Green Card (Green Card) is a residence permit in the United States. Holders of a Green Card are allowed free entry and exit from the country, they are given the right to work and do their own business on American territory, and to apply for family reunification. After five years of legal residence, the Green Card holder is eligible to obtain American citizenship.
At the same time, the Green Card is not a passport and has some restrictions. Those living in the United States on the basis of a Green Card cannot participate in elections, they are not subject to the right to visa-free travel to many countries (as for Americans), they must reside in the United States for most of the year. In addition, the holder of a Green Card, immediately after receiving it, is obliged to fully pay taxes, which are quite high in the United States.
Instructions
Step 1
One of the most popular ways to become the owner of a Green Card is to participate in its drawing as part of the lottery held annually. The choice of 50 thousand lucky people who will be able to enter the United States from the total number of applicants is carried out by a computer, while neither knowledge of the language, nor profession, nor age is important - everyone has absolutely equal chances.
Step 2
In order to participate in the drawing, you need to fill out an application. Remember that participation in the lottery is free. There are companies that offer paid services for paperwork, but keep in mind that no company can contribute to your winnings for an additional fee.
Step 3
You can only take part in the Green Card draw if you are over 18 years old. In the application, you must indicate the standard personal data: name, gender, place and date of birth, actual address and other information, provide fresh photos of you and your family members. At the stage of registration of the application, the provision of documents in paper form is not required. It can only be submitted through a website managed by the US Department of State. If the application is completed incorrectly, the online system simply will not send it until the correct information is entered. While paper documents were often simply rejected due to errors in filling out.
Step 4
If you find yourself among the 50 thousand people selected by the computer, you will receive an official notification and requirements for the documents that will need to be prepared for the embassy. The procedure for issuing a Green Card can take up to one and a half years.
Step 5
There are other ways to get a Green Card. For example, you can start by getting a visitor visa. To do this, you need to invite relatives living in America, or you can contact one of the private companies, which will issue an invitation for you for a fee. A visitor visa is valid for one year, after which you can apply for immigration.
Step 6
There is an option for young people between the ages of 18 and 30 - obtaining an F1 visa as part of the “Work and Study” program. The visa is valid for 2 years, after which it can be extended to 15 years, as well as in the future to obtain a Green Card and American citizenship. An applicant for such a visa must choose a job from the offered vacancies, mainly service personnel, builders, etc. To receive it, you must have an invitation from the Department of Justice. You will need to go through an interview at the embassy and collect certain documents and certificates.
Step 7
If you have a high professional qualification in a certain field, you can become the holder of a work visa valid for 3 years, with the right to extend it for the same period. During these 6 years it is quite possible to get a Green Card. To obtain this visa, you will need an invitation from an American employer, who must prove to the Department of Labor that he needs you as a specialist.
