| Permanent Residency. Permanent residency is | | | | Sisters of U.S. Citizens. |
| often referred to as having a Green Card. | | | | |
| There are two primary categories of | | | | The relationship is only one criteria in |
| immigration: Immigrant status and | | | | determining preference. A second criteria |
| Non-immigrant status. Immigrant status allows | | | | includes the country of the relative's |
| permanent residency in the United States. | | | | origin. Economically poor countries such as |
| Non-immigrant status provides an | | | | China and India tend to have the longest |
| authorization to aliens for temporary | | | | waiting periods. |
| residency that expires upon the occurrence of | | | | |
| a specific event. | | | | Employment Immigration Green Card. Aliens |
| | | | seeking permanent residency in the United |
| A Permanent Resident is commonly referred to | | | | States for employment purposes must fit into |
| as a "Green Card" holder. Permanent residents | | | | one of five categories. The first category is |
| have many rights which include the following: | | | | "Priority Workers" which includes |
| | | | Intra-Company Transferees of Managers and |
| The right to live in the United States | | | | Executives, Outstanding Professors and |
| permanently; | | | | Researchers and Aliens of Extraordinary |
| | | | Ability in the Sciences, Arts, Education, |
| The right to reenter the United States after | | | | Business and Athletics. The second employment |
| traveling out of the country abroad; | | | | category is "Aliens of Exceptional Ability in |
| | | | the Sciences, Arts or Business" which |
| The right to apply for U.S. Citizenship after | | | | includes Professionals with advanced degrees. |
| continuously living as a Permanent Resident | | | | The third category includes "Professionals |
| in the United States for five (5) years | | | | with Bachelors Degrees not qualifying in the |
| | | | 2nd Preference, skilled workers, and |
| The right to employment in any work that is | | | | unskilled workers in special needs |
| legal; | | | | professions. The fourth category is very |
| | | | narrow encompassing "Religious Workers" who |
| There are four main categories for green card | | | | are here to carrying out their religious |
| permanent residency and even more | | | | mission. Finally, the last category is based |
| subcategories under each main category. The | | | | on economic development and includes |
| main green card categories include Family | | | | individuals who invest one million dollars |
| Sponsored Immigration, Employment | | | | ($1,000,000.00)in a new "commercial |
| Immigration, DV Lottery, and Asylum and | | | | enterprise" or in a "troubled business" or |
| Refugee status. | | | | those who invest Five Hundred Thousand |
| | | | Dollars ($500,000.00) in a "new commercial |
| Family Sponsored Immigration Green Card. | | | | enterprise" or "troubled business" in a |
| Foreign family members of U.S. citizens and | | | | "targeted employment area." |
| permanent residents may qualify for an | | | | |
| immigrant visa. However, the United States | | | | DV Lottery Green Card. 55,000 immigrant visas |
| sets strict limitations on the number of | | | | each year are available to those winning a |
| immigrant visas allowed each year. The closer | | | | Visa Lottery. The number of lottery visas are |
| the relative is the higher that person falls | | | | apportioned to countries that have fewer visa |
| on the priority scale for obtaining an | | | | applicants. To apply, an immigrant must fill |
| immigrant visa. Immediate family members of | | | | out a number of forms detailing their |
| U.S. citizens are given the highest priority. | | | | background with the INS. Each year lottery |
| Foreign parents, children under the age of | | | | contestants are drawn and notified if they |
| 18, and spouses fall outside of the quota | | | | have won. A winning alien may make |
| system and usually qualify quickly for an | | | | application for an immigrant visa. |
| immigrant visa. Extended family members of | | | | |
| United States citizens and family members of | | | | Refugee/Asylum Status. Refugee and Asylum |
| permanent residents may also qualify. | | | | status allows foreigners fearing persecution |
| However, the waiting period may be much | | | | to seek refugee status in this country. |
| longer. In some cases, the wait for a visa | | | | Foreigners outside of the United States may |
| may exceed 10 years. The priority list for | | | | seek refugee status. Foreigners already in |
| family sponsored immigration is as follows: | | | | the United States may seek asylum to prevent |
| (1) F-1 - Unmarried Sons or Daughters of U.S. | | | | deportation. After approval of Refugee or |
| Citizens over the age of 21; (2) F2-A | | | | asylum status, the alien is allowed to enter |
| -Spouses and unmarried Children of Permanent | | | | or remain in the United States and may seek |
| Residents under the age of 21; (3) F2-B | | | | an adjustment of their status to one of |
| -Unmarried Sons or Daughters of Permanent | | | | permanent residency after one year. |
| Residents over the age of 21; (4) F-3 | | | | |
| -Married Sons or Daughters of U.S. Citizens | | | | For legal assistance Call (952) 746-2153. |
| over the age of 21; (5) F-4 - Brothers and | | | | |