Four Ways to Apply for a Green
Card
Law Offices of Jacqueline Lentini
jacki@lentinivisas.com
www.lentinivisas.com
630-262-1435
Legal Permanent Resident (“LPR”)
• What is a green card?
– Allows foreign nationals to work in the US for any
employer
– Permits self-employment
– Cannot vote
– Can be deported if commit a crime that would rise
to the level of deportation
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Immigration Agencies
-U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS)
-Customs and Border Protection (CBP)
-Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE)
Other Agencies:
– Department of State (“DOS”) issues visas at U.S.
Embassies and Consulates abroad
– Department of Labor (“DOL”) oversees H-1B and
involved in green card through employment process
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Family
• Immediate Family, spouse and children of a U.S. Citizen
(USC) means no wait
• Unmarried sons and daughters of USC’s 21 years or
older (1st Preference)
• Parents of a USC, if citizen 21 years old (1st Preference)
• Spouses & unmarried, minor sons & daughters of
Permanent Residents (2A Preference)
• Unmarried Sons and Daughters over 21 (2B Preference)
• Married sons and daughters of USC’s 21 or older (3rd
Preference)
• Brothers & sisters of USC (4th Preference)
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Family Visa Bulletin
August 2010
Family
All
ChinaChargeabil Mainland
ity Areas,
Except
Those
Listed
Dominican India
Republic
Mexico
Philippines
1st
01 Aug 05
01 Aug 05
01 Aug 05
01 Aug 05
15 Nov 92
01 Jan 96
2A
01 Mar 09
01 Mar 09
01 Mar 08
01 Mar 09
01 Mar 08
01 Mar 09
2B
01 Jan 04
01 Jan 04
01 Jan 04
01 Jan 04
15 Jun 92
01 Aug 01
3rd
01 Jan 02
01 Jan 02
01 Jan 02
01 Jan 02
01 Mar 92
01 May 94
4th
01 June 01
01 Jun 01
01 Jun 01
01 June 01
01 Jan 94
01 Apr 90
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Diversity Visa Lottery
• High school degree required
• 55,000 limit per fiscal year
• Country limit of 7%
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Diversity Visa Lottery
August 2010
Region
Visas Allocated
Country with Highest
Number of Visas
Africa
52.63%
Ghana
Europe
29.04%
Ukraine
Asia
14.62%
Bangladesh
South, Central America
& the Caribbean
1.93%
Venezuela
Oceania
1.76%
Australia
North America
.02%
Bahamas
Asylee/Refugee: Fleeing Persecution
• Refugee applies from outside the U.S.
• Asylee applies from within the U.S.
• Must establish well-founded fear of
persecution on account of race, religion,
nationality, membership in a particular social
group or political opinion.
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Employment
• EB-1: Extraordinary Ability, National Interest
Waiver, Multi-national Executive or Manager
• EB-2: Outstanding Researcher, Professional
with an Advanced Degree
• EB-3: Professional or Skilled Worker
• EB-4: Special immigrants such as reacquisition
of citizenship, religious workers
• EB-5: Investor program
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Employment Visa Bulletin
August 2010
Employme
nt Based
All
China,
Chargeabili Mainland
ty, Except
those
Listed
Dominican
Republic
India
Mexico
Philippines
1st
C
C
C
C
C
C
2nd
C
01 Mar 06
C
01 Mar 06
C
C
3rd
01 Jun 04
22 Sep 03
01 Jun 04
01 Jan 02
U
01 Jun 04
4th
C
C
C
C
C
C
5th
C
C
C
C
C
C
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Employment
• Alphabet soup of visas: A, B-1/B-2, C, E-1, E-2,
E-3, F-1, H-1B, H-2A, H-2B, J-1, K, L-1A, L-1B,
M-1, O-1, P-1, R-1, U and V visas
• H-1B main visa-apply abroad or from US like
many international students seeking to
change status in U.S. to work after graduation
• Long waits for green card/permanent
residency
• Visa Bulletin
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