There are several reasons a person may want to apply to become a lawful permanent resident of the United States, which will allow him or her to obtain a green card.
If applicants are interested in applying for employment-based reasons, there is helpful information available about the process. There are three employment-based “preference immigrant” categories which make a person eligible to apply for a green card.
Categories
The first preference (EB-1) category includes immigrant workers who have extraordinary abilities in sciences, arts, education, business or athletics. It also includes outstanding professors and researchers, managers and executives who meet certain requirements.
The second category (EB-2) includes immigrant workers who are part of a profession that requires an advanced degree or have the extraordinary abilities listed in the first category.
The third category (EB-3) includes immigrant skilled workers, professionals or unskilled workers. A skilled worker is defined as a person who has a minimum of 2 years of training or work experience. A professional is defined as a person whose job requires at least a bachelor’s degree and the worker is a member of that profession.
Application
If the applicant is already in the United States, he or she can apply for a green card without leaving the country, also known as an adjustment of status.
Generally, the person will need to produce a copy of his or her birth certificate, government-issued identity documents, passport information and proof that they have maintained lawful status in the United States, among other information.
An experienced attorney can help applicants with their questions and provide advice about the process specific to their individual circumstances.
