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For many individuals, applying for an immigrant visa (= Lawful Permanent Resident Status) is the most important step to be able to live and/or work in the United States permanently.
Immigrant visas, known as green cards or immigrant visas, give the foreign citizen the unrestricted right to reside and work permanently in the US without being limited to a particular employer. They grant the same rights and responsibilities as U.S. citizens have – except the right to vote, serve on a jury in court, and hold elective or government office.
A US immigrant visa is thus equivalent to a permanent residence and work permit for the United States. The holder of a green card is called a Lawful Permanent Resident. This refers to the status for the purpose of permanent residence (= permanent residency).
There are different ways to obtain a Green Card. In the following we will give you an overview of the individual categories and the respective requirement criteria. Basically, a distinction is made here between immigration through
PLEASE NOTE: If you do not qualify for an immigrant visa directly, check your options in the nonimmigrant visa section (work visas, visitor visas, visas for internship / study).
If you are thinking of immigrating to the United States or are interested in what immigration opportunities are available for your employees, contact our team of US visa experts.
Individuals of high national interest to the US, with special qualifications, or investors.
The first step in applying for an immigrant visa for the USA is to apply online to the U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement Service (USCIS). Depending on the category applied for, the application process involves waiting times of several years.
Outside the United States of America, the Green Card is issued by the respective U.S. consulate. Within the U.S., the Green Card is issued as part of an adjustment of status from a nonimmigrant visa to an immigrant visa.
The application for an immigrant visa is not open to every person. Rather, depending on the immigrant visa category, certain conditions must be met.
The US immigrant visa is normally valid for life. However, you can also lose your green card status again if, for example, you stay outside the USA for too long.
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