Immigration is a difficult process, and honestly, it can be difficult needlessly at times. There are a lot of important steps to be made in the immigration process, and for people who seek to become permanent residents rather than actually becoming citizens of the United States, getting a green card is a vital part of that process. But how exactly does one get a green card, and how difficult is it to get one?
How do I get a green card?
A green card is a valuable asset for anyone seeking to settle down in the United States, and as such, something that they should aspire to get. This is because having a green card entitles them to live, work, and travel in the United States, ensuring that they do not run into any hurdles when trying to live a peaceful life. For people in Kentucky hoping to establish themselves as permanent residents of the United States, there are lawyers who specialize in helping these people obtain a green card.
One of the first things to know about getting a green card is that in order to do so, you need to have entered the United States through legal means. Not only that, but on your I-94 card — the card you obtained when you entered the United States, and which is included in your passport — has a date on it that a person must apply for a green card by in order to be eligible.
A common way for a person to get a green card is through familial relations. In the event that you are the spouse, child, or parent of a person who is a lawful permanent resident of the United States, you may qualify to receive a green card. If you are a sibling of a United States citizen, this will also entitle you to apply for a green card. That is not the only option for people to apply for a green card, however; green card status can also be applied for through employment. Not only that, but you can also apply for one during deportation proceedings, though various factors will be at play in this instance. One such factor involves the length of time a person has been residing in the United States, and another depends on the negative impact the person’s deportation would cause. For example, if a person is deported, they may leave behind legal permanent residents and/or United States citizens who are members of their family, and who depend on this person.
Green cards, in certain situations, are even distributed as a part of diversity initiatives in order to encourage immigration from areas with relatively low levels of immigration to the United States.
The actual process of it is an entirely different beast, however. There are multiple ways to apply for a green card, depending on your location. If you are presently located in the United States, you do the process through a process called Adjustment of Status; if you apply while outside the United States, the process is called Consular Processing. Having the assistance of an immigration attorney in Lexington, KY does a world of good for your case either way; they can help gather the necessary forms for the former to help you get through it more easily, among other forms of assistance. A lawyer will also help guide you on the necessary things for the process, particularly making sure that you have all the necessary photos and documents, such as a visa petition approval or asylum approval, your birth certificate, and other forms. Circumstances may vary, and in turn, what you need varies as well. For example, if you are applying through an employer, a petition from said employer is necessary as well to show that you are still working at that job.
A qualified Lexington, KY lawyer will help ensure that the forms are filled out properly, ensuring that there are no unnecessary delays in the process. Sometime later, you will be asked to provide both your fingerprints and your time to be interviewed by the United States Citizenship and Immigration Services agency. Following this interview and their investigation, if they deem you fit for one, you should receive a green card some time afterward. Green cards will have to be renewed after a period of time, so make sure that you keep up with this, such that you do not find yourself afoul of the law. It would be a shame if something so small caused such a big problem.
