ADJUSTMENT OF STATUS ELIGIBILITY-REQUIREMENTS
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ELIGIBILITY REQUIREMENTS
A foreign national must meet certain eligibility requirements to adjust status to that of a lawful permanent resident (LPR).
In order to apply for a Green Card, you must be eligible under one of the categories listed below. The applicant must have been: •Inspected and admitted into the United States; or •Inspected and paroled into the United States. The applicant must properly file an adjustment of status application. The applicant must be physically present in the United States. The applicant must be eligible to receive an immigrant visa. An immigrant visa must be immediately available when the applicant files the adjustment of status application
- [1] and at the time of final adjudication.
- [2]The applicant must be admissible to the United States for lawful permanent residence or eligible for a waiver of inadmissibility or other form of relief.
The applicant merits the favorable exercise of discretion. Once you find the category that may fit your situation, click on the link provided to get information on eligibility requirements and how to apply.
Green Card through Family
You may be eligible to apply as a… | If you are the… |
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Immediate relative of a U.S. citizen Form I-130, Petition for Alien RelativeForm I-485, Application to Register Permanent Residence or Adjust Status | Spouse of a U.S. citizen unmarried child under the age of 21 of a U.S. citizen Parent of a U.S. citizen who is at least 21 years old |
Other relatives of a U.S. citizen or relative of a lawful permanent resident under the family-based preference categories Form I-130, Petition for Alien Relative Form I-485, Application to Register Permanent Residence or Adjust Status | A family member of a U.S. citizen, meaning you are the Unmarried son or daughter of a U.S. citizen and you are 21 years old or older Married son or daughter of a U.S. citizen Brother or sister of a U.S. citizen who is at least 21 years old Family member of a lawful permanent resident, meaning you are the Spouse of a lawful permanent residentUnmarried child under the age of 21 of a lawful permanent residentUnmarried son or daughter of a lawful permanent resident 21 years old or older |
Fiancé(e) of a U.S. citizen or the fiancé(e)’s child-129F, Petition for Alien Fiancé(e)Form I-485, Application to Register Permanent Residence or Adjust Status | A person admitted to the U.S. as a fiancé(e) of a U.S. citizen (K-1 nonimmigrant)Person admitted to the U.S. as the child of a fiancé(e) of a U.S. citizen (K-2 nonimmigrant) |
Widow(er) of a U.S. citizen | Widow or widower of a U.S. citizen and you were married to your U.S. citizen spouse at the time your spouse died |
VAWA self-petitioner – victim of battery or extreme cruelty I-360, Petition for Amerasian, Widow(er), or Special ImmigrantForm I-485, Application to Register Permanent Residence or Adjust Status | Abused spouse of a U.S. citizen or lawful permanent residentAbused child (unmarried and under 21 years old) of a U.S. citizen or lawful permanent residentAbused parent of a U.S. citizen |
Green Card through Refugee or Asylee Status
You may be eligible to apply as a… | If you are the… |
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AsyleeForm I-589, Application for Asylum and for Withholding of RemovalForm I-485, Application to Register Permanent Residence or Adjust Status | Were granted asylum status at least 1 year ago |
Refugee | Were admitted as a refugee at least 1 year ago |
Green Card through Employment
You may be eligible to apply as a… | If you are the… |
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Immigrant Worker Form I-140, Immigrant Petition for Alien Worker Form I-485, Application to Register Permanent Residence or Adjust Status | Are a first preference immigrant worker, meaning you: Have extraordinary ability in the sciences, arts, education, business, or athletics, or Are an outstanding professor or researcher, or Are a multinational manager or executive who meets certain criteria Are a second preference immigrant worker, meaning you: Are a member of a profession that requires an advanced degree, or Have exceptional ability in the sciences, arts, or business, or Are seeking a national interest waiver Are a third preference immigrant worker, meaning you are: A skilled worker (meaning your job requires a minimum of 2 years training or work experience), or A professional (meaning your job requires at least a U.S. bachelor’s degree or a foreign equivalent and you are a member of the profession), orAn unskilled worker (meaning you will perform unskilled labor requiring less than 2 years training or experience) |
Physician National Interest Waiver | Are a physician who agrees to work full-time in clinical practice in a designated underserved area for a set period of time and also meets other eligibility requirements |
Immigrant investor Form I-526, Immigrant Petition by Alien EntrepreneurForm I-485, Application to Register Permanent Residence or Adjust Status | Have invested or are actively in the process of investing at least $1 million (or $500,000 in a targeted employment area) in a new commercial enterprise in the U.S. which will create full-time positions for at least 10 qualifying employees. |
Green Card for Victims of Abuse
You may be eligible to apply as a… | If you are the… |
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VAWA self-petitioner – victim of battery or extreme cruelty | The abused spouse of a U.S. citizen or lawful permanent resident The abused child (unmarried and under 21 years old) of a U.S. citizen or lawful permanent resident The abused parent of a U.S. citizen |
Special Immigrant Juvenile | Are a child who has been abused, abandoned, or neglected by your parent and you have SIJ status |
An abused (victim of battery or extreme cruelty) spouse or child under the Cuban Adjustment Act | The abused spouse or child of a Cuban native or citizen |
An abused (victim of battery or extreme cruelty) spouse or child under the Haitian Refugee Immigrant Fairness Act (HRIFA) | The abused spouse or child of a lawful permanent resident who received his or her Green Card based on HRIFA |
Green Card as a Special Immigrant
You may be eligible to apply as a… | If you are the… |
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Religious worker | Is a member of a religious denomination coming to the U.S. to work for a nonprofit religious organization |
Special Immigrant Juvenile | Is a child who has been abused, abandoned, or neglected by your parent and you have SIJ status |
Afghanistan or Iraq national | Served as an Afghan or Iraqi translator for the U.S. government and was employed by or for the U.S. government in Iraq on or after March 20, 2003, for at least one year and was an Afghan employed by the International Security Assistance Force (ISAF). |
International broadcaster | Are you coming to work in the U.S. as a member of the media |
An employee of an international organization or family member or NATO-6 employee or family member | An employee of an international organization or family member or NATO-6 employee or family member |
Green Card for Human Trafficking and Crime Victims
You may be eligible to apply as a… | If you are the… |
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Human trafficking victim | Currently have a T nonimmigrant visa |
Crime victim | Currently have a U nonimmigrant visa |
Green Card through Registry
You may be eligible to register for a Green Card if you have resided continuously in the U.S. since before Jan. 1, 1972.
Green Card through Other Categories
Sponsor’s Household Size | 100% of HHS Poverty Guidelines* For sponsors on active duty in the U.S. Armed Forces who are petitioning for their spouse or child |
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Diversity Immigrant Visa Program | Were selected for a diversity visa in the Department of State’s diversity visa lottery |
Are you a Cuban native or citizen, or Are the spouse or child of a Cuban native or citizen | Are you a Cuban native or citizen, or Are the spouse or child of a Cuban native or citizen |
An abused (victim of battery or extreme cruelty) spouse or child under the Cuban Adjustment Act | Are the abused spouse or child of a Cuban native or citizen |
Dependent status under the HRIFA | Are the spouse or child of a lawful permanent resident who received his or her Green Card based on the Haitian Refugee Immigration Fairness Act (HRIFA) |
An abused (victim of battery or extreme cruelty) spouse or child under HRIFA | Are the abused spouse or child of a lawful permanent resident who received his or her Green Card based on HRIFA |
Lautenberg parolee | Were paroled into the U.S. as a Lautenberg parolee |
Indochinese Parole Adjustment Act of 2000 | Are a native or citizen of Vietnam, Kampuchea (Cambodia), or Laos who was paroled into the U.S. on or before Oct. 1, 1997, from Vietnam under the Orderly Departure Program, a refugee camp in East Asia, or a displaced person camp administered by UNHCR in Thailand. |
American Indian born in Canada | Have 50% or more of the blood of the American Indian race and were born in Canada |
You also may read about: How to Get a Green Card through Adjustment of Status, and Availability of Immigrant Visas, 2018 HHS Poverty Guidelines for Affidavit of Support
Direct Filing Addresses for Form I-131
I-485 Alien Worker and Alien Entrepreneur additional instructions
I-485 with granted Asylum/Refugee Status additional instructions
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APPLICATION REVIEW
- Check Your Eligibility
- Attorney’s Consultation(s) (The lawyer will guide you through the application process)
- Less Questions, Faster Application (Easy-To-Use Software To Fill Out Immigration Forms)
- Instant Alerts Help You Avoid Mistakes (Automatic Help and Tips on Complicated Questions; Instant Alerts To Help Avoid Mistakes; Automatic Help and Tips on Complicated Questions)
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- Ensures Completeness (Instant Alerts To Help Avoid Mistakes)
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ATTORNEY REPRESENTATION FROM
- Check Your Eligibility
- Attorney’s Consultation(s) (The lawyer will guide you through the application process)
- Less Questions, Faster Application (Work with your lawyer to prepare your application)
- Instant Alerts Help You Avoid Mistakes (After your lawyer reviews your forms, they’ll call you to discuss any errors or answer your questions about your forms)
- Technical Support (Access And Share Your Completed Forms After You File)
- Ensures Completeness (Once it’s complete, Attorney do a final review and file the paperwork with the US government on your behalf)
- Documents checklist (Work with your lawyer to prepare your application)
- Personalized Instructions (Personalized Supporting Documents and Evidence Checklist)
- Case submission (Your attorney will give you a checklist and guide you through the process collecting supporting evidence)
- Case Status Online Check (Work with your lawyer to prepare your application)
- Preparation for Immigration Interview (Your lawyer will file the application on your behalf)
- Immigration Interview appearance ** (Included case by case and location)
- Shipping Label With Tracking Number
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