¿Cómo puedo obtener una tarjeta verde en los Estados Unidos?

How to Get Your U.S.A Green Card

For millions of people in America, “lawful permanent resident” (LPR) status unlocks many opportunities and benefits. Eventually, with commitment and patience, permanent residents in good standing can petition to become naturalized citizens of the United States (U.S.).

When you want to become a permanent resident of the United States, you’ll have to apply for a green card. Green cards are only available to people who meet specific criteria, including those who have immediate family in the U.S., those who have a job lined up, and those who fit into “special immigrant” categories. They’re also available to refugees and asylees, trafficking and crime victims, and victims of abuse through humanitarian programs. Green cards play a critical role in the permanent immigration process, allowing beneficiaries to build careers and integrate into their communities.

For many people, working with a lawyer simplifies the entire application process. Your attorney can help you prepare the right forms, pull together the necessary documentation, and prepare you for your interview. (Some interviews can be more intimidating than others, such as those involving green card marriage.)

To apply for a green card, you’ll have to go through the same steps everyone else does. Here’s how to apply for a green card in Austin, TX and the surrounding communities:

• Find out whether you’re eligible
• Fill out the right forms
• Provide supporting documentation
• Go to a biometrics appointment, if necessary
• Attend an interview with a U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services official
• Wait for a decision on your application

How to Apply for a Green Card in Austin, TX

Before you can apply for a green card in the U.S., you must meet eligibility requirements. Outside of humanitarian programs, you have to fit into a category outlined by the Immigration and Nationality Act, or INA. Many people choose to work with an Austin immigration attorney to make the process simpler – that way, they don’t have to worry about which forms to file, how to fill them out, or where to file them; the attorney handles all of that.

What About Visas?

You must be legally allowed to be present in the United States before you can apply for a green card. Typically, that means you must have an immigrant visa.

If you are in the United States on a nonimmigrant visa, you must usually change your status or apply for a different type of visa before you can apply for a green card. Your attorney can provide specific guidance on what to do in your situation, as every case is different.

Who Can Apply for a Green Card?

Many people may be unsure of exactly who is eligible to apply for a green card. The U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS) lists all green card eligibility categories on its website. In order to be considered eligible to apply for lawful permanent resident (LPR) status, any applicant must fit into one of these categories. Sometimes, there are several sub-categories within a larger group.

Additionally, it may be hard to identify who requires sponsorship by another person (typically a U.S. citizen or another lawful permanent resident). Finally, there are certain things, called “bars to eligibility,” that may disqualify a person from applying for a green card.

We list specific eligibility categories below.

Eligibility Categories for Green Cards:

• Family
• Employment
• Special Immigrant Status
• Asylee or Refugee Status
• Crime and Human Trafficking Victims
• Victims of Abuse
• “Other” Categories (e.g., Diversity Visas)
• Via “Registry”

While some of these categories appear straightforward, others are less clear. For example, those applying through family or refugee status will likely easily be able to identify eligibility. On the other hand, categories like “Green Card Through Registry” may not be definitively understood. For clarity, we provide short descriptions of each eligibility category below.

Green Card Through Family

Certain relatives of both U.S. citizens and current lawful permanent residents (LPR)s can apply for a green card through their familial connections. These include “immediate relatives” – spouses, parents, and unmarried children under 21 years of age. Also eligible within this category are widows or widowers of U.S. citizens and certain victims of abuse at the hands of U.S. citizens or LPRs (VAWA self-petitioners).

It’s important to note that the USCIS allocates certain green cards based on family preference categories. These do not include direct spouses, minor children, and parents of U.S. citizens. Preference categories rank from first preference (F1) to fourth preference (F4) and are specifically described on the USCIS’s website.

Green Card Through Employment

A green card through employment is available to certain groups of foreign professionals. A green card is not the same as an H-1B visa, which is a nonimmigrant or temporary visa allowing specialized and educated international workers access to the U.S. job market.

Those professionals eligible for a green card via employment are again ranked based on preference categories (EB-1, EB-2, and EB-3). According to the USCIS, those “priority workers” who receive first preference are professionals with “extraordinary ability in the sciences, arts, education, business, or athletics,” as well as “outstanding professors and researchers,” and certain high-level international executives.

While other foreign nationals with specific skills and strengths may apply with the appropriate eligibility and sponsors, they would likely fall under lower preference categories.

To learn more about H-1B Visas, read this quick guide to the H-1B Visa Process.

Green Card as a Special Immigrant

Certain foreign nationals can apply for lawful permanent residency as a “special immigrant.” This category includes a broad spectrum of applicants, including religious workers, those abused or abandoned juveniles with “special immigrant juvenile” status, international broadcasters, and employees of certain international organizations (e.g., NATO). You can read more detailed information about these categories on the USCIS’s website.

Green Card Through Refugee or Asylee Status

Any person who has already received either asylee or refugee status can apply for a green card. In order to receive either status, applicants must participate in a rigorous application and screening process involving background checks and interviews. Any green card applicant within this category must have had their assigned status for at least one year at the time of submission.

Green Card for Human Trafficking and Crime Victims

Certain victims of both human trafficking and other crimes can apply for green cards via this category. All applicants must already be in possession of specific visas in order to be eligible. A T nonimmigrant visa is issued to victims of human trafficking, while a U nonimmigrant visa is provided to select crime victims.

Green Card for Victims of Abuse

Some foreign nationals who suffered abuse may be eligible for a green card. These include “special immigrant juveniles” or SIJs. These children have suffered abandonment and abuse and have ultimately received their status via the U.S. immigration court system. Violence Against Women Act (VAWA) self-petitioners are also eligible. This special category of applicants includes victims of abuse by U.S. citizens and lawful permanent residents. According to the USCIS, VAWA self-petitioners have suffered extreme abuse, cruelty, or battery by a family member or relative. Unlike other applicants applying via a familial connection, VAWA self-petitioners do not need a sponsor.

Green Card Through Other Categories

This category includes all other persons eligible who do not neatly fall into one of the other seven groups. Included in this category are Diversity Visa (DV) recipients. The U.S. provides 50,000 visas through the DV Lottery Program every year. The program is meant to provide immigration opportunities to those who may have no existing connection to America. In order to be eligible for the DV lottery, applicants must be from certain designated countries with low immigration.

You can read about all persons eligible via this eligibility category on the USCIS’s website.

Green Card Through Registry

Finally, some people may be eligible to apply for a green card through “registry.” This is a unique category and is only available to those who have “been present in the United States since January 1, 1972.

According to the USCIS, those who wish to apply via this category must:

• Have been present in the U.S. since January 1, 1972;
• Possess upstanding moral character;
• Be considered eligible for naturalization; and
• Not be inadmissible, deportable, or possess any bars to adjustment.

We discuss bars to adjustment below.

Bars to Adjustment

Even if a person is eligible, it is quite challenging to become a green cardholder. The application process is very detailed and involves rigorous background checks. For some people, certain “bars” to eligibility will prevent them from applying for and/or receiving a green card. The Immigration and Nationality Act (INA) lists specific bars to adjustment. If a candidate possesses one or more bars to adjustment, they will likely be incapable of acquiring a green card.

Bars to Adjustment include:

• Certain criminal convictions both in the U.S. and abroad;
• Any previous ties to terroristic acts or organizations;
• Any history of violation of visa terms or rules; and/or
• Participation in undocumented or unlawful employment.

The above list is not exhaustive. You can read more about bars to eligibility on the USCIS’s website. If you think you may be ineligible for a green card, options might still exist. Talk to a skilled green card attorney – they may be able to help.

Sponsorship

Some green card candidates will need a sponsor in order to apply. For example, if an applicant is eligible through the “family” or “employment” categories,  they will need a family member or employer to act as a sponsor. Typically, sponsors will submit specific required paperwork in support of the applicant.

Familial sponsors can expect to submit an Affidavit of Support for applicants. This submission formally accepts financial responsibility for the petitioner. You can read specific information and details about this requirement on the USCIS’s website.

If you plan to act as a sponsor for a green card candidate, speak with an experienced immigration lawyer. They will be able to explain every requirement for green card sponsorship.

The Green Card Application

What Forms Do You Need to Fill Out to Apply for a Green Card?

If you’re applying through a family member, they may need to file Form I-130 (Petition for Alien Relative) on your behalf. Similarly, an employer might file Form I-140 (Immigrant Petition for Alien Worker) in employment-based cases.

Once the petition is approved, the following steps depend on whether you’re already in the U.S. or applying from abroad. If you’re in the U.S., you may be eligible to adjust your status by submitting Form I-485 (Application to Register Permanent Residence or Adjust Status).

If you’re outside the U.S., you’ll go through consular processing with the U.S. Department of State, which involves receiving your green card upon arriving in the country. At both stages, additional forms, fees, and documentation may be required, and the process can involve waiting periods depending on your category and priority date.

Working with an experienced Austin immigration attorney can help you avoid common mistakes and delays, ensuring that all paperwork is completed accurately and submitted on time. Additionally, they can provide guidance if any issues arise during your application process.

Supporting Documents for Your Green Card Application

You’ll have to provide some supporting documentation when you apply for a green card. In addition to your passport-style photos, government-issued ID, birth certificate and initial admission documents, you may have to provide documents for your immediate relatives, as well. Some other documents you might need to provide include:

• Registros policiales certificados
• Su certificado o licencia de matrimonio
• Registros de divorcio
• Prueba de que ha mantenido un estatus legal desde que llegó a los EE. UU.
• Registros de adopción
• Comprobante de empleo
• Exenciones, si se le concedieron

¿Qué sucede después de solicitar una tarjeta verde?

Una vez que haya presentado oficialmente su solicitud de tarjeta verde, aún quedan dos pasos más antes de que el USCIS pueda tomar una decisión.

Cita biométrica

Después de solicitar una tarjeta verde, tendrá que presentarse a una cita biométrica. Por lo general, una cita biométrica solo dura unos 15 minutos. En su cita biométrica, los Servicios de Ciudadanía e Inmigración de los Estados Unidos le tomarán una foto, tomarán sus huellas digitales y obtendrán su firma para fines de identificación. Deberá llevar a su cita el aviso de cita del USCIS, su documento de identidad con fotografía y los recibos de cualquier documento que el USCIS esté procesando para usted. También tendrás que pagar la tarifa de los servicios biométricos al momento de la cita.

La entrevista de la tarjeta verde del USCIS

Casi todos tienen que pasar por una entrevista de inmigración con un oficial de inmigración del USCIS cuando solicitan una tarjeta verde. Estas entrevistas suelen terminar en menos de media hora, pero no siempre.

Puede esperar que el funcionario del USCIS asignado a su caso le haga preguntas sobre su solicitud, sus antecedentes y si ha sucedido algo en su vida que pueda afectar su solicitud, como un arresto, el nacimiento de un hijo o un nuevo trabajo. También puede hacerte preguntas basadas en el tipo de solicitud de tarjeta verde que hayas presentado, por ejemplo:

• ¿Cómo, cuándo y dónde conoció a su cónyuge?
• ¿Cuál es el cumpleaños de su cónyuge?
• ¿Cuál es el horario de trabajo de su cónyuge?
• ¿Compartes dinero?
• ¿Qué tipo de automóvil tenía su cónyuge cuando se conocieron?
• ¿Cuándo decidiste casarte? ¿Cómo le propuso matrimonio su cónyuge (o cómo le propuso matrimonio a su cónyuge)?
• ¿Puedes describir los muebles de tu habitación?

También tendrás que hacer un examen de inglés y educación cívica (a menos que cumplas los requisitos para una exención). El oficial te hará hasta 10 preguntas sobre el gobierno de los EE. UU. y los procesos del país, y debes responder correctamente al menos a seis de ellas. (Puedes echar un vistazo a un examen práctico aquí.)

Recibir una decisión sobre su solicitud

Es posible que recibas una decisión en la entrevista. Sin embargo, a veces los funcionarios de inmigración necesitan más información para tomar una decisión y, si eso sucede, tendrás que esperar. Por lo general, recibirás una decisión en un plazo de 90 días.

Cómo obtener una tarjeta verde rápidamente

Si bien no hay una forma garantizada de acelerar significativamente el proceso de la tarjeta verde, hay pasos que puede tomar para minimizar las demoras. En primer lugar, asegúrese de cumplir con los requisitos de una de las categorías de la tarjeta verde, como el patrocinio familiar, el empleo, la condición de refugiado o de asilo, o el programa de visas de diversidad. Reúna cuidadosamente todos los documentos de respaldo necesarios y revise su solicitud para verificar que sea correcta antes de presentarla. Cualquier pequeño error o falta de información puede provocar retrasos o incluso una denegación.

Otra forma de acelerar potencialmente el proceso es presentar una solicitud en una categoría con menos demanda. Por ejemplo, ciertas tarjetas verdes basadas en el empleo pueden tener tiempos de espera más cortos según sus calificaciones, habilidades y las necesidades de los empleadores estadounidenses. Además, pagar por el procesamiento preferencial para tipos de visa específicos, si corresponde, puede acelerar la adjudicación de ciertas peticiones basadas en el empleo.

Trabajar con un abogado de inmigración con experiencia es crucial para obtener una tarjeta verde rápidamente. Pueden brindarle asesoramiento personalizado según sus circunstancias, ayudándolo a identificar el camino más rápido y apropiado para obtener su tarjeta verde. Luego compilan, completan y envían todos los formularios y pruebas necesarios para garantizar que no haya demoras innecesarias.

Trabaje con un abogado de tarjetas verdes en Austin, TX

Solo un abogado de inmigración con experiencia certificado por el colegio de abogados de su estado posee los conocimientos específicos necesarios para ayudarlo con sus preguntas. Un asesoramiento legal adecuado no solo hace que su vida sea menos estresante, sino que también aumenta sus posibilidades de éxito.

Si no está seguro de si es elegible para una tarjeta verde, debe comunicarse con un abogado de inmigración de inmediato. Cuando trabaje con un abogado de inmigración, él le explicará el proceso de solicitud de la tarjeta verde y le indicará si es elegible o no. Si es así, ellos pueden guiar el proceso y garantizar que todos los elementos de la solicitud se envíen a tiempo y sin errores. También pueden representar sus intereses en caso de que se produzca un retraso o se solicite información adicional.

Programe una consulta de tarjeta verde

En Nanthaveth & Associates, nuestro equipo brinda excelentes servicios legales y representación a clientes en Austin, Texas. Nuestros asociados con experiencia solo practican la ley de inmigración. Si tiene preguntas sobre las tarjetas verdes, las visas o el asilo, podemos ayudarlo.

Si necesita la ayuda de un abogado para solicitar una tarjeta verde, estamos aquí para ayudarlo. Simplemente llámenos al 512-792-3720 o programar una consulta de inmigración en línea — estaremos encantados de ayudarte. Se reunirá con un abogado, revisará su situación particular y saldrá con un camino claro a seguir.