What is a Green Card?

What’s informally known as a Green Card is more formally called a Permanent Resident Card. Through a legal process that includes filing paperwork and being interviewed by a USCIS officer, non-native individuals can receive their Green Card and the accompanying status of a lawful permanent resident. A Green Card permits you to live and work in the United States permanently for the duration that your lawful permanent resident status is in effect.

Does a Green Card grant permanent residency in the United States?

Although attaining your Green Card gives you the status of a lawful permanent resident, you should be aware that getting your Permanent Resident Card isn’t a process you undertake once and never have to revisit. Generally, Green Cards are valid for 10 years and must be renewed for you to maintain your status as a lawful permanent resident. Conditional Green Cards that are valid for only two years may be granted in certain circumstances, including marriage to a U.S. citizen. To change your two-year conditional Green Card to an unconditional Green Card that is valid for 10 years, you must apply for the removal of these conditions 90 days before your conditional Green Card expires. Although the process of securing your Permanent Resident Card gives you the legal right to reside in the U.S. on a permanent basis, Green Card holders may still be deported in certain situations, such as involvement in serious crimes or failing to meet residency requirements. An attorney can help you understand your rights and responsibilities as a Green Card holder, as well as what circumstances could interfere with your continued residence in the United States.

What is the difference between a Green Card and citizenship?

Both naturalized citizens and Green Card holders have the right to live and work in the United States on what’s considered a permanent basis. Becoming a citizen through the naturalization process takes longer and involves more rigorous eligibility requirements than attaining a Green Card, but unlike a Green Card, citizenship is truly permanent and does not need to be regularly renewed. Generally, a Green Card is an essential part of the path to citizenship for those who wish to eventually undertake the naturalization process. You typically need to have secured a Green Card and maintained your lawful permanent resident status in good standing for at least five years—or, in the case of marriage to a U.S. citizen, three years—before you can apply for naturalization. However, pursuing citizenship through naturalization is not required for Green Card holders who don’t mind continuing to renew their Permanent Resident Card regularly.

How do you get a Green Card?

To get a Green Card, you need to file the appropriate forms with U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services. These forms may include a petition that a sponsor must file for you (generally, Form I-130 for family-based Green Cards or Form I-140 for employment-based Green Cards), waiting for visa availability if necessary, and filing your Green Card application by submitting Form I-485 (Adjustment of Status, for applicants already in the United States) or applying for an immigrant visa abroad. Be prepared to have your fingerprints, photograph, and signature taken at a biometrics appointment and undergo an interview with a USCIS officer.

Pennsylvania Green Card Lawyer | Green Card Attorney in Media, PA

Green Card Attorney in Media, PA Securing Permanent Residency in Delaware County, Philadelphia County, Bucks County, Chester County, Montgomery County, and Throughout The Commonwealth of Pennsylvania

If you wish to live and work in the United States permanently, you will need to take proactive action. Attaining a Green Card is the key to achieving legal permanent residence for immigrants, but this process requires establishing eligibility, submitting the proper forms, and renewing your status every ten years. To help the process of securing lawful permanent resident status go smoothly, you should consult a Pennsylvania Green Card lawyer who understands all of the nuances involved in the process, as well as the challenges you face as an applicant.

At Santee Law Offices, we provide the guidance immigrants need to secure their Green Cards as efficiently as possible. Contact us today for help navigating the process of pursuing permanent legal residency with confidence.

What You Need to Attain a Green Card in Media, PA

Your eligibility for a Green Card depends on your ability to get sponsorship through family members, an employer, or in accordance with other categories.

There are numerous categories of Green Card eligibility available to those who aspire to become lawful permanent residents of the United States, including:

Green Cards through family
Green Cards through employment
Green Cards through refugee or asylee status
Green Cards through long-term registry (continuous residency since 1972)
Green Cards for victims of abuse, crime, or human trafficking
Green Cards awarded through the Diversity Visa Lottery
Green Cards for special immigrants, including religious workers, international broadcasters, and Afghanistan or Iraq nationals
Green Cards through other categories

Eligibility requirements depend on the type of category under which you’re seeking your Green Card.

For a Green Card through family, one of the most common categories, you may be eligible to apply for a Permanent Resident Card if you are:

A spouse or fiance(e) of a United States citizen
The unmarried child (under age 21) of either a United States citizen or of the fiance(e) of a U.S. citizen
The parent of a U.S. citizen who is at least 21 years old
A widow or widower of a U.S. citizen
A sibling or unmarried child of a U.S. citizen at least 21 years of age
The married child of a U.S. citizen
The spouse or unmarried child of a lawful permanent resident (a Green Card holder)
An abused spouse or child of a lawful permanent resident or an abused spouse, child, or parent of a United States citizen

Green Cards are also commonly secured through employment. Generally, immigrant workers are divided into first preference, second preference, and third preference workers:

First preference immigrant workers have extraordinary abilities in areas such as science, arts, or education; experience as outstanding professors or researchers; or multinational business management experience.
Second preference immigrant workers are part of a profession in which an advanced degree is necessary or have exceptional abilities in the sciences, arts, or business fields.
Third preference immigrant workers include unskilled workers, skilled workers with at least two years of training or experience, and professionals with an equivalent of a bachelor’s degree.

Additionally, Green cards can be secured through employment for immigrant investors, physicians pursuing a national interest waiver to work full-time in an underserved area, or second preference immigrant workers seeking a national interest waiver.

Certain circumstances can result in the denial of your Green Card application, even if you qualify for eligibility under one of the recognized categories. The USCIS will conduct background checks. Factors like having multiple criminal convictions or a history of drug-related violations or certain inadmissible offenses can affect your ability to obtain a Green Card, as can discrepancies pertaining to your criminal history.

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The Process of Getting Your Green Card

To get your Green Card, you must:

Identify your eligibility category
Have your sponsor (family, employer, or otherwise) file the appropriate petition or, in certain situations, self-file the appropriate petition
Receive petition approval from USCIS
If subject to annual limits based on your eligibility category, check visa availability and potentially wait for availability
Apply for your Green Card by filing Form I-485, the Application to Register Permanent Residence or Adjust Status, for applicants already in the United States or applying for an immigrant visa in your home country
Appear at a biometrics appointment, during which USCIS will collect your fingerprints, take your photograph, and confirm your identity to facilitate background and security checks required for the Green Card process
Attend an interview with a USCIS officer

At the end of this process, USCIS will determine whether to grant you a Green Card. If so, it’s important that you understand your rights, responsibilities, residency requirements, and the need to renew your Green Card to maintain your legal status. If your application is denied, you will need to understand what options you have for appealing or reapplying for a Green Card or what other avenues may be available to you.

The Benefits of Working With an Experienced Green Card Attorney in Media, PA

At every stage of the process of securing your Green Card, there are challenges you could encounter and complications that could prevent you from securing permanent legal status in the United States.

With a Pennsylvania Green Card lawyer on your side, you don’t have to guess which specific eligibility category you fit into, which petitions and forms to file, or whether and how visas apply to your situation. You can go into your biometrics appointment knowing what to expect and be well-prepared for your interview with the USCIS officer. If your application has stalled, we can determine what steps can be taken to move it forward, and if your Green Card has been denied, we’re here to help you figure out your options.

How Santee Law Offices Can Help

At Santee Law Offices, we assist clients in the process of securing their Green Card from start to finish. We analyze your circumstances, identify the appropriate eligibility category, and help you get the necessary forms filled out to avoid missteps that could delay the progress of your application or result in denials due to paperwork mistakes. As an experienced Green Card attorney in Media, PA, we know how confusing this process can be, and we’re committed to streamlining the process and providing the support you need through every stage.

Why Choose Santee Law Offices as Your Pennsylvania Green Card Lawyer?

A Pennsylvania Green Card lawyer at Santee Law Offices is prepared to provide strong, strategic guidance throughout the process of applying for permanent residency.

Willingness to Tackle Challenging Cases

We don’t back down from taking on complex cases. In fact, we have a reputation for developing creative solutions to the most challenging matters in immigration law.

Providing Legal Support for Families, Workers, and Businesses

Among the eligibility categories through which Green Cards are most commonly sponsored are family-based and employment-based Green Cards. We focus on keeping families together and on working with both individual workers and companies to pursue permanent resident status.

Comprehensive Help for Immigration Issues

With extensive knowledge of visas, Green Cards, and naturalization, we’re ready to assist you at any stage of your immigration journey.

Contact a Pennsylvania Green Card Lawyer at Santee Law Offices Today to Schedule Your Initial Consultation

To avoid common mistakes and unnecessary delays, your path to a Green Card should begin with the guidance of an experienced attorney. At our firm, we provide our clients with a detailed explanation of their options, including the risks and benefits of pursuing each option, during the initial consultation to ensure you begin this process from an informed, supported position. We help you understand what the process of securing a Green Card will look like and what you can expect our firm to do to make securing lawful permanent resident status easier.

For help from a Green Card attorney in Media, PA, contact Santee Law Offices online or call 215-935-4481 today.

Pennsylvania Green Card Lawyer