Visas & Green Cards
Adjustment of status, consular processing, and employment visas (H-1B, etc.).
A Green Card (officially a Permanent Resident Card) allows you to live and work permanently in the United States. It is a key step towards U.S. citizenship.
Main Categories
Family-Based
For immediate relatives of U.S. citizens (spouses, parents, unmarried children under 21) and other family preference categories.
Employment-Based
For workers with specific skills, investors, or those with extraordinary abilities (EB-1, EB-2, EB-3, etc.).
Humanitarian
For refugees, asylees, and victims of abuse (VAWA) or crime (U Visa).
Two Paths to Processing
1. Adjustment of Status
For people already inside the U.S. You apply to switch from your current status (like student or tourist) to permanent resident without leaving the country.
Form I-4852. Consular Processing
For people outside the U.S. You apply at a U.S. Embassy or Consulate in your home country.
Form DS-260The Visa Bulletin
Unless you are an "Immediate Relative" of a U.S. Citizen, you must wait for a visa to become available. This can take years depending on your category and country of origin. The Department of State updates the "Visa Bulletin" every month.
View Current Visa Bulletin →