There are 10 ways to obtain a Green Card in the United States:
1. Family Sponsorships: a related US Citizen (USC) or Green Card Holder (LPR) can be a sponsor.
a. Relative of USC:
¿ A spouse of USC (Immediate Relative),
¿ A parent of USC (Immediate Relative),
¿ An unmarried child under age 21 of USC (Immediate Relative),
¿ An adopted child under 18 (Immediate Relative),
¿ An unmarried child over age 21 of USC (FB-1),
¿ A married child of USC (FB-3), or
¿ A brother/sister of USC (FB-4).
b. Relative of LPR:
¿ A spouse of LPR (FB-2A),
¿ An unmarried child under age 21 of LPR (FB-2A),
¿ An unmarried child over age 21 of LPR (FB-2B), or
¿ An unmarried adopted child under age 18 of LPR (FB-2A).
2. Employment Sponsorships:
¿ a foreign national can apply for an Employment-Based Green Card under any of the following scenarios:
a. Self-petition
(1) National Interest Waiver
(2) Extraordinary Ability in business, athletics, arts, education or scientific research (EB-1A, or EB-2)
(3) Outstanding professors and researchers (EB-1(B), (C))
b. Sponsorship by a US employer:
(1) Persons with exceptional degrees,
(2) Manager and Executives in Multinational Companies (EB-1A)
(3) Professionals with a US bachelors or foreign equivalent degree (EB-3)
(4) Skilled worker (EB-3)
(5) Unskilled worker (EB-3)
(6) Workers in one of the shortage occupations listed in Schedule A
3. Green Card Lottery
4. Investor
¿ Foreign entrepreneurs who invest $1 million in commercial activity that will benefit US economy and create 10 full-time US jobs.
¿ Foreign entrepreneurs who invest $500,000 in an underdeveloped area that will benefit US economy and create 5 full-time US jobs.
5. Adoption
¿ Children under 16 years old adopted by USC or LPR.
6. Private Bill:
- Foreign National that Congress believes have compelling humanitarian factors to stay permanently in the US, as no law allows the INS to grant permanent resident status.
7. Application for Cancellation of Removal
8. Special Immigrant
9. Registry
10. Section 245(i)
