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 without being a citizen. It is officially called a Permanent Resident Card. Once you have one, you can stay in the country indefinitely, change jobs without permission from an employer, and travel in and out of the US as long as your card remains valid.
There are several distinct paths to a green card, and which one you can use depends on your situation. The most common routes are through a job offer, family sponsorship, diversity visa lottery, refugee or asylee status, or special immigrant categories. Each path has different requirements, timelines, and paperwork. Some take months; others take years.
The process always involves the US Department of Homeland Security (DHS) and the US Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS). If you are outside the US, you may also work with the US State Department and a consulate. The key is understanding which category fits your circumstances, because the rules and steps differ significantly between them.
Key Takeaways
- Green cards are issued through separate categories—employment, family, diversity lottery, refugee/asylee, and special immigrant—and you must meet the specific requirements of one category to proceed.
- Employment-based green cards require either a job offer and labor certification (for most workers) or an immigrant petition from your employer, and processing typically takes one to three years.
- Family-sponsored green cards require a US citizen or permanent resident relative to petition for you, and the wait time depends on your relationship and your country of origin.
- The diversity visa lottery is free to enter and open to nationals of countries with low immigration to the US, but only 55,000 green cards are awarded annually through this program.
- You will need documents including a valid passport, birth certificate, police clearance, medical exam results, and proof of financial support, regardless of which category you use.
Employment-Based Green Cards and Labor Certification
If you have a job offer from a US employer, you may be able to get a green card through the employment category. However, most employment-based green cards require your employer to first obtain labor certification from the US Department of Labor. This process proves that there are not enough available US workers willing and able to do the job at the prevailing wage.
Labor certification is filed on Form ETA 9089 and typically takes six months to two years to complete. During this time, your employer must advertise the position, interview US applicants, and document their efforts. Only after labor certification is approved can your employer file the immigrant petition (Form I-140) with USCIS.
Some employment-based categories skip labor certification. These include people with advanced degrees in fields with worker shortages, multinational executives and managers, and certain professionals in the arts and sciences. If your employer believes you fall into one of these categories, they can file the immigrant petition directly without labor certification, which speeds up the timeline.
After the immigrant petition is approved, you must wait for a green card number to become available. The number of employment-based green cards issued each year is capped at 140,000, and they are divided among five preference levels. The wait time varies from when ready (for some EB-1 applicants) to several years (for EB-3 applicants from countries with high demand).
Family-Sponsored Green Cards and Petition Requirements
A US citizen or permanent resident can petition for certain family members to receive a green card. The relationship must be one that USCIS recognizes: spouse, parent, child, or sibling. The petitioner must be at least 21 years old and must file Form I-130 (Petition for Alien Relative) with USCIS.
The petitioner must also prove they have enough income to support you. This is done by filing Form I-864 (Affidavit of Support), which shows that the petitioner's household income is at least 125 percent of the federal poverty line (or 187 percent if the petitioner is not your spouse or parent). If the petitioner does not earn enough, they can add a co-sponsor—another US citizen or permanent resident who agrees to support you financially.
After the petition is approved, you must wait for a green card number to become available. Family-sponsored green cards are also capped annually, and the wait time depends on your relationship to the petitioner and your country of birth. Spouses of US citizens are usually processed within months. Siblings of US citizens may wait many years, depending on the country.
If you are already in the US, you may be able to adjust status without leaving the country. If you are outside the US, you will go through consular processing at a US embassy or consulate in your home country.
The Diversity Visa Lottery and How to Enter
The diversity visa program, also called the green card lottery, sets aside 55,000 green cards annually for nationals of countries with historically low immigration to the US. The program is free to enter, and you do not need a job offer or a family sponsor.
To enter, you must have a high school diploma or equivalent, or you must have worked in an occupation that requires at least two years of training or experience during the past five years. You submit your entry online during the official registration period, which opens once per year for about one week in the fall. The State Department announces the exact dates on its website.
If your entry is selected, you are notified by mail. You then must complete medical exams, obtain police clearances, and gather financial support documents. The final step is an interview at a US consulate in your home country. If approved, you receive your green card.
The odds of being selected are very low—typically less than one percent—because millions of people enter each year. However, the program is one of the few routes that does not require an employer or family member to sponsor you.
Refugee and Asylee Status as a Path to Green Card
If you have been granted refugee status or asylee status by the US, you can explore for a green card after one year. Refugee status is granted to people outside the US who have fled persecution. Asylee status is granted to people who are already in the US or at a port of entry and have fled persecution.
To be granted either status, you must show that you have been persecuted or have a well-founded fear of persecution based on your race, religion, nationality, political opinion, or membership in a particular social group. The process involves an interview with USCIS and a background check.
Once you have been a refugee or asylee for one year, you can file Form I-485 (process to Register Permanent Residence or Adjust Status) to become a permanent resident. This process is usually faster than other green card categories because you have already been vetted for security and admissibility.
Documents You Will Need for Any Green Card process
Regardless of which category you use, you will need to gather several documents. Start with a valid passport and a birth certificate. You will also need a police clearance certificate from every country where you have lived for more than six months since age 16. Some countries take months to issue these, so request them early.
You must have a medical examination performed by a USCIS-approved civil surgeon. This exam includes blood tests, chest X-rays, and a review of your vaccination history. The doctor will complete Form I-693 (Report of Medical Examination and Vaccination Record), which you submit with your green card process.
You will need proof of financial support, usually in the form of recent tax returns, pay stubs, and bank statements from the petitioner or sponsor. If you are explore through employment, you will need your job offer letter and proof that your employer has filed the necessary forms with the Department of Labor or USCIS.
You will also need photographs that meet specific requirements: two color photos, 2 by 2 inches, taken within the last six months. The USCIS website provides detailed specifications for these photos. Finally, you will need to pay the filing fees, which vary by form and category but typically range from several hundred to over a thousand dollars.
Processing Times and What to Expect After You explore
Processing times vary widely depending on the category, your country of origin, and current USCIS workload. Employment-based green cards typically take one to three years from the time your employer files the labor certification to the time you receive your card. Family-sponsored green cards can take anywhere from several months (for when ready relatives of US citizens) to many years (for siblings).
After you submit your process, USCIS will send you a receipt notice with a case number. You can use this number to check the status of your process on the USCIS website. If USCIS needs more information, they will send you a Request for Evidence (RFE). You will have 87 days to respond.
If your process is approved, you will be scheduled for a green card interview (unless you are adjusting status in the US and USCIS waives the interview). At the interview, a USCIS officer will ask you questions about your process, your background, and your ties to the US. They may also ask about your job, your family, or your reasons for wanting to live in the US.
After the interview, USCIS will make a decision. If approved, you will receive your green card in the mail within a few weeks. Your green card is valid for ten years (or two years if you received it as a conditional resident). You can renew it by filing Form I-90 before it expires.
Frequently Asked Questions
Can I work in the US while my green card process is being processed?
It depends on your category and how far along your process is. If you are explore through employment and your employer has filed Form I-140, you may be able to file Form I-765 (process for Employment Authorization) to work while you wait. If you are explore through family sponsorship or the diversity lottery, you generally cannot work until your green card is approved, unless you have another basis for work authorization.
What happens if my green card process is denied?
If USCIS denies your process, they will send you a notice explaining the reason. You may be able to appeal the decision by filing Form I-290B (Notice of Appeal or Motion) within 33 days. You can also request that USCIS reopen your case if you have new evidence. An immigration attorney can help you understand your options.
Do I need to speak English to get a green card?
No. There is no English language requirement for a green card. However, if you are 50 years old or older and have been a permanent resident for fewer than 20 years, you will need to pass an English test to become a US citizen later. For the green card itself, USCIS will provide an interpreter at your interview if you request one.
Can I travel outside the US while my green card process is pending?
Travel outside the US while your process is pending can complicate your case. If you are adjusting status in the US, leaving the country may be seen as abandoning your process. If you are going through consular processing, you must be outside the US for your interview anyway. Before you travel, speak with an immigration attorney about how it might affect your process.
How much does a green card cost?
The filing fees vary by form and category. Form I-485 (adjustment of status) costs around $640 for adults, plus a biometric services fee of $85. Form I-140 (immigrant petition) costs around $700. Form I-130 (family petition) costs around $435. These fees do not include the cost of medical exams, police clearances, or an attorney if you hire one. Fees change periodically, so check the USCIS website for current amounts.