A Green Card, also known as an Alien Registration Card or Permanent Resident Card, must generally be renewed every 10 years.
Immigrants
who are married to a U.S. citizen or Permanent Resident may be
sponsored for a Green Card by their spouse. This process involves Form
I-130, Form I-485 or a combination of the two.
Immigrants
who are married to a U.S. citizen or Green Card holder (permanent
resident) may be sponsored for a Green Card by their same-sex spouse.
This process involves Form I-130, Form I-485 or a combination of the
two.
To
apply for a Family-Based Green Card, a family member in the U.S must
sponsor you. If your sponsor is a U.S. citizen, then he or she must be
your spouse, parent, sibling or child. If your sponsor is a Green Card
holder, then he or she must be your spouse or your child.
Under
U.S. Immigration Law, Lawful Permanent Residents must carry their Green
Card at all times. If your current Green Card has been lost or stolen,
replace it right away.
Individuals
who are in the United States on an immigration visa should use Form
I-485, Adjustment of Status Application, to obtain a Green Card.
If
you have obtained a Green Card through marriage to a U.S. citizen, then
you are granted a "conditional" Green Card, valid for only two years.
You must apply to remove the conditions on your Green Card within 90
days of your permanent resident status expiring.
The
Green Card Lottery, officially known as the Diversity Visa Program, is
an annual U.S. Government program that awards 50,000 Green Cards to
individuals from all over the world.
Generally,
to apply for an Employment-Based Green Card, a qualifying U.S. employer
must sponsor you through the Labor Certification process. In special
situations, employees may be able to obtain an Employment-Based Green
Card without first obtaining Labor Certification.