugees or a U.S. embassy. An asylee is someone who is already in the U.S. (or arriving at a port of entry) and requests protection.

After one year as a refugee or asylee, you can file for a green card. The process is simpler than other routes because you do not need a sponsor and there is no per-country limit. You still need to pass a background check and medical exam, but the interview focuses on your current situation rather than your immigration history.

Other Paths: VAWA, U Visas, and Special Categories

If you are a victim of domestic violence, human trafficking, or certain crimes, you may may have access to for a green card without a sponsor. The Violence Against Women Act (VAWA) allows abused spouses, children, and parents of U.S. citizens or permanent residents to petition for themselves. U visas are for victims of human trafficking, sexual abuse, labor trafficking, or other serious crimes who cooperate with law enforcement. T visas are for trafficking victims. Special immigrant visas exist for Iraqi and Afghan nationals who worked with the U.S. military, and for certain religious workers.

These categories have smaller annual limits and longer processing times, but they do not require a family member or employer to petition for you. You file the petition yourself, though many people hire an immigration attorney to help with the paperwork and evidence.

The Medical Exam, Background Check, and Interview

Once your petition is approved and a visa is available, you will be scheduled for a medical exam with a USCIS-designated civil surgeon. The exam includes a physical, blood tests, and a chest X-ray. You will be vaccinated for certain diseases unless you have a medical or religious exemption. The exam costs $600 to $800 out of pocket.

You will also undergo a background check that includes fingerprinting, a name check against criminal and immigration databases, and a security check. This can take weeks or months depending on your country of birth and whether any issues come up. If you have a criminal record, immigration violation, or security concern, your case may be denied or delayed.

Your green card interview happens at a USCIS office (if you are in the U.S.) or a U.S. embassy or consulate (if you are abroad). The officer will ask about your background, your relationship to your sponsor (if applicable), your work history, and whether you have any health or criminal issues that would make you ineligible. They will review your documents to confirm everything matches. The interview usually takes 20 to 45 minutes.

Processing Times and Costs

How long a green card takes depends entirely on which category you are in and your country of birth. when ready relatives of U.S. citizens may wait 6 to 12 months from petition to green card. Family preference categories can take 2 to 10 years or longer because of annual visa limits. Employment-based categories also have long waits — EB-3 can be 5 to 15 years depending on your country.

The diversity visa lottery takes about 12 to 18 months from selection to interview. Refugees and asylees can file for a green card after one year, and processing usually takes 4 to 6 months. VAWA and U visa cases vary widely but often take 2 to 4 years.

Costs include the USCIS filing fee ($640 for the green card itself), the medical exam ($600 to $800), and any attorney fees if you hire a lawyer. Some employers pay the filing fees for employment-based cases, but you are responsible for the medical exam. Family sponsors do not pay any fees. If you are low-income, you may be able to request a fee waiver for the USCIS filing fee.

Frequently Asked Questions

Can I work while my green card petition is pending?

It depends on your visa status and category. If you are on an H-1B or L-1 visa, you can continue working for your current employer. If you are on a tourist visa or have no status, you cannot work legally. You can file for work authorization (Form I-765) once your green card petition is approved and you are in the queue for a visa, but this is not automatic — you must request it.

What happens if my petition is denied?

You will receive a notice explaining the reason. Common reasons include incomplete paperwork, insufficient income from the sponsor, or issues with your background. You can often fix the problem and reapply, or appeal the decision. If you are in the U.S. on a visa, you may be able to stay and try again. If you are outside the U.S., you will need to leave and reapply from your home country.

Do I lose my green card if I leave the United States?

No, but you need to be careful. You can travel outside the U.S. and return as long as you do not stay away for more than one year. If you stay away for more than one year without a re-entry permit, you may lose your green card status. If you plan to be outside the U.S. for more than a year, you can file for a re-entry permit before you leave.

Can I get a green card if I entered the U.S. illegally?

It depends on your situation. If a family member or employer petitions for you, you may be able to adjust status without leaving the U.S., but only if you are an when ready relative of a U.S. citizen or have an approved employment petition. Otherwise, you would need to leave the U.S., go to your home country, and complete consular processing — and you may face a bar that prevents you from returning for 3 or 10 years depending on how long you were in the U.S. illegally.

How do I know if I am may be able to access for a green card?

may be able to access depends on your category. For family sponsorship, you need a U.S. citizen or permanent resident relative willing to petition for you. For employment, you need an employer willing to sponsor you. For the diversity visa, you need a high school diploma or work experience and a country of birth in a low-immigration region. For refugee or asylee status, you need to show persecution. An immigration attorney can review your situation and tell you which paths are realistic for you.