How to Get a Green Card

The fastest family-based path. No wait list. Available to spouses, young children, and parents of U.S. citizens.

Adult unmarried children of U.S. citizens. Expect a multi-year wait.

Spouses and young children of green card holders. Shorter wait than other preference categories.

Adult unmarried children of green card holders. Longer wait than F2A.

Married children of U.S. citizens. Expect a very long wait — 10 or more years.

Siblings of U.S. citizens. One of the longest waits — often 12–15+ years.

Surviving spouses of U.S. citizens can apply even if the citizen died before filing a petition.

Victims of abuse by a U.S. citizen or green card holder can apply confidentially without the abuser's knowledge.

For people who are among the best in the world at what they do. No job offer or employer required.

For internationally recognized professors and researchers. Requires a job offer from a university or research institution.

For managers and executives transferred from a foreign company to its U.S. office.

For professionals with advanced degrees. Requires a job offer and labor certification (PERM) in most cases.

⚠️ India and China face backlogs of 10+ years in this category.

A special path within EB-2 where you can apply without an employer if your work benefits the United States.

⚠️ India and China face backlogs of 10+ years in this category.

For workers with specialized skills and at least 2 years of experience. Requires an employer sponsor.

For people with a bachelor's degree working in their professional field. Requires an employer sponsor.

For workers in jobs requiring less than 2 years training. Long wait times — often 5–10 years.

A collection of special categories for specific groups including religious workers and special immigrant children.

For people who invest $800,000–$1,050,000 in a U.S. business that creates jobs.

⚠️ Chinese nationals face waits of 10+ years. Indian nationals face growing backlogs.

Refugees admitted to the U.S. can apply for a green card 1 year after arrival.

People granted asylum can apply for a green card after 1 year of asylee status.

An annual lottery that gives 55,000 green cards to people from countries with low U.S. immigration rates.

Trafficking survivors who have held a T visa for 3 years can apply for a green card.

Crime survivors who have helped police or prosecutors and held a U visa for 3 years can apply.

For children who have been abused, neglected, or abandoned and who have a court order recognizing this.

For ministers and other religious workers employed by a qualifying religious organization.

Afghans who supported U.S. operations and were evacuated or admitted to the U.S.

For translators and interpreters who served directly with U.S. military forces.

For Iraqis and Afghans who worked for or with the U.S. government.

Very long-term residents who have lived in the U.S. since before 1972 may qualify regardless of how they entered.

For green card holders who were stuck abroad for more than a year and need to return to the U.S.

Cuban nationals who have been in the U.S. for at least 1 year after admission or parole.

A special program for certain Haitians who arrived in the U.S. before 1996.

Special relief for certain Central Americans and others who arrived before specific dates.

Special path for certain former Soviet Union and Southeast Asian nationals who may qualify as refugees.

For people born in the U.S. to foreign diplomats who do not automatically receive U.S. citizenship at birth.

For long-serving employees of international organizations based in the U.S.

For loyal long-term employees of U.S. government offices abroad.

For foreign doctors who agree to work in medically underserved areas in exchange for a path to a green card.

For international broadcasters employed by U.S. government international media agencies.

For non-citizen members who have served honorably in the U.S. military.